My Greatest Victory

My Greatest Victory

[Dedicated to Max Schmeling, the Gentleman who lost to Joe Louis]

I fought a good fight, I’d won in the past.
I fought a good fight, always held out last.
I fought a good fight, but what stands out the most:
My greatest victory, my greatest victory,
My greatest victory was the fight that I lost.

I wanted to win for Germany,
But a win for my country – that couldn’t be.
I’d gotten a cable, “You’ll win this fight.
You’ll show the world Hitler is right.”

I fought a good fight, I’d won in the past.
I fought a good fight, always held out last.
I fought a good fight, but what stands out the most:
My greatest victory, my greatest victory,
My greatest victory was the fight that I lost.

I was sent to the front ‘cause I hadn’t won,
But I made it back after Hitler was gone.
Coca Cola then made my life sweet.
Endorsements got me back on my feet.

In the ‘50s, I watched a news show:
The IRS was snooping for Joe.
I took a plane, I looked him up,
Just in time – it turned his luck.

I fought a good fight, I’d won in the past.
I fought a good fight, always held out last.
I fought a good fight, but what stands out the most:
My greatest victory, my greatest victory,
My greatest victory was the fight that I lost.

Joe and I became friends. Who is to say
We both didn’t win a fight against Hitler – a fight against Hitler –
A.fight against Hitler – that day?

I fought a good fight, I’d won in the past.
I fought a good fight, always held out last.
I fought a good fight, but what stands out the most:
My greatest victory, my greatest victory,
My greatest victory was the fight that I lost.

Not the many I’d won But the fight – that I lost.