The Greatest
.Cat Power Lyrics
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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
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
The opening verse of Cat Power’s song, “The Greatest,” expresses the desire to be perceived as invincible and powerful. The line, “Once I wanted to be the greatest,” sets the tone for the composition, representing how the singer viewed herself as someone capable of withstanding anything that comes her way. However, the next two lines, “No wind or waterfall could stall me/And then came the rush of the flood,” tells of her eventual downfall. The rush of the flood symbolizes a sudden and overwhelming force that tore down the singer’s confidence and broke her down. The image of the stars turning to dust further emphasizes the sudden loss of what the singer once held dear.
The next verse deals with the aftermath of this downfall. The line, “Lower me down,” is an admission of defeat, and the “big black armor” represents a defense mechanism to shield herself from further harm, but at the cost of losing her grace. The singer is asking to be left behind without any trace of elegance or poise. The lines, “Culprit south/Make ‘em wash a space in town” reflect the singer's desire to start again, to relocate to the South and start anew, leaving her past behind. The final verse echoes the first verse, signifying the cycle of longing and falling.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I wanted to be the greatest
In the past, I had ambitions to be the best at something
No wind or waterfall could stall me
I believed that nothing could stop me from reaching my goals
And then came the rush of the flood
However, an unexpected obstacle or setback presented itself
Stars at night turned deep to dust
My world felt like it was falling apart and everything I believed in was shattered
Melt me down
I am asking to be broken down
Into big black armour
I want to be protected and hidden from the world
Leave no trace of grace
I don't want any evidence of my vulnerability or weaknesses
Just in your honor
I am willing to do this solely to please someone else
Lower me down
Put me in my place
Culprit south
I acknowledge that I may have done something wrong or am at fault
Make 'em wash a space in town
I want to be cleansed of my past mistakes and be given a fresh start
For the lead
So that I can be at the forefront of my new life
And the dregs of my bed
By leaving behind the negative associations of my past
I've been sleeping
I have been metaphorically asleep and unaware of my true self or potential
Lower me down
Again, I am asking to be put in my place
Pin me in
I am willing to be restrained if it means I can achieve my goals
Secure the grounds
I want to make sure everything is in place for me to succeed
For the later parade
I am focused on the future and the recognition I will receive for my efforts
Two fists of solid rock
I want to be strong and capable
With brains that could explain any feeling
I also want to be intelligent and able to understand and articulate complex emotions
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP
Written by: CHAN MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AmCart1221
The Greatest
By Cat Power
Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could stall me
And then came the rush of the flood
Stars of night turned deep to dust
Melt me down
Into big black armor
Leave no trace of grace
Just in your honor
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'
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 sleepin'
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
Stars of night turned deep to dust
@dearhoney_
My sister used to love this song and it was the last one she listened before she passed way
I miss you, my beloved big sister. I love you.
@inkabellvankennsch7613
I‘m sorry for your loss
@amissaanimamea2193
I'm so sorry for your loss.
@MsDetroit101
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@BlueSkyShine
I love you, the three most beautiful words ever spoken. Your sister had great taste in music, and she was lucky to have had you in her life.
@sarmazelje5274
I'm sorry for your loss.
@sierrasubha41
This song reminds me of my innocence as a kid. Being so optimistic. I thought the world was big full of good and wonder. Then I grew up and realized there is a lot of bad and sadness. A lot harder to be happy as an adult than a child. Ughhhh I’m crying. I wish I had someone to hug right now
@christiandullinger8457
Feel Hug from me.
@ki11j0y2
I kinda promised myself that one day I'd become a hero and acknowledge the good and evil in this world and help all this song reminds me of that promise ya know so I know exactly what you mean
@pocketNinjaGameing
I feel this, you can still find that beauty in the world you just look at it with a different awareness as a adult.