Music Jukebox #3 – My way

This is one of the signature songs of Frank Sinatra and one of my favorite songs of all time.

And it has an interesting story as well.

First of all it is an adaptation of a 1967 French song called “"Comme d'habitude" ( As Usual) composed and written by Jacques Revaux and Claude François.

Paul Anka heard the original song while on holiday in the south of France and bought the rights for redording publishing. He wrote the lyrics in English having Frank Sinatra in mind who at that time was considering quitting the music industry.

A few hours before going to celebrate New Year's Eve at the Casino SANDS, Frank Sinatra recorded his version of the song on December 30, 1968, which was released in early 1969 on the ‘My Way’LP and as a single and earned him tremendous success.

Many artists sung this song including Elvis Presley and Paul Anka himself and was even inspiration for other to create songs with the same theme, like this one from Revolution Renaissance.

The lyrics go like this :

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
But more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say - not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
Yes, it was my way