The Greatest

Kenny Rogers

About The Greatest

"The Greatest" is a song written by Don Schlitz, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in April 1999 as the first single from the album She Rides Wild Horses. The song reached #26 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.


Year:
2007
3:08
101 
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Little Boy, in a baseball hat
Stands in the field with his ball and bat
Says I am the greatest player of them all
Puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
Swings his bat all the way around
The world's so still you can hear the sound
The baseball falls to the ground

Now the little boy doesn't say a word
Picks up his ball, he is undeterred
Says I am the greatest there has ever been
And he grits his teeth and he tries it again

And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
Swings his bat all the way around
The world's so still you can hear the sound
The baseball falls to the ground

He makes no excuses, He shows no fears
He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers

Little boy, in a baseball hat
Picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says I am the greatest the game is on the line
And he gives his all one last time

And the ball goes up like the moon so bright
Swings his bat with all his might
And the world's so still as still can be
And the baseball falls, and that's strike three

Now it's supper time and his mama calls
Little boy starts home with his bat and ball
Says I am the greatest that is a fact
But even I didn't know I could pitch like that

He says I am the greatest that is understood
But even I didn't know I could pitch that good.

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Kenny Rogers

Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers (born August 21, 1938) is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, entrepreneur and author. Though he has been most successful with country audiences, he has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres and topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone. more »

5 fans

Written by: DONALD ALAN SCHLITZ

Lyrics © CAROL VINCENT & ASSOC LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Album Origin
"The Greatest" is a song by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It's from his album, "She Rides Wild Horses" which was released in 1999.
Song Popularity
The song reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Song Theme
The song's lyrics talk about a child pretending to be a baseball player who ultimately realizes that he's still the greatest even though he strikes himself out. Through a gentle baseball metaphor, the song delivers the message of self-confidence, positivity, and self-acceptance.
Songwriter
The song was written by Don Schlitz, a renowned American country music songwriter. Schlitz has written numerous hits for other country artists and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Song Interpretation
Despite often being interpreted as a baseball-themed song, the narrative ultimately serves as a reminder that if you believe in yourself, you're still the greatest, even in defeat.
Video Recognition
The music video won the TNN/Music City News Country Award for Country Dance Song of the Year in 1999.
Video Theme
The music video follows the theme of the song, involving a young boy dreaming of becoming a baseball player.
Released as a Single
"The Greatest" was released as a single in April 1999 and was the album's second single following "The Greatest Gift of All."
Artist's Recognition
Kenny Rogers, the artist who sang "The Greatest," was a highly respected country singer, having been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Album Success
The album "She Rides Wild Horses," which includes the song "The Greatest," went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA, signifying the sale of over half a million copies.
Following its Release
This song retains popularity among baseball fans and is often used in related media content to symbolize the spirit of the game.

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