Compulsory Hero

Annotation

Pop rock group formed in 1987 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, featuring James Barton (drums, backing vocals, 1987-92), Eric Weideman (vocals, guitar, keyboards, 1988-93), Bill Frost (bass, backing vocals, 1988-93), Garry Frost (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 1988-90), Charlie Cole (keyboards, backing vocals, 1989-92), Dave Dwyer (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, 1990-93), and Phillip Campbell (drums, 1992-93). The title of the song "Compulsary Hero" (Trafalgar Records # 7-257619), from the album ...ish (Trafalgar Records # 255968.2), was a reference to military conscription, reintroduced in 1964 by the Australian government, with 18-25 year old males eligible. The song started with children playing war games, when at the end of the day, everybody would go home safely: "we were kids playing war games in your yard... night would fall... all go home". Then they were grown up, and "a man came on the TV, talking 'bout war". The narrator said "its war without a choice". The song recalled the previous generation: "Grandpa heard the call... a war to end all wars" - a reference to World War One. His "dad went off to do his bit" as well. Now it was "one more crazy war". It leaned towards the anti-war side..

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Australian & New Zealand Songs

Pop rock group formed in 1987 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, featuring James Barton (drums, backing vocals, 1987-92), Eric Weideman (vocals, guitar, keyboards, 1988-93), Bill Frost (bass, backing vocals, 1988-93), Garry Frost (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, 1988-90), Charlie Cole (keyboards, backing vocals, 1989-92), Dave Dwyer (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, 1990-93), and Phillip Campbell (drums, 1992-93). The title of the song "Compulsary Hero" (Trafalgar Records # 7-257619), from the album ...ish (Trafalgar Records # 255968.2), was a reference to military conscription, reintroduced in 1964 by the Australian government, with 18-25 year old males eligible. The song started with children playing war games, when at the end of the day, everybody would go home safely: "we were kids playing war games in your yard... night would fall... all go home". Then they were grown up, and "a man came on the TV, talking 'bout war". The narrator said "its war without a choice". The song recalled the previous generation: "Grandpa heard the call... a war to end all wars" - a reference to World War One. His "dad went off to do his bit" as well. Now it was "one more crazy war". It leaned towards the anti-war side.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Remember the times when we were kids / Playing war games in your yard / Everybody had to be a hero / And get one in the heart / Night would fall and we'd call a truce / And all go home / Years went by we were average guys / Playing life by the rule of thumb / Till a man came on the TV / Talking 'bout war like he wanted one / He said "everybody put your backs to the wall / Till your numbers called" / You've gotta go and be a hero / I've got a new game for all you boys / Its war without a choice / Compulsory hero / Just try and make it home / Grandpa heard the call to all / For a war to end all wars / And your dad went off to do his bit / And he had to go one more / You've really got no say in it / You have to fight / And that's the law / You've gotta go and be a hero / They made a law you had to go fight / One more crazy war / Compulsory hero / Just try and make it home / So all that had to be heroes / Went off to do their chores / None of them really wouldn't of known / How far a bloody war goes / They're dying to make it home / Then I think back on all those times / Playing war games in your yard / Everybody had to be a hero / Back then that wasn't hard / Night would fall on the battle zone / And we could all go home / You had to go and be a hero / They made a law that you had to go and fight / One more crazy war / Compulsory hero / Just try and make it home...

Notes

Produced by Charles Fisher for Minute / Trafalgar Productions, engineered by Jim Bonnefond; Warner Bros. Music; matrix MX302357; label time 4:34. Promotional copy. WEA / Trafalgar 7-257619, side 1, 45 R.P.M., ℗ 1989 Trafalgar Music Pty. Ltd., "Australian Recording" kangaroo logo, "A Trafalgar Production", "Australian Performance April 1989", manufactured and distributed by WEA Records Pty. Limited; "Compulsory Hero" (G. Frost). Front sleeve: red-and-dark-teal artwork of silhouetted soldiers with packs and rifles walking past bare trees against a red splatter, titled "compulsory HERO" and "1927". Back sleeve: handwritten credits on torn lined paper for side 1 "Compulsory Hero" and side 2 "Propaganda Machine", both produced by Charles Fisher and engineered by Jim Bonnefond, with a "Not for Sale – Promotion Use Only" sticker. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Formed 1987, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Themes

ANZUS · Draft · WW1

In collections

Australian & New Zealand Songs · Draft Songs