By coincidence, I heard IRON MAN on FM in the car a few hours ago, and I tried listening to the lyrics for the first time in my life. Looked ‘em up when I got home. What does it mean? Not too much, really! Evocative, though. It reminds me quite a bit of the Harry Bates story, Farewell to the Master, which was the basis for the 1951 SF classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Iron Man
Has he lost his mind
Can he see or is he blind
Can he walk at all
Or if he moves will he fall
Is he alive or dead
Has he thoughts within his head
We’ll just pass him there
Why should we even care
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
When he traveled time
For the future of mankind
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfurl
Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron Man lives again!
I hold that the way to beginning to teach your average person about conservatism is to first teach them to listen to the words of songs.