Album: Us And Them (2005)

License This Song 

• Stare in wonder
  Who's here to bring you down?
  Find your martyr
  I'm sure you've made the crown
  So light a fire under my bones, so when
  I die for you, at least I'll die alone
  
  Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
  There's no comparing me this time
  
  All my heroes have now become ghosts
  Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
  All my heroes are dead and gone
  But they're inside of me
  They still live on
  
  Dark devotion in a vacant Paradise
  Shows no emotion to a willing sacrifice
  You can put a man on trial, but you can't make the guilty pay
  And you can cage an animal, but you can't take away the rage
  
  Ain't nothing for me to end up like this
  There's no comparing me this time
  
  All my heroes have now become ghosts
  Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
  All my heroes are dead and gone
  But they're inside of me
  They still live on
  
  All my heroes have now become ghosts
  Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most
  All my heroes are dead and gone
  But they're inside of me
  They still live on
  
  They're all dead and gone Writer/s: BRENT SMITH, JASON TODD, TONY BATTAGLIA
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Sgc from Chattanooga, Tennessee I agree with it being about dead rock stars, particularly grunge because they are post grunge/hard rock and it sounds a lot like Soundgarden’s Spoonman to me however this was 2005 and several of them were dead. Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley most notably. However I may be bias because they are my heroes and 91-96 was the peak in mainstream rock imo. Nirvana to Local H.
• Angie from Eugene, OregonI feel that maybe this song is about 9/11.
  
  "Stare in wonder, Who's here to bring you down?" this is referring to everyone watching the news or staring up at the towers.
  
  "Find your martyr I'm sure you've made the crown"
  Referring to “martyrdom.” Catholic Church Believes Those who suffered violence at the hands of this world, who bled and died because of their commitment to their faith along side all those who die for their kingdom wears a “martyrs crown.”
  
  "Sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most" Could me the solider that let their saddness go inorder to fight for the Ones that paid the most "the lives distroyed that day"
  
  "Dark devotion in a beacon Paradise
  Shows no emotion to a willing sacrifice
  You can put a man on trial, but you can't make the guilty pay" I think this refers to Bin Laden and his Faithful followers "Suicide Bombers"
• Kellin from Right Here Where I Am, AlHm. I always thought this song was about rock legends that are "dead and gone," though the "dead" is more figurative than literal. The line "sold their sorrow to the ones who paid the most" makes me think of tabloids.
• [p3yt0n} from Somewhere, InI think the song means that the people he looked up to fell apart, had a breakdown, not necessarily died. And now he has no one to look up to.
• Joe from Lincoln, NeAfter listening to the lyrics intensely, I have decided that the song is about dead soldiers, specifically those who died fighting for their country. A true hero.
• Jeff from Casa Grande, AzIt sounds like his "heroes" have "let him down," or more poetively spoken . . . a "shine down."

More Songfacts:

Bad GirlsDonna Summer

Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" is about prostitutes, but it was still used in the movie Rugrats In Paris.

I Melt With YouModern English

"I'll Melt With You" by Modern English is about a couple who melt together because a nuclear bomb drops.

Tomorrow PeopleZiggy Marley & the Melody Makers

"Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley is the first song by a Marley to crack the US Top 40; the highest Bob got was #51 with "Roots, Rock, Reggae."

AqualungJethro Tull

Jethro Tull lead singer Ian Anderson wrote "Aqualung" after looking at pictures of homeless men that his wife took. She got a co-writing credit on the song.

A Moment Like ThisKelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson's coronation song when she won American Idol in 2002 was "A Moment Like This," which was released as her first single and went to #1. Every finalist that season recorded the song in case they won.

Highway to HellAC/DC

The "Highway To Hell" is the Canning Highway in Australia, which seems to go on forever, at least according to AC/DC.

Editor's Picks

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.