Heroes of the Day by Farrelly is a scathing, swing-folk criticism of unglamourised sacrifices made by frontline workers amidst times of crises and political opportunism that usually follows them. In narrative description, Farrelly paints portraits which tread quietly doing everything so that society remains ticking, only to be overlooked out of sight once the immediate requirement is over. The song narrates the bitter reality of such workers who are applauded at the time, only to be left behind once things move forward, with their case being taken to the backseat.

The track begins by describing a woman working away at a store, stocking shelves so she can provide for the people. Farrelly’s description of her as a hardworking, steely woman serves only to point out the everyday struggle of support workers numbering millions. She works with uncertainty and danger, however, and she does it for a reason – she does it all for her children. The artist’s decision to put personal sacrifice at the heart of this portrait gives depth to the character because it serves to point out that her labor is not an endeavor, but a lifeblood for her family.

In a second stanza, Farrelly addresses a truck driver, fighting against conditions to deliver. His dedication, as with the woman’s, is unrelenting, yet it is also accompanied by personal tragedy. Farrelly illustrates that such support jobs are paid for, since the man loses his home once he is done with his work. This is a scathing criticism of society’s tendency to compensate such labor with minimal publicity and money. The sacrifice is immense, yet the acknowledgment is less, so the man must face the consequences of what he has done by himself without assistance from those he served.

The artist then depicts a woman who uses protection gear to battle on behalf of other individuals’ health. Her labor is framed as glorious and tragic, losing first her health, and then eventually, her life. Farrelly is not afraid to portray the emotional sacrifice of doing so, leaving behind children who are grieving her death. The vulnerability inherent in her profession makes it clear how huge a sacrifice that these workers are making. Farrelly strongly relates the image back to the wider perspective, stating that these workers, who are doing so much, are probably going to be forgotten once they are no longer needed for service.

The refrain, with which it is repeated, “They were heroes of the day,” is a bitter reminder of how such workers are celebrated as heroes for a brief time only, only for that accolade to be forgotten once a temporary emergency is passed. How society only glorifies what they do when society is out of order is what Farrelly is driving at with his use of, “When our world was in disarray.” The emptiness of such praise, however, is what is being remarked upon by the artist, for once done, even such heroes are forgotten and given over for more selfish concerns, such as “the bulls can play,” a jest perhaps at what preoccupies political and economic class.

The song darkens for its second half, with the bitter truth about how soon society forgets heroes. Farrelly condemns the political class and the practice of promises made with no substance. The workers are forgotten, paid a “static and lame” check, and no longer applauded for a job well done. The comparison with past fame and future forgetfulness is stark, and Farrelly frames that change not only as unfair, but political corruption. The refrain on the line “They did their job” serves to reinforce that sense of duty and service that is represented by these workers, but with no reward for those efforts being paid, it is an exposé of a system with deficits of show over substance.

Farrelly’s prose speaks of unseen labor, and encourages us to see into often overlooked individuals making life happen, unapplauded. With effective satire and powerful storytelling, “Heroes of the Day” encourages us to see and appreciate those making society’s wheels turn, especially when society needs them most.