Working Class Hero
Marianne Faithfull · Broken English [1990]
As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if your clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't fallow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped wit religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
-----------------------------------------------------------
Working Class Hero
Released on Marianne Faithfull's 1990 album Broken English, Working Class Hero stands as a poignant exploration of social stratification and personal struggle. The track reflects Faithfull's enduring ability to craft narratives rooted in working-class experiences, utilizing a melodic yet melancholic approach that resonates with themes of economic hardship and emotional resilience. While the song was recorded decades after her initial fame, it maintains the raw authenticity characteristic of her discography, offering a contemporary perspective on timeless societal issues. The composition serves as a bridge between her earlier folk-rock roots and her later, more introspective musical explorations, cementing its place within her broader body of work.