This song is called Heart of Steel by ManOwaR on their album Kings of Steel (1988). It tells of a lone warrior coming home from a long battle. Though the battle was hard, he prevailed and is returning triumphantly. Heart of Steel is about more than just that. It's about standing up for your beliefs, for what you know is right, even in the face of ridicule and scorn. And though the forces that rise up against you may be powerful, and all you want to do is give up, throw in the towel and quit, ManOwaR reminds you that you were born with a heart of steel. That if you live by your heart there is always one more try. And in doing so you will prevail.
What about the band itself? I think this quote from founding band member says it all: "I believe in the fans. I believe in metal more than anybody you've ever met. And another thing, I'm prepared to die for metal. Are you?"
Lyrics:
Build a fire a thousand miles away
To light my long way home
I ride a comet
My trail is long to stay
Silence is a heavy stone
I fight the world and take all they can give
There are times my heart hangs low
Born to walk against the wind
Born to hear my name
No matter where I stand Im alone
Stand and fight
Live by your heart
Always one more try
Im not afraid to die
Stand and fight
Say what you feel
Born with a heart of steel
Burn the bridge behind you
Leave no retreat
Theres only one way home
Those who laugh and crowd the path
And cut each others throats
Will fall like melting snow
Theyll watch us rise with fire in our eyes
Theyll bow their heads
Their hearts will hang low
Then well laugh and they will kneel
And know this heart of steel was
Too hard to break
Too hard to hold
Stand and fight
Live by your heart
Always one more try
Im not afraid to die
Stand and fight
Say what you feel
Born with a heart of steel
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I love ManOwaR, though Heart of Steel is by no means my favorite song of theirs. Still, the raw masculine defiance that defines MOR's music makes a strong showing in this song as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it is easy to laugh off MOR as a gimmick, at first. But given a chance, their music evokes an epic blood stirring opera of masculinity, which can seem brutal and ridiculous in our ever emasculating world. But MOR's music is about not going quietly into the night, it's about raging against the quiet surrender that plagues each of us. It's man's music, about being a man . . . It's also about war and Norse mythology.
Good choice, Jake.
Queen comes to mind as I listen to this one.
ReplyDeleteI had to scroll down so I couldn't see the picture while I listened. It makes me a little queezy, but that's beside the point.
It's definitely got that defiant drive that makes you feel like taking large steps while you walk and holding your head up high as the passers-by snicker at your tight leather pants.
Sorry, I'm not taking this serious enough. It's just a bit too over-the-top for me.
From a songwriters perspective: the lyrics are very potent, but the tedious delivery of each word saps away some of the energy.
In the end, though, this would be a whole lot of fun to get up on stage and perform live.
I had a hard time imagining one of those guys playing the lovely piano piece in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThey seem like the real live "Limozeen" from H*R.
But yes, through the clunky lyrics the message is clear, and a good one. Don't give up! Stand your ground! Die for what you believe!
Angus, it's funny that you said, "In the end, though, this would be a whole lot of fun to get up on stage and perform live." All of MOR's music seems like it is from a yet unproduced sword and sorcery rock opera. A sword and sorcery rock opera I would love to see.
ReplyDeleteCheck out how epic this song is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT12058RCd0
"Check out how epic this song is"
ReplyDeleteDid Groo direct that one?
We need to figure out a way to be able to play the song on the blog without the video. So many times the video is distracting.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Groo didn't direct and is in no way affiliated with MOR.