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David Bowie — Heroes
Album: Heroes
Avg rating:
8.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4286









Released: 1977
Length: 6:00
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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 day

And 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 forever 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 day

I, 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 day

I, 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 day

We can be heroes
We can be heroes
We can be heroes
Just for one day
We can be heroes

We're nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay
But we could be safer, just for one day

Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-ohh, just for one day
Comments (271)add comment
Forever reminds me of glorious days and nights with Teresa M, stunning wild beauty of the sleepy Ozark town where I sorta studied EE (but mostly partied and explored and expanded my cosmos toward the more infinite and rewarding)...she loved Bowie, and we often had this one going on the turntable or tape-deck...
I shed a tear every time I hear this fantastic song.
Even more so now that the great man is with us no more.
 johnfiva wrote:


Phil Campbells guitar solo is a 10! and DM do it their way as is usually the case, see them whenever I can.



Motorhead's cover of Heroes is a swinging rock n roll masterpiece 
ChristianeF

Make me think of this movie every time.....hard core for its time.

Timeless Classic!...
Just the best! Love the German version.
Another Robert Fripp sighting!
He pops up everywhere doesn't he? Love that sound.
LLRP!
 sfoster66 wrote:

All these years later and this song can still give me an actual visceral reaction...must be magic...thanks DB and LLRP!



R.I.P. David.  Genius,  thanks for the 
Music and all the memories.
A good song that became a true masterpiece thanks to Fripp's guitar
I honestly dont know why this song is not a solid "10" 
 TLynneHenry wrote:

I would pay off everyone's student loans. 

Easier to say your gonna do it if they elect you.  ... and of course forget you said it when they DO elect you.  Seems a favorite lie to get votes from young people.  But i  assume you aren't running for some office so, kind hearted of you...
such passion in his voice
 whatsupdude wrote:

Covers by Lemmy and Depeche Mode shows the quality of this song!




Lemmy from Motorhead did a cover of this??  I am an early years fan of Motorhead but that must be a late career recording...Must investigate
 whatsupdude wrote:

Covers by Lemmy and Depeche Mode shows the quality of this song!



Phil Campbells guitar solo is a 10! and DM do it their way as is usually the case, see them whenever I can.
Solid 10 ,pure and iconic Bowie✌️
Absolutely flawless
9
10 in German
 bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.



For sure!   Really cool insights into the song and especially the background instruments.   The tape reel is pretty funny.
 bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.



High fives!
Lyrics of the german version:

Du
Könntest du schwimmen
Wie Delphine
Delphine es tun
Niemand gibt uns eine Chance
Doch können wir siegen
Für immer und immer
Und wir sind dann Helden
Für einen Tag

Ich
Ich bin dann König
Und du
Du Königin
Obwohl sie
Unschlagbar scheinen
Werden wir Helden
Für einen Tag
Wir sind dann wir
An diesem Tag

Ich
Ich glaub' das zu träumen
Die Mauer
Im Rücken war kalt
Schüsse reißen die Luft
Doch wir küssen
Als ob nichts geschieht
Und die Scham fiel auf ihre Seite
Oh, wir können sie schlagen
Für alle Zeiten
Dann sind wir Helden
Nur diesen Tag
Dann sind wir Helden
Dann sind wir Helden
Dann sind wir Helden
Nur diesen Tag
Dann sind wir Helden

 gregskrtic wrote:

For those of us who were around when the Berlin Wall was a thing--and then it wasn't---this song is emblematic of a generation.



This is the closing track (in German) to JoJo Rabbit - do recommend the film too!
One of the very few songs that never gets old or the least bit cliche.  No psd button here, for then I've jumped right past some of my great memories linked to this prime track.   44+ years later and it's as new as last month.  Bowie and Eno were a super combo.
Song's great, but I get antsy listening to Bowie these days:

https://jezebel.com/what-should-we-say-about-david-bowie-and-lori-maddox-1754533894
https://www.thrillist.com/ente...


