One spot on an empty canvas
One chair in an empty room
No place for a revolution
No hope if the signs are true

We stand at the edge of something
Will we ever know what it is
Hold on 'cause the wind is rising
And we can't get away from it

We’re in shock from the failed emotion
No cause in a shadow land
We sing while the city's burning
No room, no escape, no plan
We all never thought it would end this way

And we need a hero
To save us from ourselves
We need a hero
To save us from ourselves

Save us from ourselves
Save us from our fear
When the sirens wail, we need a hero here

We hide on our knees in silence
Maybe God doesn't hear at all
And the wait overtakes the violence
And we watch as the giants fall
We're not gonna let it end this way


(Jars of Clay) © 2008 Bridge Building / Pogostick Music (BMI). All rights for the world on behalf of Pogostick Music administered by Bridge Building.

Behind the Song:
CHARLIE LOWELL: “‘Hero’ was interesting because we didn't know for the longest time where or if it fit on the record, since lyrically it takes a different approach from the rest of the album.”

MATT ODMARK: “But it turned out to be one of the first new tunes that the people responded to. It was the first new song to be licensed by a TV show (NBC’s KINGS). So we realized the song was speaking to people and wanted it to be part of the record.”