This song is about a giant loser. He has a lot of wealth but hasn’t really accomplished anything in life. He’s a musician playing the blandest and non-edgy songs and will never get to where the ‘heroes’ are. The song was covered by Cannibal Corpse and was also a main inspiration for the Guns ‘N Rose...
[Verse 1]
Accept the fact that your second rate life is easy for you
It's all served up on a gold plated plate
And we don't even have to talk to you
Your face is normal, that's the way you're bred
And that's the way you're going to stay
Your head is firmly nailed to your TV channel
But someone else's finger's on the control panel
[Chorus]
What you gonna be, what you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Don't you wanna be, don't you wanna be, brother? Zero the hero
When you gonna be, when you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Impossibility, impissibolity, mother, Really a hero
[Verse 2]
You sit there, watch it all burn down
It's easy and breezy for you
You play your life to a different sound
No edge, no edge, you got no knife, have you
Your life is a six lane highway to nowhere
You're going so fast you're never ever gonna get down there
Where the heroes sit by the river
With a magic in their music as they eat raw liver
[Chorus]
What you gonna be, what you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Don't you wanna be, don't you wanna be, brother? Zero the hero
When you gonna be, when you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Impossibility, impissibolity, mother, really a hero
[Instrumental Break 3:03 - 5:18]
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
You stand there captain, and we all look
You really are mediocre
You are the champion in the Acme form book
But I think you're just a joker
Your face-down life ain't so much of a pity
But the luv-a-ducking way you're walking around
The city with your balls and your head full of nothing
It's easy for you sucker, but you really need stuffing
[Chorus]
What you gonna be, what you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Don't you wanna be, don't you wanna be, brother? Zero the hero
When you gonna be, when you gonna be, brother? Zero the hero
Impossibility, impissibolity, mother, really a hero
Zero the Hero was written by Ian Gillan & Geezer Butler & Tony Iommi & Bill Ward.
Zero the Hero was produced by Robin Black.
Black Sabbath released Zero the Hero on Sun Aug 07 1983.