Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
I made you laugh, I made you cry
I made you open up your eyes
Didn't I?
I helped you open out your wings
Your legs, and many other things
Didn't I?
Am I the greatest bastard that you know?
The only one who let you go?
The one you hurt so much you cannot bear?
Well, we were good, when we were good
When we were not misunderstood
You helped me love, you helped me live
You helped me learn how to forgive
Didn't you?
I wish that I could say the same
But when you left, you left the blame
Didn't you?
Am I the greatest bastard that you met?
The only one you can't forget?
Am I the one your truth's been waiting for?
Or am I just dreaming once again?
Some dreams are better when they end
Some make it, mistake it
Some force and some will fake it
I never meant to let you down
Some fret it, forget it
Some ruin and some regret it
I never meant to let you down
We learn to wag and tuck our tails
We learn to win and then to fail
Didn't we?
We learn that lovers love to sing
And that losers love to cling
Didn't we?
Am I the greatest bastard that you know?
When will we learn to let this go?
We fought so much, we've broken all the charm
But letting go is not the same
As pushing someone else away
So please don't let on
You don't know me
Please don't let on
I'm not here
Please don't let on
You don't love me
'Cause I know you do
I know
That some make it, mistake it
Some force and some will fake it
I never meant to let you down
Some fret it, forget it
Some ruin and some regret it
I never meant to let you down
I never meant to let you
I never meant to let you down
I never meant
I made you open up your eyes
Didn't I?
I helped you open out your wings
Your legs, and many other things
Didn't I?
Am I the greatest bastard that you know?
The only one who let you go?
The one you hurt so much you cannot bear?
Well, we were good, when we were good
When we were not misunderstood
You helped me love, you helped me live
You helped me learn how to forgive
Didn't you?
I wish that I could say the same
But when you left, you left the blame
Didn't you?
Am I the greatest bastard that you met?
The only one you can't forget?
Am I the one your truth's been waiting for?
Or am I just dreaming once again?
Some dreams are better when they end
Some make it, mistake it
Some force and some will fake it
I never meant to let you down
Some fret it, forget it
Some ruin and some regret it
I never meant to let you down
We learn to wag and tuck our tails
We learn to win and then to fail
Didn't we?
We learn that lovers love to sing
And that losers love to cling
Didn't we?
Am I the greatest bastard that you know?
When will we learn to let this go?
We fought so much, we've broken all the charm
But letting go is not the same
As pushing someone else away
So please don't let on
You don't know me
Please don't let on
I'm not here
Please don't let on
You don't love me
'Cause I know you do
I know
That some make it, mistake it
Some force and some will fake it
I never meant to let you down
Some fret it, forget it
Some ruin and some regret it
I never meant to let you down
I never meant to let you
I never meant to let you down
I never meant
Lyrics submitted by mikeandersonwa, edited by niteflite01
The Greatest Bastard Lyrics as written by Damien George Rice
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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He certainly did earn that reputation.
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This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone).
And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Such a hugely emotional song to his ex-lover Lisa Hannigan in my opinion. I'd say accidental babies from his 9 album is probably related. He obviously feels a whirlwind of emotions still - self deprecating, apologetic and rejected.
I agree, to me it sounds like the whole new album is about Lisa...
Funny. I understood two verses as a whole. "Am I just dreaming once again----> (that) some dreams are better when they end????"
The thing with interrogatives in songs is that we actually don't know when they end most of the time, do we? At least till the "official lyrics" are released...
Besides, there was so much chemistry between those two that it's so difficult to lose hope...
They both seem like aliens to me, and both of them scare me to Hell but...
WICKED BEAUTIFUL ALBUM, btw.
(One little typo: "troops" should be "truth's", I think. "Am I the one your TRUTH'S been waiting for?")
This song, so full of absolute raw emotion.
During the Dublin gig last week Damien talked about how he asked Lisa to work with him on this album and she said no. At that point he was able to let go and get back to work.
I would love to know which of these songs came after that conversation, this one would certainly be from before it. You can hear the pain in his voice almost, the way he whispers that some dreams are better when they end, wow, shivers.