The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)

Single infobox
Name = The Greatest Man That Ever Lived

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Artist = Weezer
from Album = Weezer
Released = May 13, 2008
Format = Digital download
Recorded = 2008
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 5:51
Label = Geffen
Writer = Rivers Cuomo
Producer = Rick Rubin

"The Greatest Man That Ever Lived" is a song released as an iTunes single from alternative rock band Weezer's self-titled album, " Weezer". It was released in digital form on May 13, 2008. [ [http://weezer.com/comments/default.aspx/cid/363/tid/140637 Weezer : 05/14/08 the greatest man that ever lived - iTunes single! ] ]

The song includes piano, police sirens, and Cuomo singing in falsetto. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/19830818/page/39 Spring '08 LPs From Madonna, Coldplay, The Roots, Mudcrutch, Elvis Costello : Rolling Stone ] ] Bass player Scott Shriner was particularly proud of the song saying, "The song 'The Greatest Man That Ever Lived' is a masterpiece that includes ten different styles of music based around a common theme." [ [http://www.warwickbass.com/basssurvival101/artist_ScottShriner.htm WARWICK'S Bass Survival 101 Featured Artist - Scott Shriner ] ]

In the liner notes of the deluxe edition of the "The Red Album", Rivers stated that the song did not originally have the subtitle "Variations on a Shaker Hymn," however when guitarist Brian Bell's mom came into the studio to see them she mentioned a melody from the song sounded similar to a hymn that the choir would sing in church. As a result the band looked up the hymn and indeed the melody was so similar to Joseph Brackett's "Simple Gifts" that they credited the hymn with the subtitle.

The song was released as a downloadable song for the game "Rock Band" along with the songs "Troublemaker" and "Dreamin'."

Personnel

*Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals
*Patrick Wilson – percussion, backing vocals
*Brian Bell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
*Scott Shriner – bass guitar, backing vocals

References