The greatest man I never knew
lived just down the hall,
and every day we said hello
but never touched at all.
He was in his paper.
I was in my room.
How was I to know he thought
I hung the moon? 1
The greatest man I never knew
came home late every night,
He never had too much to say.
Too much was on his mind.
I never really knew him,
oh, and now it seems so sad.
Everything he gave to us
took all he had.
Then the days turned into years,
and the memories to black and white.
He grew cold like an old winter wind
blowing across my life.
The greatest words I never heard,
I guess I'll never hear.
The man I thought could never die
has been dead almost a year.
Oh, he was good at business
but there was business left to do.
He never said he loved me.
Guess he thought I knew.
1. (idiomatic, US) To consider someone to be extraordinary, the best, or exceptionally wonderful.