I mean . . .
Ooooooh. Started at 8. Went to 9 as the memories flood back.
Excellent!
 whatsupdude wrote:
Covers by Lemmy and Depeche Mode shows the quality of this song!
 
My vote for the best cover is The Wallflowers version used in the movie Godzilla (IIRC)

I may like it more than the long Bowie version (which is tad longer than this) which I have.  I go back and forth.

I'll have to go back and listen to how it starts with king or swim.
&ct=g
.. and robert fripp (now and forever king crimson lead guitarrist)
created  this outstanding guitar sound... great
For those of us who were around when the Berlin Wall was a thing--and then it wasn't---this song is emblematic of a generation.
Covers by Lemmy and Depeche Mode shows the quality of this song!
 Stetsonman wrote:


i'd poke an Italian in the eyes and say "how's that for a Venetian blind?"


I'd swim, like the dolphins can swim..
 cptbuz wrote:

If you could be a Hero, just for one day, what would you accomplish?



i'd poke an Italian in the eyes and say "how's that for a Venetian blind?"
sempre un ritmo fantastico impossibile non ballare!!!! Grazie 
 Proclivities wrote:



I got to see Bowie on the tour for this album - 1978 at MSG - fantastic.


Sweet
 kingart wrote:

Heard it at least 5, 781 times.  Never gets old.  My dinner is getting cold while I wait for the end.  Heroic. At a party in 1978 (LSD looped and having the time of my life) I danced all night and this was some of the theme music. 




I got to see Bowie on the tour for this album - 1978 at MSG - fantastic.
These go to 11.
This still brings back incredible memories of London 2012. One of my favourites. 
 cptbuz wrote:
If you could be a Hero, just for one day, what would you accomplish?
 
I would pay off everyone's student loans. 
 Slickamoe wrote:
If you ever saw Bowie, as I was fortunate to have several times, rating this song Godlike is an understatement.
 
Saw Bowie at the Wall in Berlin in '87 .  Unforgettable. 
 cptbuz wrote:
If you could be a Hero, just for one day, what would you accomplish?
 
I would learn to play the piano, save a guy from choking, fix a flat tire on a car full of sweet old ladies and I would make Andie McDowell fall in love with me.

And learn the meaning of life.
If you could be a Hero, just for one day, what would you accomplish?
 phlattop wrote:
how in hell did I have this at only 9? 
 

'cause you know  it's not really "that" good.
how in hell did I have this at only 9? 
"No replay"... you can understand me.  Thanks.
love and miss him 
 TerryS wrote:
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
 

This appears to be quite relevant given the current state of the presidential election.
 nohaybanda wrote:
I can't believe this song is 33 years old.
 
Neither can I. Maybe because it's 43 years already.
All these years later and this song can still give me an actual visceral reaction...must be magic...thanks DB and LLRP!
David, we miss you...
 BebePassiflora wrote:
Godlike!
 

Bowie at his Best?
But not his best album.
 wanderinglevel wrote:

i can't believe this comment is 9 years old
 

you mean 10?
I'm a cautious one...
My first 10!
 nohaybanda wrote:
I can't believe this song is 33 years old.
 
i can't believe this comment is 9 years old
Godlike!
epic...
Just awesome🎸
Y you CFCcvv gb F2F er the gyybhtr was
Just seen the repeated headline slot at Glastonbury 2000! Awesome performance. So glad I got to see him live, albeit the Serious Moonlight tour but I was at all three Milton Keynes dates!!!


