Hercules

Album: The Blessed Unrest (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Sara Bareilles told VH1 that the song is about feeling broken and needing to ask for help. "I was trying to think about an image that conjures up a strong individual," she said. "This Herculean entity that is fearless and courageous."
  • In Greek mythology Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmena. A hero of superhuman physical strength, he is represented as brawny, muscular and short-necked. While serving Eurystheus, king of Argos, he performed 12 labours including the slaying of the Nemean lion and taking captive the Cretan bull. Here are a few more Herculean lyrics:

    "Sand in My Face" by 10cc ("Hands like hams. Knees like trees. 200 lbs. Of surfboard Hercules.")

    "Bucket List" by Nelly Furtado ("Climb a mountain swim the seven seas, Get your body to look like Hercules. Jump out an airplane with a parachute. Fly up and away on a hot air balloon.")

    "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler ("Where have all the good men gone. And where are all the gods? Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds? Isn't there a white knight.")

    "How'd Ya Do It Dee" by Run-D.M.C. ("Run-D.M.C.'s award nominee. The K-I-N-G's of all M-I-see's. Like Hercules, with rhymes like these. Never crackin' not lackin' and I still pull G's.")

    "Superhuman" by Ginuwine ("Even Hercules wouldn't have the strength to leave. Once he fell under the spell of your kiss. So how could I even try (tell me). To leave your side and say goodbye baby...")
  • The song was inspired by the name of a music stand that Bareilles had in her studio. She said: "It's my story, but the spark came from a piece of metal."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.