Hero Of The Day by Metallica

Album: Load (1996)

Charted: 17 60

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Songfacts®:

James Hetfield says this song is about children who look outside of their homes for heroes, when their heroes should be their parents.
Load was originally meant to be a double album set with ReLoad, but due to unforeseen problems in the producing of ReLoad the album was split. >>>
Suggestion credit:
patrick - Bardstown, KY, for above 2
Guitarist Kirk Hammett told Kerrang! September 13, 2008 that this contains one of his favorite Metallica guitar solos. He explained: "it's not a particularly shreddy solo, but it's a really melodic and I feel it definitely lifts the song up to a different level after it comes in."

Comments: 31

Kevin from PennsylvaniaThis song is about a form of PTSD but not what you all are talking about. It's the PTSD kids deal with into their adulthoods and many throughout their lives after growing up in uber religious environments. Hetfield grew up in a Christian Science commune and his mother died young because she refused treatment for cancer. The things returning to him that still seam real are the devils and demons and spooky nonsense those idiots pump into the impressionable minds of children. Religion should be outlawed. All religions are cults.
Robbin from Okanagan Bc CanadaI agree w Vic from Knoxville. Policing for 30 years metallicas hero of the day gives me chills every time I listen to it. A song that makes the ptsd more manageable
Vic from Knoxville TennesseeIt may not have been written about PTSD but it hits the nail on the head. After years in EMS this song hits home hard. Especially the middle,
“ Excuse me while I tend to how I feel
These things return to me that still seem real
Now deservingly this easy chair
But the rocking stopped by wheels of despair
Don't want your aid
But the fist I've made for years can't hold or feel
No, I'm not all me
So please excuse me while I tend to how I feel
But now the dreams and waking screams (now the dreams)
That ever last the night
So build a wall, behind it crawl (so build a wall)
And hide until it's light”
I feel every word of that every time I hear it.
Retmarine from CarolinaCompletely agree with Bill from oh10 and Ray from Florida
Ray from Floridai totally agree with Bill from oh10
Bill from Oh10The song is about a vet returning home from war with PTSD - and he’s F--ked up.
Julia from ArizonaWhen I first heard the song and read the lyrics, my thought was that this song is about some type of abuse or neglect experienced in childhood. Now, as an adult, the person holds their fears and anxieties in their fist and haven’t learned how to manage those memories and builds to protect themself and keep people out. Now that the adult has difficulty coping in life, they ask their parent if they can ‘hear their babies crying, now?’
Very well done.
Excellent song.
Fuzz From Indiana from Bedford Who is the girl in the Video?
Don from The PegAwesome song!!! From start to finish, Metallica's best!
Crayola from Knoxville, TnI think the song is about a solder returning from war. The nightmares haunt him. What I don't understand is when he says, "Peoples of the plains, do ya hear your pain? Can't you hear your babies crying?" Who are the peoples of the plain? Is he referring to the American Indians of the Great Plains? When the government took their land the military was sent in, and there were huge massacres.
Zero from Nowhere, NjAlso, John Mayer has said that he loved the solo in this song.
Zero from Nowhere, NjTo me, lyrically it isn't speacking to the children that shoud consider their parent heroes, but to the PARENTS of the soldiers, or even the citizens of the countries that the soldiers are fighting for ("so can't you hear your babies crying now?") Idk, that's just me...
Karl from Ingatestone, United Kingdomto Josh in Brisbane, Austrailia, when the teenage fella in this Metallica song's video is in bed, is it his girlfriend romping him? ask me next week if it is
Donna from Bountiful, UtI'm with Dylan from Pa. that was the first thing I thought of when I heard it, soldiers returning from war. I really love this song and the way John sings it. I have never been a Metallica fan but makes me want to listen to more.
Jacob from Jackson, TnOne of my favorite songs, and even better on S&M.
Ray from Lodi, NjI don't think it matters who recorded this song it's just a good song. As for Metallica recording it, I love james' vocals on the track. I think it makes the recording.
Matt from White Bear Lake, MnI really like this song. I'm not a huge fan of the Load album, but this is one of the few from it that I like. When I first heard it, I couldn't believe it was Metallica. But as the song went on, the vocals, the guitar and the drums just confirmed it. Awesome song!!!
Aki from Sunrise, FlI really love the solo in this song. To me, it sounds so... uplifting. It's filled with a ton of hope and optimism and it can't help but bring a smile to your face.
Dylan from Reading, Pa, PaThis song is clearly about soldiers returning from war and attempting to re-adjust to civilian life. There are numerous PTSD references, as well as POW references.
Romi from Cdo, Philippinesmy friend customized the pc game "command and conquer generals" and used it as one of the sound tract... man.. its cool and i love the song even more after i've learned the meaning of the lyrics... my son loves it too...
Brian from Richmond , VaI was really proud of Metallica when this song came out. I didn't care for the album "Load" and this was probably the last Metallica song I have liked.

They slowed it down and the melody is nice. It is great to see a hard rock band do a slow song and not have it appear as a cheesy power ballad.
Jose from San Salvador, OtherWOW, this song is great, first time I listened to I said , this cannot be metallica but then I listened to the whole LOAD album and you count the great songs, it ain't my bitch, 2x4, the house jack built, UNTIL IT SLEEPS, king nothing, HERO OF THE DAY , BLEEDING ME, CURE, MAMA SAID, and my two favorites, THE THORN WITHING AND OUTLAW TORN, all the other songs, ( wasting my hate, poor twisted me and roonie are ok )
Rachel from Belfast, Irelandlove this tune !! hetfields vocals are amazing in it
Luke from Manchester, EnglandThis song's decent, if you don't like it - don't comment
Jt from Tullahoma, TnThis osng kinda sucks tho
Jeremy from Lafayette, LaOne of my favorites, that's for damn sure.
Nick from Paramus, NjThe working title for this song was "Mouldy" because the riff had been lying around for so long it seemed like it was developing mould.
Doug from Balintore, Scotlandthis song is amazing when metallica did it with the san fransico symphony orchestra, it has an awesome build up when it's combined with the strings, great song!
Ellone from Manila, Otherone of my all time favorite song!
Tony from Laredo, TxAwesome song as well love it!
Josh from Brisbane, Australiacool song! :)