Of Heroes Who Never Die

Yesterday I revisited an old song, and a younger version of myself.

I wrote “Of Heroes Who Never Die” when I was 18, and I hadn’t touched it in at least a decade—maybe two or three. But yesterday, when I gave myself a few minutes to just play, listen, and feel at the piano, this song came bubbling up from the deep recesses of my memory. My version from yesterday (video below) sounds a little different from before—a little grittier, a little less ballad and a little more rock 'n' roll. I can still hear Roy Bittan's influence, and I can tell I've added a touch of Chuck Leavell, and maybe a bit of Bruce Hornsby.

Those inspirations have shaped the song’s current vibe, but the lyrics are another story ...

Yes, "Of Heroes Who Never Die" has lyrics. I wrote it back then as a tribute to a real-life hero whose light went out way too soon. Some still resonate, but others make me wince at my teenage earnestness. I’m tempted to rewrite the cringey ones, maybe even record myself singing it, despite my old belief that I’m “a tone-deaf musician in search of a singer” (yep, that’s a lyric from a song I wrote at 15). I’m not sure if I’ll get there, but I’m proud of this piece and excited to share it.

Here’s the new version—let me know what you think! Should I tweak the lyrics? Take a leap and sing it? Set it aside for another 20 or 30 years? (Kidding.) I think I'll just enjoy the rediscovery for now!

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