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