This is one of those songs that makes me want to crank it right up and cry/sing along at the top of my voice
Heard it at least 5, 781 times.  Never gets old.  My dinner is getting cold while I wait for the end.  Heroic. At a party in 1978 (LSD looped and having the time of my life) I danced all night and this was some of the theme music. 
Wow,
If i could I would vote 3 times and give this a 30.
Simply outstanding.
sempre fantastica. unica e irripetibile. bellissima
 TerryS wrote:
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
 
Well, I took down the photo of John McCain (and the 32 up-votes), not because my opinion changed, but because it just didn't seem appropriate to have a big mug shot of a politician beside that iconic album cover.
I still feel the same about Donnie "Bone-spur" Trump's classless comments about McCain not being a hero, but felt the photo was too much of a distraction.
 SoundThinker wrote:


War criminals and mercenaries should never be celebrated! 

The worse serial killers and mass murderers on the planet are the fucks that fly fighter bombers and jet fighters! By that fact alone, Ted Bundy was a better person than McCain!
 
Now THIS is an unsound thought.  And a profane one at that.  You might want to rethink that handle.  Although, thinking doesn't seem to be a forte.
Two tens in a row!

thanks, RP!
 Slickamoe wrote:
If you ever saw Bowie, as I was fortunate to have several times, rating this song Godlike is an understatement.
 
I never had the chance to see DB, though I'll go +1 to 9 on this one...LLRP!!
10. and than some.
it's always special when singers sing at the top of their range.
 adib wrote:


Just seen this link (from three years ago) - thank you for posting - what a masterclass!
 
superb! thanks for dredging that up. 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03g18sx
Opinions differ.  Consider the more deserving student displaced at the academy, 134 lost souls on the Forrestal, his tragically handicapped wife he cheated on and abandoned. 

TerryS wrote:
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
 

Smile to face......glances down at his ratings and agrees it must remain a 10
If you ever saw Bowie, as I was fortunate to have several times, rating this song Godlike is an understatement.
 bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.

 

Just seen this link (from three years ago) - thank you for posting - what a masterclass!
 SoundThinker wrote:


War criminals and mercenaries should never be celebrated! 

The worse serial killers and mass murderers on the planet are the fucks that fly fighter bombers and jet fighters! By that fact alone, Ted Bundy was a better person than McCain!
 
Oh boy....while I get your point, comparing McCain to Bundy is madness....we're all human and that's what scares us most about the "Bundy's" out there....how easy would it be for YOU to be the next Bundy?  (which isn't that bad cuz he's better than McCain.....)

+1 on this Bowie song....I'm at an 8 now...still below average....Long Live RP!!
Outstanding
Robert Fripp is THE guitar god of all times!
 TerryS wrote:
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
 

War criminals and mercenaries should never be celebrated! 

The worse serial killers and mass murderers on the planet are the fucks that fly fighter bombers and jet fighters! By that fact alone, Ted Bundy was a better person than McCain!
 kingart wrote:
Just one of those classically performed and produced (thanks Eno!) tracks that was emblematic of its time and of this one. I've heard it X,000 times, somehow it seems both overplayed and not played enough. 
 
Amen to that kingart 
I have a German version from a cd titled Steal This Disc Vol. ? I have been meaning to upload it for about 15 years now...
Saw a video on YouTube of Bowie performing this in German (I think he was in Germany at the time). It was epic!
Thanks! 

 
bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.

 

Just one of those classically performed and produced (thanks Eno!) tracks that was emblematic of its time and of this one. I've heard it X,000 times, somehow it seems both overplayed and not played enough. 
 TerryS wrote:
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
 
Just one of many examples.

But then I listen to RP and others as a respite from this topic, so I'll stop now.

Oh jeez, now you got me goin' again.  Lalalala...ommmmmm.
When a leader won't recognize a true hero properly because of personal differences, it shows a malicious, petty nature at work. 
I was never much of a Bowie fan, until I saw him perform this at Live Aid on MTV way back in the 80s. Such a powerful performance. Such a powerful song.
 lmic wrote:
Thank, you, Bowie.
Thanks, Bill. 

 
RIP  {#Good-vibes}
 themusicroob wrote:
Was anyone else infuriated when Hermione acted like this was the most obscure, hard to find song in the world in The Perks of Being a Wallflower?

