The group's real history is shrouded in mystery -- they claim to be the last great '50s group and to have been kidnapped by Laotian guerillas while entertaining U.S. troops in Vietnam and not rescued until 1983.
As of 1991, they were an octet featuring four lead singers, Marty Kaniger (also guitar), Tom Lee (also guitar), Bob Wayne, and Don Raymond (also guitar), plus John Hatton (bass), Norman A. Norman (keyboards), Bob Sandman (reeds), and Damon DeGrignon (drums).
Greatest Love of All
Big Daddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teach them well and let them lead the way.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier;
Let the children's laughter remind us how we use to be.
Everybody's searching for a hero;
People need someone to look up to.
A lonely place to be, and so I learned to depend on me.
I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow.
If I fail, if I succeed.
At least I lived as I believe.
No matter what they take from me,
They can't take away my dignity.
Because the greatest love of all is happening to me.
I found the greatest love of all inside of me.
The greatest love of all is easy to achieve.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.
I believe that children are our future;
Teach them well and let them lead the way.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier;
Let the children's laughter remind us how we use to be.
I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow.
If I fail, if I succeed, at least I lived as I believe.
No matter what they take from me,
They can't take away my dignity.
Because the greatest love of all is happening to me.
I found the greatest love of all inside of me.
The greatest love of all is easy to achieve.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.
And if by chance that special place that you've been dreaming of
Lead you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
In "Greatest Love of All," Big Daddy expresses his belief that children are the future and they should be taught the values necessary for leading a happy and successful life, including a strong sense of self-worth and dignity. He emphasizes the importance of showing children "the beauty they possess inside" and giving them a sense of pride to make it easier for them to achieve their goals.
The song also speaks about the need for a hero or someone to look up to, but Big Daddy admits that he never found someone to fulfill his needs. He learned to depend on himself and decided that he would never walk in anyone's shadow. He encourages others to do the same, to live according to their beliefs and never compromise their dignity, even if they fail along the way. The greatest love of all is inside each person, and learning to love oneself is the ultimate achievement.
The final stanza of the song urges the listener to "find your strength in love" if they find themselves in a lonely place or struggling to achieve their goals. This is a reminder that love is a powerful force that can help individuals find the courage and determination they need to persevere, even in challenging situations.
Overall, "Greatest Love of All" is a powerful message of hope and self-belief, urging listeners to embrace their own worth and believe in their ability to make a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe that children are our future;
I have confidence that the young ones will lead us towards a better future.
Teach them well and let them lead the way.
We should offer them knowledge and guidance so that they can steer us in the right direction.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
We need to help them understand their own worth and potential so they can be confident in themselves.
Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier;
By encouraging their positive qualities and achievements, we can make it easier for them to succeed and feel good about themselves.
Let the children's laughter remind us how we use to be.
We should let the sounds of their joy remind us of our own happier times and rediscover the simple pleasures in life.
Everybody's searching for a hero;
Many people are looking for a role model or someone to admire and learn from.
People need someone to look up to.
People want a person they can look up to for inspiration and guidance.
I never found anyone who fulfilled my need.
I have not found a person who met all my expectations and desires just yet.
A lonely place to be, and so I learned to depend on me.
It can be a lonely and difficult path, but I learned to rely on myself and become self-sufficient.
I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow.
I made the choice to always be my own person and never try to copy or follow in someone else's footsteps.
If I fail, if I succeed.
Whether I succeed or fail, I am committed to living my life on my own terms.
At least I lived as I believe.
No matter what happens, I can take pride in knowing that I stayed true to my own values and beliefs.
No matter what they take from me,
Regardless of what happens in life, no one can take away my inner strength and worth.
They can't take away my dignity.
My dignity and self-respect are things that always belong to me and cannot be taken away.
Because the greatest love of all is happening to me.
I have discovered that the greatest love I could ever receive is the love I give to myself.
I found the greatest love of all inside of me.
I learned to love and appreciate myself for who I am, faults and all.
The greatest love of all is easy to achieve.
It's easier than you might think to cultivate self-love and compassion.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.
There is no love greater than the love you give yourself.
And if by chance that special place that you've been dreaming of leads you to a lonely place,
If the path you're on takes you to a place of isolation and loneliness,
Find your strength in love
Turn to the love and care you have for yourself to give you the strength and resilience to keep going.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Linda Diane Creed, Michael Masser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind