Hero

(Verse 1) Fancy car, nice watch, a lawn that’s perfectly green The poster boy for a life that he didn't really mean He traded in his music, his hunger, and his soul For a white picket fence and a steady, heavy role Now he’s pacing in the kitchen, checking boxes on a sheet Asking, "Is this my life, or just a path for my feet?" He followed the map that his father laid down Now he’s king of a castle, but he hates the weight of the crown. (Pre-Chorus) She says, "Baby, why you keepin' score of the 'Good' that you do? Like your kindness is commerce, and I’m just a debt that is due. You’re so busy being 'Good' that you forgot how to be Right You’re a saint in the morning, but a ghost in the night." She’s looking for someone who doesn't just play a part She finds a Pastor who’s also starving in his heart. (Chorus) So tell me, who’s the Hero in the dark? When "Good" is just a cage that’s starving out the heart. We’re trading in the Great just to keep the image tight, We’re so busy being "Good," we forgot how to be Right. Yeah, we’re all just human, we’re all just dust and bone, Bowing to a Hero that we’ve never really known. (Verse 2) The Pastor’s trapped in the 'Goodness' of the stage A man in a collar, but a bird in a cage The expectations are heavy, the pedestal is tall But being 'Good' for the people makes it harder to fall On his anniversary, the 'Good' finally broke He reached for a woman and the truth finally spoke It was "wrong" by the Book, but for a second it felt Right To finally stop performing in the middle of the night. (Bridge) (Music swells—drums get louder, electric guitar begins to wail) The husband found the truth and he went to the door Not for revenge, but because he couldn't take it no more He looked at the Pastor’s wife, saw the same hollow stare The same "chosen life" that was stripping them bare She cried, "How do we stand on that stage and pretend That we chose this beginning or we know the end? We were 'Right' for the neighbors, we were 'Right' for the pews But we were 'Wrong' for ourselves—and we’ve got nothing to lose!" (Guitar Solo) (A raw, weeping slide-guitar solo that feels like a breakdown) (Chorus) So tell me, who’s the Hero in the dark? When "Good" is just a cage that’s starving out the heart. We’re trading in the Great just to keep the image tight, We’re so busy being "Good," we forgot how to be Right. Yeah, we’re all just human, we’re all just dust and bone, Bowing to a Hero that we’ve never really known. (Outro) (The drums stop. Only a lonely acoustic guitar remains) The husband sat on the curb, as the sun began to rise Seeing the "Good Men" through brand new, tired eyes He realized that "Good" can be the greatest lie of all If you aren't being Right, you’re just waiting to fall. No more heroes in the pulpit, no more heroes in the mirror Finally, the truth was getting louder, getting clearer: Only One is truly Holy, the rest of us just try To be Right with the Maker, before we say goodbye. (Long silence) No more heroes... Just finally being real.