Don't Make Me a Hero: When Sacrificial Valor Becomes the Highest Call

My life is filled with heros, that I have never seen before,
there are those who serve on the homefront, and those who've gone to war.
Soldiers, sailors, policemen, firemen, nurses, the EMT,
those who do their duty, to keep me safe and free.

And they are all just doing their jobs, and I never hear them complain,
yet each time that I see one, I hear this refrain:

What would it take to persuade you, to put your life upon the line?
If I gave you ten million dollars, would you give your life for mine?
If I gave you pretty cheerleaders, a mansion, a family, car,
and added to that a cheering crowd, and the title "SUPERSTAR."

When you signed on the dotted line,
I think you knew there would come this day,
but you did not know that it would friendly fire,
that would send you to your grave.

And as you lay there dying,
I witnessed your final request:
"Don't make me a hero."
You said with you final breath.

Good bye, Ranger Tillman, it is the hardest thing I'll ever do...
Whatever it takes, no matter the cost...
I won't make a hero out of you.

Instead. Instead. Instead....
My life is filled with heros, that I have never seen before,
there are those who serve on the homefront, and those who've gone to war.
Soldiers, sailors, policemen, firemen, nurses, the EMT,
those who do their duty, to keep us safe and free.

And they are all just doing their jobs, and I never hear them complain,
yet each time that I see one, I hear this refrain:

What would it take to persuade you, to put your life upon the line?
If I gave you ten million dollars, would you give your life for mine?
If I gave you pretty cheerleaders, a mansion, a family, a car,
and added to that a cheering crowd, and the title "SUPERSTAR."