Context

This line is sung by Bette Midler in the song "Wind Beneath My Wings," written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley, from the soundtrack of the film Beaches (1988).

Though the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" was actually first released in 1982 and was recorded by a couple other singers before Bette Midler got around to it, her version is, far and away, the most successful cover of the song, so we're just gonna go ahead and pretend those other versions don't exist. Our apologies to Lou Rawls.

We probably remember Bette Midler's version so well because it was featured in the movie Beaches and fits so perfectly with that film. The movie is about two little girls who meet at the beach and form a friendship that spans over the next 30 years. Bette Midler plays CC, who grows up to be a singer and actress, and Barbara Hershey plays Hillary who grows up to become a lawyer that later dies of cancer. And everyone cries at the end. A lot.

"Wind Beneath My Wings" is sung as a tribute to Hillary after she dies. It sums up how CC feels about her best friend. CC might have been the one in the spotlight, but Hillary was always the one who shone in CC's eyes. She was the star. She was CC's hero.

No. Shmoop's not crying. You're crying.

Where you've heard it

We sure hope you've heard this one before. Everyone should get to be someone else's hero at least once in their life. And just in case you haven't—has Shmoop ever told you you're our hero?

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Awww! This lyric is so unbelievably honest and sweet that no one would ever think of calling you pretentious. You're okay in our book. In fact, you're kind of our hero.