Hero Of War – English Lyrics

• By: Rise Against

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a profound journey into the human cost of conflict with Rise Against's 'Hero Of War.' This compelling acoustic narrative offers a unique opportunity to connect with English through raw, emotive storytelling. By exploring its poignant lyrics, you can learn vocabulary related to war, morality, and emotional struggle, while gaining insight into how language is used to convey complex themes of disillusionment and the search for peace. The song's narrative arc and powerful imagery make it a special piece for language learners to delve into deeper meanings and cultural commentary in English music.

[English]

("Hero of War" by Rise Against)

♪ He said son, have you seen the world ♪

♪ Well, what would you say if I said that you could ♪

♪ Just carry this gun, you'll even get paid ♪

♪ I said that sounds pretty good ♪

♪ Black leather boots ♪

♪ Spit-shined so bright ♪

♪ They cut off my hair but it looked alright ♪

♪ We marched and we sang ♪

♪ We all became friends ♪

♪ As we learned how to fight ♪

♪ A hero of war ♪

♪ Yeah that's what I'll be ♪

♪ And when I come home ♪

♪ They'll be damn proud of me ♪

♪ I'll carry this flag ♪

♪ To the grave if I must ♪

♪ 'Cause it's a flag that I love ♪

♪ And a flag that I trust ♪

♪ I kicked in the door ♪

♪ I yelled my commands ♪

♪ The children, they cried ♪

♪ But I got my man ♪

♪ We took him away ♪

♪ A bag over his face ♪

♪ From his family and his friends ♪

♪ They took off his clothes ♪

♪ They pissed in his hands ♪

♪ I told them to stop ♪

♪ But then I joined in ♪

♪ We beat him with guns ♪

♪ And batons not just once ♪

♪ But again and again ♪

♪ A hero of war ♪

♪ Yeah that's what I'll be ♪

♪ And when I come home ♪

♪ They'll be damn proud of me ♪

♪ I'll carry this flag ♪

♪ To the grave if I must ♪

♪ 'Cause it's a flag that I love ♪

♪ And a flag that I trust ♪

♪ She walked through bullets and haze ♪

♪ I asked her to stop ♪

♪ I begged her to stay ♪

♪ But she pressed on ♪

♪ So I lifted my gun ♪

♪ And I fired away ♪

♪ And the shells jumped through the smoke ♪

♪ And into the sand ♪

♪ That the blood now had soaked ♪

♪ She collapsed with a flag in her hand ♪

♪ A flag white as snow ♪

♪ A hero of war ♪

♪ Is that what they see ♪

♪ Just medals and scars ♪

♪ So damn proud of me ♪

♪ And I brought home that flag ♪

♪ Now it gathers dust ♪

♪ But it's a flag that I love ♪

♪ It's the only flag that I trust ♪

♪ He said, son, have you seen the world ♪

♪ Well, what would you say, if I said that you could ♪

(sirens ringing)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
carry /ˈkæri/ A1	verb - to hold and move something from one place to another
march /mɑːrtʃ/ A1	verb - to walk with a regular and forceful step
fight /faɪt/ A1	verb - to take part in a violent struggle
flag /flæɡ/ A1	noun - a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as a symbol
command /kəˈmænd/ A2	noun - an order or instruction verb - to give an order
proud /praʊd/ A2	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to believe that someone is good and honest noun - firm belief in the reliability of someone or something
kick /kɪk/ A1	verb - to hit something with your foot
yell /jɛl/ A2	verb - to shout loudly
collapse /kəˈlæps/ B1	verb - to fall down suddenly
soaked /soʊkt/ B1	adjective - completely wet
medal /ˈmɛdəl/ A2	noun - a metal object given as an award
scar /skɑːr/ A2	noun - a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed
beg /bɛɡ/ A2	verb - to ask for something in a desperate or humble way
shell /ʃɛl/ B1	noun - the hard outer covering of something
haze /heɪz/ B2	noun - a layer of fine dust or light mist in the air

Key Grammar Structures

• He said son, have you seen the world

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase 'have you seen' uses the present perfect to ask about an action that occurred in the past with results relevant to the present.

• We marched and we sang

  ➔ Simple Past

  ➔ The verbs 'marched' and 'sang' are in the simple past tense, indicating completed actions in the past.

• A hero of war, yeah that's what I'll be

  ➔ Future Simple

  ➔ The phrase 'I'll be' uses the future simple to express a future action or state.

• I told them to stop, but then I joined in

  ➔ Past Continuous vs. Simple Past

  ➔ The contrast between 'told' (simple past) and 'joined in' (simple past) shows sequential actions in the past.

• She collapsed with a flag in her hand

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'with a flag in her hand' is a prepositional phrase providing additional information about the action.

• It's the only flag that I trust

  ➔ Relative Pronoun

  ➔ The phrase 'that I trust' uses the relative pronoun 'that' to describe the flag.