Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

My first thought was of a heart powered by a Mallory battery, but it seems
more likely a reference to "Heart of the Hero" by Rickey R Mallory.

Ya know, context can often be a little more than 'the words immediately
following'. If you've seen this in 'a few song lyrics' it wouldn't hurt to
say which ones. Google only seems to find it in the song 'Metal' by Gary
Numan (though others, like Nine Inch Nails, have recorded the song)

Putting it in more complete context:

<< We're in the building where they make us grow
And I'm frightened by the liquid engineers
Like you

My Mallory heart is sure to fail
I could crawl around the floor just like I'm real
Like you >>

So it suggests an artefact put inside a robot or android. I would therefore
reverse Martin's thought and go for the battery, since I don't see any
connection with the Rickey Mallory story.
I think we can rule out Mallory Towers.
--
John Dean
Oxford
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