The song peaked at number one in Austria, Flanders, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland while charting within the top 10 across several other countries and peaking at number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also appeared in Mitsubishi Motors promotional videos from 2001 until 2004.
Background
The song has many classic Bon Jovi features, such as Sambora's use of the talk box, and a line in the second verse "For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down" refers to Tommy and Gina, a fictional working class couple that Bon Jovi and Sambora first wrote about in their 1986 hit "Livin' on a Prayer".
"It's My Life" is also notable for its line referencing fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra: "My heart is like an open highway / Like Frankie said / I did it 'My Way'." Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora apparently had a disagreement over those lines, with Bon Jovi recalling:
I had just come home from making U-571 and I said "Sinatra made 16 movies and toured till he was 80. This is my role model." He [Sambora] said, "You can't write that damn lyric. Nobody cares about Frank Sinatra but you." And I wrote it anyway.
In Paul Anka's cover of the song for his 2005 album Rock Swings, he sings the second line as "Frankie said he did it my way", since Anka wrote "My Way".
Response from fans
"Nobody had anticipated the song 'It's My Life'," noted Jon Bon Jovi in 2007. "Except us. We knew we had a hit." The song became an anthem that appealed to many fans. As Bon Jovi later stated: "I thought I was writing very self-indulgently about my own life and where I was in it. I didn't realize that the phrase 'It's My Life' would be taken as being about everyone – by teenagers, by older guys, mechanics, whatever. 'It's my life, and I'm taking control.' Everyone kind of feels that way from time to time."
Music video
The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. Will Estes (as Tommy) and Shiri Appleby (as Gina) are the two main characters. At the beginning, Tommy is watching a video of a Bon Jovi concert on his computer when he is ordered by his mother to take out the trash. Suddenly, Gina calls and tells him to immediately come to the tunnel as the live concert has already started.Tommy starts running down to his apartment and obediently takes out the trash. He then runs through the streets of Los Angeles up to the concert, getting chased by dogs, running a marathon, posing for pictures, and jackknifing a truck. The video was inspired by the film Run Lola Run. Jon Bon Jovi met Estes on the set of U-571 and chose him to be in the video. The music video features the 2nd Street Tunnel as one of the main settings.
It is the most viewed video for Bon Jovi on YouTube, with over 900 million views as of November 2020.
It's My Life
Bon Jovi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No silent prayer for faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
Yeah, this is for ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's gettin' harder, make no mistake
Luck ain't even luck, you gotta make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just wanna live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
The lyrics of Bon Jovi's hit song "It's My Life" encourage listeners to take control of their lives and live it to the fullest. The song is an affirmation of self-confidence and drive towards achieving one's goals. The opening line "This ain't a song for the broken-hearted" sets the tone for the rest of the song, indicating that it is a message of encouragement for those who have struggled but refuse to let that define them.
The chorus "It's my life, and it's now or never" emphasizes the urgency of living in the moment and taking chances in life. It encourages not putting off experiences and dreams until later, as life is short and every day should be lived to the fullest. The reference to Frankie in the line "My heart is like an open highway, like Frankie said I did it my way" is a nod to Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way," which is also about living life on one's terms.
The second verse pays tribute to those who stood their ground and refused to back down in the face of adversity, using the characters of Tommy and Gina as examples. The final verse encourages listeners to stand tall and not give in to pressure, reminding them that it's their life, and they have the power to create their own paths.
Overall, "It's My Life" is a powerful song that motivates listeners to take control of their destiny and live life on their terms. It is a reminder that life is precious and that every moment should be cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
I'm not here to sing a sad song for those who have been disappointed in life.
No silent prayer for faith-departed
I'm not here to offer a prayer for those who have lost faith in their lives.
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
I refuse to be just another person lost in the crowd without making my voice heard.
You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
When I speak, it will be with a loud voice that commands attention and respect.
It's my life
This is my personal journey in life that I am taking control of.
It's now or never
I have to take action now or I might not get another chance later.
I ain't gonna live forever
Death is inevitable, and I must make the most of my life while I still can.
I just wanna live while I'm alive
I want to enjoy my life to the fullest while I still have the time and energy to do so.