 Yes. But then I got to thinking: the story is set in the early to mid-90s in a Pittsburgh suburb - internet was available, but not used every day (no smart phones ...), if your friends or siblings did not listen to something cool you woudl have to be lucky to find it on a mainstream rock station or one of the "alternative" stations or maybe hear it in a record store. It seems possible that one of these guys caught the song on a radio station, did not know who it was ... And Bowie wasn't exactly at the peak of his commercial success in the early 1990s.
Or Chabosky just liked the song, thought it fit the theme and then did not care much that it wasn't an obscure song.

    May I rate this song with 11{#Music}

Not sure if anyone has already posted on the bass-line similarity to the "old Memphis song" "Tryin to Live My Life without You" that Bob Seger sang, and was copied nearly exactly by the Eagles in "the Long Run" - anyways, I like this live track and rated it an 8.

Which reminds me that I'd like to hear BillG play some "song A vs song B" comparisons, like "He's So Fine" vs. "My Sweet Lord", etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryin%27_to_Live_My_Life_Without_You

Long Live RP!! 

 bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.


 
What a great share, thanks!
Thank, you, Bowie.
Thanks, Bill. 
 OHMish wrote:
I don't think this is the official/best version.

One version starts with "I will be king", the other starts with "I wish I could swim"
 
The first is from the version initially released.
 DoctorWho wrote:
Repetitive, unimaginative, wrist-slittin' music...
 
Go right ahead then.
 max_p wrote:
I prefer the short version

 
Can't be long enough for me
{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}
 wow... you may need to blast off to an alternate universe

DoctorWho wrote:
Repetitive, unimaginative, wrist-slittin' music...

 


 OHMish wrote:
I don't think this is the official/best version.

One version starts with "I will be king", the other starts with "I wish I could swim"
 
Indeed, this is different from the version I know. But it is nice to hear a little variation now and then.
Repetitive, unimaginative, wrist-slittin' music...
{#Meditate} {#Meditate} {#Meditate}
 bmeador wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.
 
The genius that is Tony Visconti, too.  Thanks for this, friend.
I understand why there are many short versions of this.
This BBC feature is a must-watch.

Absolutely fascinating.

Take a few minutes.

I don't think this is the official/best version.

One version starts with "I will be king", the other starts with "I wish I could swim"
O wir koennen sie schlagen !  {#Crown}
If there can be a best of all time, this might be it.
 IndyDoug wrote:
getting chills on my skin listening at work...

 
Always gives me goose-bumps. The lyrics and Brian Eno.
 
Guess I'm not the only one that thinks Nick Cave's Nature E rocks like David Bowie.  Nice segue Bill and/or Rebecca!
 phlattop wrote:
Love the German version ("Helden") which FM radio use to actually play:
https://youtu.be/nb6Gbi1MpoE

And the backstory on this song's creation is cool: Bowie was recording in Berlin when he noticed 2 people kissing by the Wall and was inspired by what he felt was a brave act.

 
Cool man, thank you for this reference to a splendid version of this song : )  my god, the wall, the history of that kind of division and control over people, now embodied by those sick lovers Putin and Trump, scary shit can be conquered by heroes
Love Heroes following Caves, Nature Boy ..... don't know why, but it works!
 
getting chills on my skin listening at work...
Still moving after all these years and countless listens.....by definition a MASTERPIECE.  {#Innocent}
double god like.
Was anyone else infuriated when Hermione acted like this was the most obscure, hard to find song in the world in The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

that was excellent.

 
Yes it was. Thanks for the recommendation!


He was my hero😕
thanx Bill, i needed that 
Mr. Bowie has got some nice future, and not tense.
 NorthernLad wrote:
This BBC feature is a must-watch.  

Producer Tony Visconti breaks down how the song was put together.

 20 minutes well spent, I would submit

 
that was excellent.
https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2008/08/04/Bowie4.jpg Foreground looks like Fripp, Bowie and Eno.
Anyone recognize the other guy?