“hero illusions” - comments
I wrote the first two verses and chorus for Hero Illusions when I was a senior in high school. As such it is my oldest song. The original music was a bit different, but the words are as I wrote them oh so long ago. Much has been written about what it means to be a high school student and it seems this period of life keeps many a psychologist in business. For some people it stands as the greatest time of their lives, while for others it was merely something to slog through on the way toward good times. I wrote these lyrics about a classmate, once a friend who had come to believe that he was truly better than others and treated them accordingly. He saw himself as something of a hero. Many years after writing the original version I pulled the song out and updated it to something the Denver-based band I was in might use. Sitting with a two track recorder, an acoustic guitar and a borrowed bass I wrote the front instrumental section and updated the music for the verse and chorus. The recording on In the Distance is more or less exactly what I wrote on that frigid Denver night. I also wrote the middle section (with much different lyrics) that night, but never got around to writing an ending. I was like that…. My old friend Mark reminds me that the band did indeed work up a version of the song, though I guess we never got around to recording a demo. And that was that. Although I thought it was a pretty good song, it went to my “song graveyard” along with so many others. Hmmm…. Many years later after reporting to a new supervisor for a few months the song jumped back into my head. Golly. This supervisor… one of those people who believe the ground upon which they walk is hallowed. I began to think that young me had really stumbled onto a truth when I wrote the original song. The supervisor had hero illusions. Some years ago I happened to attend an event that was also attended by the high school classmate who was the original subject of the song. Wow! This is one of the fun things about aging - you get to see how people you knew long ago are turning out. It was amazing: while he had aged, in many ways he had not changed. The unmistakable signs of narcissistic personally disorder were on full display. The high school classmate with hero illusions had grown into a narcissist still in need of praise, adulation, and so forth while quietly, if subtly demeaning those around him. More disturbing, if not tragic were the telltale signs of the relationship with his spouse, but that is a bit close to the bone for these comments… As a result of that event I’ve written all new lyrics for the middle section as a reaction to the ways narcissists often treat their spouses. The song ends with a completely new instrumental. The section begins with a peaceful phrasing but quietly moves into a subtly ominous ending / out. It’s a bit like our “hero” or narcissist: pleasant on the outside but ominous on the inside. I see the song as being observational rather than judgmental. Perhaps I, perhaps we all, suffer from hero illusions now and again… where to listen |
hero illusions
dreamed that you were the king and everyone knew you. dreamed you were strolling along and no one saw through you. you were, saving her in a fight and, oh how she loved you. hero illusions. hero Illusions. gazing down from above, oh you’re a messiah. everyone praises the things that you do. you can take what you want and no one is bothered. pleased to simply be chosen by you. hero illusions. hero Illusions. lady of mine where’ve you been, I’ve been waiting for you here. don’t you know when I call, you’re supposed to draw quite near. lady it’s time, hit the deck, don’t dare shed a single tear. don’t you know when I speak, it’s not words that you should fear… fear hero illusions. all instruments and vocals glenn
cover art by rae all materials copyright © 2022 glenn wiggins |