Leader of Men by Nickelback

Album: The State (2000)

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Songfacts®:

The lyrics are an amalgam of experiences frontman Chad Kroeger has had. He describes what it's like being on magic mushrooms, but also one time when he had to save a friend from drowning.
This was Nickelback's first single released on a major label. They had received some exposure from earlier independent releases, but this was their big breakthrough single.
This got plenty of exposure in their home country of Canada due to Canadian Content regulations. That's a policy of ensuring that 35% of everything on the radio in Canada comes from Canadian artists. It helped make room for them.

Comments: 10

Notcanadian from Not Canada@fgjdfgjdsfgj you’ve clearly not been in the music industry. Guaranteed exposure will get even the most mediocre of bands famous. (See blowfish, hootie & the) and a policy that dictates your song will get more airtime at peak hours will absolutely make you famous faster than me. Talent does play a small part, but look at mumble rappers - enough exposure to the right idiots when they’re all listening will eventually signal “every time I listen this is playing. It must be hot.” Also, I like to think the song is nothing more than Chad kroeger going “how much cheese can I throw onto this cringeburger before people realize I’m just trying to sound deep so some fat chick will gobble
MY Canadian bacon for a change?” Also the first and one of my two favorite songs by them. I never said I was above admitting I loved nickleback just like the rest of the world did. I’m surprised there are still people sticking to the old guard’s guns and trying to act like they don’t still have a cardboard cutout of the whole band that’s half soggy and half crusty. Oh well. Live and let live I suppose. #feedthemachine
Mike from Matawan, NjMaybe this is a song about overcoming foot fungus, ever think of that Ross? Huh? Huh?
Shannon from Lynchburg, VaThis was the only Nickelback song I ever thought worthy of the hype they get. Way overrated band.
Unknown from Sunderland, EnglandChad Kroeger says this song is about tripping on shrooms, well most of it. The line about swallowing before speaking is saying that what you think in your head sounds better than what you say out loud. Nickelback <3.
Kara from Cadillac, MiAwesome song. Guitarists scream for a good lead though. Or just make up their own. Rob.
Tom from England, United Stateswhen i first heard this song i went and bought the album and i believe the true song that got nickelback noticed was either " old enough" or "detangler"
Mikey from Ashtabula, Ohi think this song is in fact about chad's experiences but if you look into the lyrics it can also be a song about life. You are a follower, living a passive life until something big happens (saving someone) and then everything changes. But in all reality, you are trapped b/c you find yourself following the old you around.
Ross from Bellingham, WaIts not about foot fungus, its about over coming obstacles in life. it may sound insane but look at the lyrics closley, especially the swallowing part, and breathing part.
Nick from Paramus, NjI heard it was about foot fungus(just what I heard)
Fgjdfgjdsfgj from Halifax, Canadathats a stupid comment about the canadian radio policy "making room" for then seeing as to the fact that there are so many canadian artists and the radio policy can hardly make you sucessful

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