The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I am a mountain,
I am a tall tree, oh
I am a swift wind
Sweeping the country
I am a river,
Down in the valley, oh
I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I am a giant
I am an Eagle oh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people oh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
In the ring of life,
I'll reign in love (I will reign)
And the world will notice a king (oh, yeah)
When all is darkness,
I'll shine a light (shine a light)
And the mirrors of sucesss reflect in me (Me)
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
(He's the greatest) Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)He's the greatest
(He's the greatest)Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)I saw the light
(He's the greatest)At the end of the tunnel
(Can you feel it?)Believe in a pot of gold
(He's the greatest)At the end of a rainbow
I am a tall tree, oh
I am a swift wind
Sweeping the country
I am a river,
Down in the valley, oh
I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall, look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I am a giant
I am an Eagle oh
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marching band
I am the people oh
I am a helping hand
I am a hero
If anybody asks you who I am, just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it, hmm
I'm the worlds greatest
In the ring of life,
I'll reign in love (I will reign)
And the world will notice a king (oh, yeah)
When all is darkness,
I'll shine a light (shine a light)
And the mirrors of sucesss reflect in me (Me)
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
I'm that little bit of hope
When my back's against the ropes
I can feel it
I'm the worlds greatest
(He's the greatest) Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)He's the greatest
(He's the greatest)Can you feel it?
(Can you feel it?)I saw the light
(He's the greatest)At the end of the tunnel
(Can you feel it?)Believe in a pot of gold
(He's the greatest)At the end of a rainbow
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"I had all and then most of you"
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"Some and now none of you"
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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I Can't Go To Sleep
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American Town
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I reckon that this sing has got real meaning. It's about a guy who pulled thru all his struggle and is now on top of the world...
This is a song about Muhammed Ali. He was the greatest, just just the greatest athlete, but one of the greatest American in the 20th century.
why are you the only person who knows what this song is about? i thought that was common knowledge
The song was about Mahammed Ali as yoyofella just stated. Mahammed Ali would always say "I'm the Worlds greatest" as in boxer... Not Athlet. And let's all face it, he is. No one was as good a boxer or ever will be than Mahammed Ali. That's what this song is about. How no one will ever be as great a boxer as Mahammed Ali. If you watch the music video for this song, R. Kelly is playing a boxer (Mahammed Ali) and he gets into the ring and the song starts. It's a great song dedicated to Mahammed Ali.
You guys have the wrong idea, think about what colors show, what is the artist trying to tell you by only showing red white and blue? What do you think the purpose was in showing the US army, the doctors and women and children of America. Fire-fighters & policemen of AMERICA. What is he showing by wearing American-flag-print attire, and everyone in the audience holding American flags.
He is saying that his country is the worlds greatest, that country be the USA.
very inspirational and touching.
i think he has worked really hard and has got a meaning that there is a man who wants to be the worlds greatest.keep it up!!!!!
HE'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST, THE WORLDS GREATEST RAPER! lol
I'm thinkin you probably mean Rapper, not Raper. If he were the world's greatest raper, this song would be quite distasteful. :-) Also, just to be REALLY picky, you don't really hear R Kelly rapping all that much, do you? He's more of a singer. Have a nice day!
i think rockinrose ment raper...there are a lot of rumors that says he has been raping girls...an stuff
by the way i think it is a great song...about a guy who feels like he´s on top of the world....like wow i made it! =)