(It's my life)
This is a recurring theme in the song, emphasizing the importance of taking control of one's own life.
My heart is like an open highway
My heart is free and able to explore all possibilities that my life has to offer.
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
I took control of my life and made decisions according to what I believed to be right, just like Frank Sinatra's famous song.
Yeah, this is for ones who stood their ground
This song is dedicated to those who have stood by their beliefs and have not backed down, even when life gets tough.
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tommy and Gina are two characters who embody the courage to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what the odds are.
Tomorrow's gettin' harder, make no mistake
The future is uncertain, and every day poses new challenges that must be faced head-on.
Luck ain't even luck, you gotta make your own breaks
Life isn't just about luck; it's about creating your own opportunities through hard work and determination.
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
When others try to put you down, it's important to stand tall and remain confident in yourself and your beliefs.
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
No matter what life throws your way, it's important to remain strong and steadfast in your convictions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Sambora, Max Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arthursalitre8933
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For tommy and gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting hard make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your owns breaks
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
@channelthename
這不是一首獻給失戀者的歌
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
沒有為信仰離去的人默默祈禱
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
我不會只是人群中的一張臉
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
你會聽到我的聲音
You're gonna hear my voice
當我大聲喊出來時
When I shout it out loud
這是我的生活
It's my life
機不可失，勿失良機
It's now or never
我不會永遠活著
I ain't gonna live forever
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
我的心就像暢通的高速公路
My heart is like the open highway
就像弗蘭基說的，“我按照自己的方式做”
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
這是給那些堅守陣地的人的
This is for the ones who stood their ground
這是為了永不退縮的湯米和吉娜
It's for Tommy and Gina who never backed down
明天會更難，別犯錯
Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake
光有運氣是不夠的，你必須自己突破
Luck ain't enough, you've got to make your own breaks
這是我的生活
It's my life
機不可失，勿失良機
It's now or never
我不會永遠活著
I ain't gonna live forever
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
我的心就像暢通的高速公路
My heart is like the open highway
就像弗蘭基說的，“我按照自己的方式做”
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
當他們叫你出來時，你最好站直
You better stand tall when they're calling you out
不要彎曲，不要折斷，寶貝，不要退縮
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
這是我的生活
It's my life
機不可失，勿失良機
It's now or never
我不會永遠活著
I ain't gonna live forever
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
我的心就像暢通的高速公路
My heart is like the open highway
就像弗蘭基說的，“我按照自己的方式做”
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
我只想趁我還活著的時候好好活著
I just want to live while I'm alive
這是我的生活
It's my life
@marcobisoli5965
LYRICS
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for faith-departed
And I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
But I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
Yeah, this is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky, got to make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
@charlesgomes1558
Lyrics
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for faith-departed
And I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
But I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
Yeah, this is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky, got to make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
@verasanti1793
"It's My Life"
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said,
"I did it my way."
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said,
"I did it my way."
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said,
"I did it my way."
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said,
"I did it my way."
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life!
@user-mm3sk7kz2p
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
It's for Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake
Luck ain't enough, you've got to make your own breaks
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'cause It's my life
You better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
.. ,,,, , .. ,,,, , ..
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
→It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
→It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said, "I did it my way"
I just want to live while I'm alive
'cause ↑It's my life
@valeyv3575
0% nudity
0% sexuality
0% cursing
0% drugs
100% running
@ralphlorenzperolino3054
Yeah because the song is inspired from the German film Run Lola Run.
@lynneufeld3175
@@ralphlorenzperolino3054 I saw that Movie!
@ronaldgoncalvesdasilva3019
Yes, very good
@FrsT-hj1hi
perks of a song that doesn't die
@wolfdog3618
Really did you really have to fucken say that
@alfikaagustin9996
2000 = legend
2010= still legend
2020 = still legend
2024 = always still legend
@Ghost-17263
The true nostalgia of this song
@bonner-roush7022
Dudes, we were sunbathing to the First Album in 1984🤗 my brother got jealous, cause my BFF (Sandra Smalley, SO HOT) we were getting ready for the concert💎🪞👗👠📿💄👛🏎️🌹🌉❤️♾️
@Ghost-17263
@@bonner-roush7022 oh wow