I Don't Believe In Heroes Anymore

When I was a little kid
Robin Hood patrolled the wood
With feats too brave and daring to believe
And in the dark of summer nights
Sir Gallahad was all I had
To show what strength and purity should be

The heroes I read about
What a man should be
The heroes I dreamed about
Were all replaced by me
I fought the villains, saved the maids, and turned the tide of war

But now I'm all grown up
I don't believe in heroes anymore

When I was a boy of ten
JFK had shown the way
To push the Russians back from firing range
And in my teens a man called Che
Spread word of Marx and Mao to say
The world must change through harsh and violent means

I sat before my TV set and watched my heroes die
I read the rags and papers showing proof my heroes lied
With early death their only wreath to pass through Heaven's door
I see their contradictions, and I don't believe in heroes anymore

Oh to just be naive
To live in a dream
To have someone to believe
Oh why can't life be clean?
To just win one for the team
It's not as simple as it seems

When I left the college scene
We made our peace out in the East
And scratched the countless dead on polished walls
And now I hear the country cry
For good 'ol days when flags were raised
And God was on our side against them all

I wonder why the heroes we clamor for
Are men from past romance
The heroes who we gather for
Perform a puppets dance
We're fools if we can't see the fools
Who fooled us all before

Except when I read books and dream
I don't believe in heroes anymore