I was driving through my hometown. I was just kinda killin' time. When I seen a face staring out of a black velvet painting. From the window of the five and dime. I couldn't quite recall the name. But the pose looked familiar to me. So I asked the salesgirl "Who was that man. Between the doberman and Bruce Lee?". She said "Just a local hero". "Local hero" she said with a smile. "Yeah a local hero he used to live here for a while". I met a stranger dressed in black. At the train station. He said "Son your soul can be saved". There's a beautiful women nights of low livin'. And some dangerous money to be made. There's a big town 'cross the whiskey line. And if we turn the right card up. They make us boss the devil pays off. And them folks that are real hard up. They get their local hero. Somebody with the right style. They get their local hero. Somebody with just the right smile. Well I learned my job I learned it well. Fit myself with religion and a story to tell. First they made me the king then they made me pope. Then they brought the rope. I woke to a gypsy girl sayin' "Drink this". Well my hands had lost all sensation. These days I'm feeling all right. 'Cept I can't tell my courage from my desperation. From the tainted chalice. Well I drunk some heady wine. Tonight I'm layin' here. But there's something in my ear. Sayin' there's a little town just beneath the floodline. Needs a local hero. Somebody with the right style. Lookin' for a local hero. Someone with the right smile. Local hero local hero she said with a smile. Local hero he used to live here for a while. Lisa Lowell backing vocals. Patti Scialfa backing vocals. Soozie Tyrell backing vocals