The Greatest – English Lyrics

• By: Sia, Kendrick Lamar
• Album: This Is Acting

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful message of resilience in Sia's 'The Greatest.' This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English through its repetitive and empowering lyrics. As you listen, you'll not only expand your vocabulary with words of strength and perseverance but also connect with a story of remembrance and hope that touched the world.

[English]

Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

Well, oh, I got stamina

And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb

But I, I got stamina

And uh-oh, I need another love to be mine

Cause I, I got stamina

Don't give up; I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up; I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive

Well, uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

But, oh, I got stamina

And oh yeah, running to the waves below

But I, I got stamina

And oh yeah, I'm running and I'm just enough

And uh-oh, I got stamina

Don't give up; I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up; I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Hey, I am the truth

Hey, I am the wisdom of the fallen; I'm the youth

Hey, I am the greatest; hey, this is the proof

Hey, I work hard, pray hard, pay dues, hey

I transform with pressure; I'm hands-on with effort

I fell twice before; my bounce back was special

Letdowns will get you, and the critics will test you

But the strong will survive; another scar may bless you, ah

Don't give up (no no)

I won't give up (no no)

Don't give up, no no no (nah)

Don't give up; I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

The greatest, the greatest alive

(Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up; I got stamina)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stamina /ˈstamɪnə/ B2	noun - the physical or mental ability to keep going for a long time
greatest /ˈɡreɪtɪst/ B2	adjective / noun - most excellent or outstanding; the highest level
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - not dead; living
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under control or in a situation that limits movement or action
truth /truːθ/ B2	noun - the real facts about something
wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ C1	noun - the ability to choose good decisions based on knowledge and experience
pressure /ˈpreʃər/ B2	noun - force or stress applied on something; a difficult situation that causes stress
effort /ˈɛfərt/ B1	noun - an attempt to do something that requires energy or work
critics /ˈkrɪtɪks/ B2	noun - people who judge or evaluate something, especially art or performances
scar /skɑːr/ B2	noun - a mark left on the skin after a cut or injury
test /tɛst/ B1	noun / verb - a procedure to evaluate or measure something; to assess or examine
manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ B2	verb - to succeed in doing something; to control or be responsible for

Key Grammar Structures

• Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'running out of breath' uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening now.

• I got stamina

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ 'Got' is in the present simple tense, indicating a habitual or permanent state.

• I see another mountain to climb

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Future Meaning

  ➔ The present simple 'see' is used here to describe a future action that is certain.

• Don't give up; I won't give up

  ➔ Negative Imperative and Future Simple

  ➔ 'Don't give up' is a negative imperative, while 'I won't give up' uses the future simple with 'will' for a promise or decision.

• I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

  ➔ Present Continuous with Adjective

  ➔ 'I'm free' and 'I'm alive' use the present continuous with adjectives to describe temporary states.

• Hey, I am the truth

  ➔ Present Simple with 'be'

  ➔ 'I am' is the present simple form of 'be' used to state a fact or identity.

• I transform with pressure; I'm hands-on with effort

  ➔ Present Simple and Present Continuous Contrast

  ➔ The sentence contrasts the permanent state ('transform') with the temporary action ('I'm hands-on').

• The greatest, the greatest alive

  ➔ Superlative Adjective

  ➔ 'Greatest' is the superlative form of 'great', indicating the highest degree.