The Greatest Love Of All
Shirley Bassey Lyrics


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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.

Everybody's searching for a hero;
People need someone to look up to.
I never found anyone who fulfilled my need.
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Greatest Love of All" by Shirley Bassey is an uplifting and inspiring anthem about the power of self-love and confidence. In the first verse, Bassey declares that children are the future and need to be taught to appreciate their own beauty and to take pride in themselves. She recognizes the importance of allowing children to be carefree and happy, as their laughter reminds us of the joy of youth. The second verse is a reflection on the search for a hero or role model, which can be difficult when one is feeling lonely and lost. Bassey reveals that she learned to depend on herself instead of others, and declared that she would never walk in anyone's shadow. She concludes that the most important love that one can have is for themselves, as it gives them inner strength, dignity, and the ability to achieve anything they desire.


The song was originally written in 1977 by Michael Masser and Linda Creed for George Benson, but was later popularized by Whitney Houston in 1985. Shirley Bassey recorded her own version in 2007, which was included on her album "Get the Party Started." The song has since become a timeless classic and has been covered by numerous artists.


Line by Line Meaning

I believe that children are our future;
A conviction that children are the next generation and have the potential to become better than the past generation


Teach them well and let them lead the way.
Educate them and allow them to drive the present and shape the future


Show them all the beauty they possess inside.
Reveal to them their internal charm and abilities


Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier;
Instill in them a positive self-image to propel them forward


Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.
The sounds of children having fun could evoke memories of the simple joys of life before excessive ambition and worries took hold.


Everybody's searching for a hero;
Every person seeks a role model, mentor, or savior


People need someone to look up to.
Humans require someone who embodies excellence, can guide them and inspire them


I never found anyone who fulfilled my need.
Shirley Bassey never met anyone who matched her expectations,


A lonely place to be, and so I learned to depend on me.
She ended up feeling isolated, so she had to rely on herself for companionship and self-fulfillment


I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow.
The singer chose to blaze her own trail rather than copy someone else.


If I fail, if I succeed.
In both success and failure moments,


At least I lived as I believe.
she upheld her values and lived as she deemed appropriate.


No matter what they take from me,
Regardless of what the detractors, critics or opponents take away from her,


They can't take away my dignity.
Her sense of pride, worth, and identity were not subject to their opinion or control.


Because the greatest love of all is happening to me.
There is no greater feeling in the world than the one the singer experiences right now.


I found the greatest love of all inside of me.
The most important love is the love she has for herself.


The greatest love of all is easy to achieve.
The most significant love is attainable and within reach.


Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.
Developing self-love and appreciation is the epitome of affection.


And if by chance that special place that you've been dreaming of
The environment she's been longing for,


Lead you to a lonely place.
Taking her to a desolate location


Find your strength in love
She should locate inner fortitude in what she loves




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Linda Creed, Michael Masser

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Leandro Andrade

A Maior Cantora do Mundo! ❤❤❤ Linda! De Grande e Admirável Beleza!♥️❤️♥️❤️

T L

a true masterpiece

Ana Silva

Maravilhosa como sempre!!! Muito obrigada.

Palle Sørensen

great song i love it

Luto Huja

Come sempre Meravigliosa!!!!

Debbie Kock

One of the Greatest Love song of all

Steve Pinder

Beautiful song, Sung by DSB the world's best entertainer.

Ruth Hildenbrandt

i love dame shirley and this song is great, just like she is. thanks.

JoAnn Lamonica

DAME SHIRLEY. HAS AND ALWAYS WILL WALK IN HER OWN SHOS👑👑👑👑👑

Bob S. Fox

A REAL DIVA IN ALL THE BEST SENSE OF THAT 'WORD"......SUPERIOR TALENT, CLASS, LOVE, TOLERANCE,  CARING & COMPASSION FOR ALL THOSE AROUND HER.....KNOWING SHIRLEY WELL & AS A FAN SHE BELIEVES  LIVING LIFE TO IT'S FULLEST.....A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE DEAN EVANS (RIP),  INTRODUCED ME TO HER @ THE VALLARES RESTURANT IN PALM SPRINGS, CA......BOB FOX

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