The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but he had fled;
The flame that lit read more

The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but he had fled;
The flame that lit the battle's wreck,
Shone round him o'er the dead.
. . . .
The flames roll'd on--he would not go
Without his Father's word;
That father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.

Still the race of hero spirits pass the lamp from hand to hand.

Still the race of hero spirits pass the lamp from hand to hand.

I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one.

I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one.

The hero is not fed on sweets,
Daily his own heart he eats;
Chambers of the great read more

The hero is not fed on sweets,
Daily his own heart he eats;
Chambers of the great are jails,
And head-winds right for royal sails.

The idol of to-day pushes the hero of yesterday out of our
recollection, and will, in turn, be supplanted read more

The idol of to-day pushes the hero of yesterday out of our
recollection, and will, in turn, be supplanted by his successor
of to-morrow.

A man must indeed be a hero to appear such in the eyes of his
valet.
[Fr., Il read more

A man must indeed be a hero to appear such in the eyes of his
valet.
[Fr., Il faut etre bien heros pour l'etre aux yeux de son
valet-de-chambre.]

He's of stature somewhat low--
Your hero always should be tall, you know.

He's of stature somewhat low--
Your hero always should be tall, you know.

As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary

As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary

But to the hero, when his sword
Has won the battle for the free,
Thy voice sounds read more

But to the hero, when his sword
Has won the battle for the free,
Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word,
And in its hollow tones are heard
The thanks of millions yet to be.