About The Song
“Heroes” is a song by David Bowie, released in 1977 as the title track of his album of the same name. The song is celebrated for its anthemic quality and has become one of Bowie’s most iconic and enduring works. It captures themes of love, resilience, and the human spirit against adversity.
Five Facts:
- Collaboration with Brian Eno: “Heroes” was a product of David Bowie’s collaboration with Brian Eno during the “Berlin Trilogy” era. Eno’s experimental and ambient influence is evident in the song’s production, contributing to its distinctive sound.
- Recording Location: The song was recorded at Hansa Tonstudio in West Berlin, near the Berlin Wall. The location’s atmosphere and the political backdrop of divided Berlin played a significant role in shaping the song’s inspiration and mood.
- Innovative Recording Technique: The recording of “Heroes” is notable for the use of the “Bowie-Net” method. Bowie and guitarist Robert Fripp played simultaneously in separate studios with a partition between them, creating a natural ambient sound due to microphone bleed. This technique added a unique dimension to the song’s sonic landscape.
- Lyrically Inspired by Cold War Romance: The lyrics of “Heroes” were inspired by the sight of Bowie’s producer, Tony Visconti, embracing his girlfriend by the Berlin Wall. The song explores the theme of transcending boundaries and finding love in the midst of political and personal challenges.
- Cultural Impact: “Heroes” has had a profound cultural impact and has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials. Its anthemic chorus, with the refrain “We can be heroes, just for one day,” has become an enduring and universal expression of hope and aspiration.
Video
Lyrics
I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them, just for one day
We can be heroes, just for one dayAnd you, you can be mean
And I, I’ll drink all the time
‘Cause we’re lovers, and that is a fact
Yes we’re lovers, and that is that
Though nothing will keep us together
We could steal time just for one day
We can be heroes for ever and ever
What d’you say?I, I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing will keep us together
We can beat them, for ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes, just for one dayI, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one dayI, I can remember (I remember)
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)
And the shame, was on the other side
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
Then we could be Heroes, just for one dayWe can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be HeroesWe’re nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we’re lying, then you better not stay
But we could be safer, just for one dayOh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day