Used-to-Be Heroes

Learning about losing face.

Lyrics

I reached up high to push by myself - didn’t wanna ride.
On a sidewalk stroller expedition to the big outside.
I couldn’t see in front of me but he knew just what to do. 
I made him a hero’s cape to keep us both from seein’ through.

I didn’t know the bitter wind can blow a grown man off his feet.
I didn’t know the deepest dark can pull a hero underneath. 
I only knew enough to build another castle out of sand
We grow up, stars fall down, and we start to understand.

I grew up tall and held my head above the water line 
I did my best to be the best damn hero I could find 
In the working and the winning days, I knew just what to do. 
But in the mirror a human face, and all the cracks are showing through.

Impossibly big sky makes everyone small
We all brush the same dust off our knees when we fall
We used to be heroes, now it’s just you and me
Humble stumbling humans. Losing face, living free

I didn’t know the bitter wind can blow a grown man off his feet.
I didn’t know the deepest dark can pull a hero underneath. 
I only knew enough to build another castle out of sand
We grow up, stars fall down, and we start to understand.

Art

Credits and Thank-You’s

Thanks to my voice teacher for teaching me about willingness to lose face. Thanks to my songwriting group leader for the prompt that led me to this topic. Thanks to everyone at the weekly open mic night for being the kind of grass-roots community we all need. Image by Matt Gross.