One of the Greats

I crawled up from under the earth

Broken nails and coughing dirt

Spitting out my songs so you could sing along oh

And with each bedraggled breath

I knew I came back from the dead

To show you how it's done

To show you what it takes to conquer and to crucify

To become one of the greats

One of the greats

I kept a scream inside my chest

Killed everyone I'd ever kissed

Hung them on the wall like trophies

Each name a stain upon my lips

I told the truth but could never see it through

You see yourself hung on the wall

But that song is not about you

I wrote down all my fumbling visions transmitted via television

Got everything I thought I wanted

And cried hungover in a hotel closet

Did I get it right?

Do I win the prize?

Do you regret bringing me back to life?

Arms outstretched

Back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched, back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

I did my best

Tried to impress

My childhood dream made flesh

And my dresses and my flowering sadness

So like a woman to profit from her madness

I was only beautiful under the lights

Only powerful there

Oh, burned down at 36

Why did you dig me up for this?

Arms outstretched

Back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched

Back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

You'll bury me again

You'll say it's all pretend

That I could never be great being held up against such male tastes

'Cause who really gets to be one of the greats

One of the greats

But I've really done it this time

This one is all mine

I'll be up there with the men and the ten other women

In The 100 Greatest Records of All Time

It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can

Now don't get me wrong

I'm a fan

You're my second-favourite front man

And you could have me if you weren't so afraid of me

It's funny how men don't find power very sexy

So this one's for the ladies

Do I drive you crazy?

Did I get it right?

Did I get it right?

Do I win the prize?

Do you regret bringing me back to life?

Did I get it right?

Do I win the prize?

Do you regret bringing me back to life?

Arms outstretched

Back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched

Back from the dead

Streetlights bursting

Too feminine to function

A pile of bodies and a trail of destruction

I will let the light in

I will let some love in

I will be happy

It will be perfect

I will let the light in

I will let some love in

I will be happy

It will be perfect

I will let the light in

Arms outstretched, back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched, back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched, back from the dead

Streetlights bursting overhead

Arms outstretched

Arms outstretched

Streetlights bursting

Overhead

Overhead

Streetlights bursting

Overhead