Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could stall me
And then came the rush of the flood
Stars at night turned deep to dust

Melt me down
Into big black armour
Leave no trace of grace
Just in your honor
Lower me down
Culprit south
Make 'em wash a space in town
For the lead
And the dregs of my bed
I've been sleeping
Lower me down
Pin me in
Secure the grounds
For the later parade

Once I wanted to be the greatest
Two fists of solid rock
With brains that could explain any feeling

Lower me down
Pin me in
Secure the grounds
For the lead
And the dregs of my bed
I've been sleeping
For the later parade

Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could stall me
And then came the rush of the flood
The stars at night turned deep to dust


Lyrics submitted by caffeino

The Greatest Lyrics as written by Chan Marshall

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Greatest song meanings
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  • +8
    General Comment

    I think this song is about giving up on your dreams/hopes/goals because you've lost confidence in yourself due to obstacles in life.

    The funeral/burial images symbolize giving up on life; it's a resignation to "death" of hope. Death is painted as an inevitable end, but also peaceful (sleeping) and protective (armor) because it's the opposite of life with its hopes & disappointments. She's tired & giving up, when once she felt strong & capable.


    Once I wanted to be the greatest - she had great hopes & dreams for herself No wind or waterfall could stall me - she felt confidence in herself, able to take on any obstacle to her goals And then came the rush of the flood - reality hits Stars of night turned deep to dust - her dreams dissolved in the face of reality

    Melt me down Into big black armor - this is possibly referring to a coffin; it's an armor against life & its disappointments. If you're dead, you cannot feel. This is about a death of hope though; if you cannot hope, then you cannot be disappointed. It's a kind of protection from bad feelings, to go numb.

    Leave no trace of grace suggesting your honor - resignation that she will not be the greatest, that she will not leave any significant mark

    Lower me down To culprit south Make 'em wash a space in town For the lead And the dregs of my bed I've been sleepin' - the idea of sleeping is peaceful; death is painted as a relief from the disappointments of failing to meet her dreams Lower me down Pin me in Secure the grounds For the later parade - funeral & burial imagery for the theme of giving up on life

    Once I wanted to be the greatest Two fists of solid rock - she used to feel strong, determined & capable With brains that could explain Any feeling - she used to feel smart & able to articulate herself

    The rest of the song repeats the funeral/burial imagery.

    voodoodollyon October 03, 2011   Link

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