The Greatest – English Lyrics

• By: Sia
• Album: This Is Acting

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of resilience and self-expression through Sia's 'The Greatest.' This song offers a chance to learn empowering English vocabulary related to strength and perseverance. Its connection to a significant real-world event makes it a poignant and memorable way to engage with the language and understand its capacity for tribute and hope.

[English]

Uh-oh, runnin' 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, I got stamina

Uh-oh, I need another lover, be mine

Cause I, 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, runnin' out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, runnin' now, I close my eyes

But, oh, I got stamina

And oh yeah, runnin' through the waves of love

But I, I got stamina

And oh yeah, I'm runnin' and I've 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

...

(I got stamina

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

(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
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
stamina /ˈstæmɪnə/ B2	noun - the physical or mental strength that allows you to continue doing something for a long time
greatest /ˈɡreɪtɪst/ B1	adjective - superlative of great; largest in amount or degree
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to transfer the possession of something to someone verb - to yield or surrender
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under the control or power of another
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - having life
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - air taken into or expelled from the lungs
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
climb /klaɪm/ A1	verb - to go up or ascend
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person in love with another
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something because it is essential
close /kloʊz/ A1	verb - to shut something
waves /weɪvz/ A2	noun - long body of water curling down into the sea

Key Grammar Structures

• Uh-oh, runnin' out of breath

  ➔ Present Participle (informal) + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ This uses the present participle "runnin'" (informal for "running") to describe an ongoing action, combined with the phrasal verb "run out of," meaning to exhaust a supply of something.

• Oh, I, I got stamina

  ➔ Informal Past Tense 'got' for Possession

  ➔ In informal English, "got" is often used instead of "have" or "have got" to express possession. Here, "I got stamina" means "I have stamina."

• I see another mountain to climb

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to climb" is used here to explain the purpose or function of "another mountain" – it's a mountain that needs to be climbed or is meant for climbing.

• be mine

  ➔ Imperative (Request)

  ➔ This is an imperative verb form, used here as a request or plea to someone to "be mine" (become the speaker's lover). It directly expresses a desire or command.

• Don't give up

  ➔ Negative Imperative + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ This is a negative imperative, forming a direct command or instruction not to perform an action. It also features the common phrasal verb "give up," meaning to stop trying.

• I won't give up

  ➔ Future Simple (Negative)

  ➔ "Won't" is the contraction of "will not," forming the negative future simple tense. It expresses a strong decision or determination about a future action that will not happen.

• I'm free to be the greatest

  ➔ Adjective + Infinitive

  ➔ This structure uses an adjective ("free") followed by an infinitive ("to be") to describe a state of being or an ability/permission. It means "I have the freedom to be the greatest."

• running now, I close my eyes

  ➔ Present Participle Clause (Adverbial)

  ➔ The phrase "running now" acts as a present participle clause, functioning adverbially to describe an action happening concurrently with the main verb "I close my eyes." It implies "While I am running now, I close my eyes."