Even the Great Ones Fall
The Elders Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It was cotton, rice and rock and roll
Runnin' through his veins
Fifty miles from Memphis
Chasin' that mystery train
Throughout the South and Canada
Livin' fast ‘til the money was gone
Stealin' bread and cigarettes
They just kept crackin' on

Wish he could hear us sing his song
The greatest of them all
Somehow we'll have to get along
‘Cos even the great ones fall, yeah
Even the great ones fall

When the mystery tramp came callin'
The times they were strange
In that little pink house in the basement
The year that everything changed
From Woodstock to the pool house
He laid that pocket down
From the Great Divide to Atlantic City
From Dixie to Chinatown

Wish he could hear us sing his song
The greatest of them all
Somehow we'll have to get along
‘Cos even the great ones fall, yeah
Even the great ones fall

I remember the day
They told us he was gone
I prayed someday I could shake his hand
I guess he was ramblin' on
I pulled out all those records
And the tears came with regret




I hope he knew before he went
We will never ever forget

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Elders' song "Even the Great Ones Fall" tell the story of a musician who was born in the South and discovered his passion for music at a young age. As he grew older, he traveled throughout the South and Canada, living life in the fast lane until his money eventually ran out. He continued to play music and survive by stealing bread and cigarettes, never losing his love for the art form.


The lyrics reflect on the musician's life and the places he played, including Woodstock, Atlantic City, and Chinatown. They also discuss the strange and unpredictable times in which he lived, represented by the "mystery tramp" who came calling. Ultimately, the song reflects on the musician's legacy and how even though he is gone, his music lives on and continues to inspire others.


The song serves as a tribute to musicians who have struggled and faced challenges in their careers. It acknowledges that even the most talented and respected artists can fall from grace, but their music and contributions to the industry continue to be celebrated and remembered.


Line by Line Meaning

It was cotton, rice and rock and roll
He was raised in the South, with the sounds of the land and the music of his generation infused in his blood.


Runnin' through his veins
The essence of rock and roll and the rhythm of the South were a part of him, flowing through him at all times.


Fifty miles from Memphis
Located near one of the most notable music hubs in the United States, he had access to the best of the best.


Chasin' that mystery train
He was always in search of something greater, a higher purpose or meaning to his life that was just out of reach.


Throughout the South and Canada
From the Deep South to America's northern neighbor, he explored every inch of the country, seeking new experiences and encounters.


Livin' fast ‘til the money was gone
He lived life to its fullest, but never held onto money for long; always seeking new adventures and willing to let go of financial stability to pursue them.


Stealin' bread and cigarettes
He lived life on the move, sometimes resorting to theft to provide for himself.


They just kept crackin' on
Despite the hardships and difficulties they faced, they persevered, always pushing forward to the next adventure or challenge.


Wish he could hear us sing his song
He left an indelible mark on the world, and those who knew him or heard his music continue to honor and remember him.


The greatest of them all
In the eyes of his fans and those who admire his legacy, he was one of the greatest musicians and people to ever exist.


Somehow we'll have to get along
Despite his absence, the world must continue moving forward and finding ways to cope with the loss.


‘Cos even the great ones fall, yeah
No one, no matter how talented or great, is immune to struggles or tragedy.


When the mystery tramp came callin'
When he encountered the unknown, something that defied explanation or understanding.


The times they were strange
The world was changing, and much of what was once familiar was becoming alien and unfamiliar.


In that little pink house in the basement
At a time of great upheaval and uncertainty, he sought refuge and comfort wherever he could find it.


The year that everything changed
A pivotal moment in his life, a time where everything he knew and understood was forever altered.


From Woodstock to the pool house
From the iconic music festival to more mundane and everyday settings, he experienced all walks of life.


He laid that pocket down
He let go of his worldly possessions and wealth, instead prioritizing his art and passions.


From the Great Divide to Atlantic City
From the geographic and cultural divides in the United States to a major gambling and resort destination, he ventured far and wide.


From Dixie to Chinatown
From his beloved South to a vibrant and bustling neighborhood in the Northeast, he explored all corners of the country.


I remember the day
A momentous occasion that remains permanently etched in his memory.


They told us he was gone
The devastating news of his passing that took everyone by surprise and caused immense grief.


I prayed someday I could shake his hand
A heartfelt desire to meet him in person and express his admiration and respect for him.


I guess he was ramblin' on
Perhaps he was always meant to be a wanderer, constantly seeking out new experiences and facing the challenges that came with them.


I pulled out all those records
Reliving the memories and experiences associated with his music, seeking comfort and inspiration from what he left behind.


And the tears came with regret
Overwhelmed with emotions and longing, and regretful that he will never again be able to create or share his talent with the world.


I hope he knew before he went
A wish to believe that he was aware of just how impactful and important he was to those around him.


We will never ever forget
A promise to keep his memory alive and continue honoring his contributions to music and the world at large.




Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

AFGuidesHD

You should have acted, they're already here.
The Elder Scrolls told of their return.
Their defeat, was merely delay.
To the time after Oblivion opened.
When the sons of Skyrim would spill their own blood.
But no one wanted to believe - believe they even existed.
And when the truth finally dawns, it dawns in fire.
But, there's one they fear.
In their tongue he's Dovakhin - Dragonborn!

Simply the best trailer of all time, goosebumps on every viewing.



MyAnalyser

@Spooky Marine I value your opinion but what feeling of awe you get is not a valid measurement for what the best game actually is, because you may feel that awe for Skyrim, I may have it for Zelda and your neighbour has it for Red Dead Redemption 2.
Just because the next person tells me he has such an amazing feeling for awe for Fifa2020 doesn't suddenly make that the best game either.



It's a great game, understand though that there are also many people who dislike Skyrim. For one, many people dislike the open ended gameplay because they prefer a more tightly focused story and gameplay experience, something like Mass effect 1 or 2 for example.


Myself I do think Skyrim is one of the best games ever, but I feel Breath of the Wild went a step further in genious world design and amazing puzzles (of which there aren't many in Skyrim) and then I love some other games for other reasons.



All comments from YouTube:

AFGuidesHD

You should have acted, they're already here.
The Elder Scrolls told of their return.
Their defeat, was merely delay.
To the time after Oblivion opened.
When the sons of Skyrim would spill their own blood.
But no one wanted to believe - believe they even existed.
And when the truth finally dawns, it dawns in fire.
But, there's one they fear.
In their tongue he's Dovakhin - Dragonborn!

Simply the best trailer of all time, goosebumps on every viewing.

Billy Henerson

You forgot "*FUS RO DAH!*"

Staniel Das Boot

I practiced the dragontongue and the voice of the narrator for years, and can still do both. My wife (shes real, I swear) laughs her ass off every time I start talking about the dragonborn at weird and sometimes inappropriate moments.

Vernus Red

Half-life: Alyx, Portal 2: take a seat young Skywalker

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My son watches your videos

Lick My gooch

No there have definitely been better trailers lmao

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SP Inc.

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And I never really could get back to it because of the thought of how it could look with enough mods, but never had the strenght to install of them in a correct and working way. (And maybe the side fact I get way to quick in an aroused state because I am a simple man and so I only would think of adding specific mods to the game after few hours playing.. I am my own hell for not being able to have more fun in the game. Amen)

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