There's something in how well you tell the story
The way you overcame the odds all stacked against you
The way that you prevailed in the face of greater danger
The way, at first, that they misunderstood you

You regaled us with the way that you triumphed over darkness
The kisses in the shadows and the stockings
But as the pieces come together, there's these things that I keep hearing
About the hero that you are when no one's watching

I saw Wendy at the Wagon Wheel, I didn't know what to tell her
She said she saw you walking by her building
She said maybe you're ashamed that things turned out this way
You said you had to hurry off to something

She used to let you use her place to put on your better face
It went on for years, she saw some bad things
And she told me what you told her about how you really loved her
That's the hero that you are when no one's watching

Feasting on the weakness of the women who were thinking
You might be held to half the things you told them
The wreckage that you left in the places that you slept
Moving through the bars and slowly stalking
Someone you can use that finds you charming
That's just the way our hero does his bidding
Living off of lies to lonely women
Now I heard that you went running back into Maria's arms
You said it's really just the best thing for the baby
And Maria never found another man to love and comfort
And every time you come back, she's there waitin'

So you ride into the sunset and it all ends up so happy
Jesus and the coffee and the talking
But does the audience applaud for all the women you've done wrong
And the hero that you are when no one's watching?

Feasting on the weakness of the women who were hoping
You might be held to half the things you told 'em
The wreckage that you left at the places that you've slept
Moving through the bars and slowly stalking
Someone you can use that finds you charming
The story that our hero keeps well hidden
A weak man living off of weaker women