According to Lou Reed, “The Heroine” was inspired by the iconic image of a panicking Jackie Kennedy trying to climb out of the car where her husband had just had his head blown off. See The Day John Kennedy Died
[Verse 1]
The heroine stood up on the deck
The ship was out of control
The bow was being ripped to shreds
Men were fighting down below
The sea had pummeled the boat so long
That they knew nothing but fear
[Bridge 1]
And the baby's in his box, he thinks the door is locked
The sea is in a state, the baby learns to wait
For the heroine, oh oh for the heroine
Locked in his defense, he waits for the heroine
[Verse 2]
The mast is cracking as the waves are slapping
Sailors roll across the deck
And when they thought no one was looking
They would cut a weaker man's neck
While the heroine dressed in a virgin white dress
Tried to steer the mighty ship
But the raging storm wouldn't hear of it
They were in for a long trip
[Bridge 2]
Baby's in a box, he thinks the door is locked
He finds it hard to breathe, drawing in the sea
And where's the heroine to fire off the gun
To calm the raging seas and let herself be seized
By the baby in the box, he thinks the door is locked
The woman has the keys
But there is no moment she can seize
Here's to the heroine, who transcends all the men
Who are locked inside the box
Will the lady let them out?
Oh the heroine, ooh ooh the heroine
Strapped to the mast, the pale ascendant heroine
Strapped to the mast, the pale ascendant heroine
The Heroine was written by Lou Reed.
The Heroine was produced by Sean Fullan & Lou Reed.
Lou Reed released The Heroine on Tue Feb 23 1982.