My Way
Bon Jovi ft. Paul Anka Lyrics

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And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I live a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And 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 chartered course
Each careful step along byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes, there were times and 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 face it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

I loved, I laughed, I 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
May I say, not in a shy way
No, 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 (the record shows) I took the blows
And did it my way

To say the things he truly feels (what to feel)
And not the words of one who kneels

The record shows we took the blows
And did it my way

Overall Meaning

The song "My Way" by Bon Jovi ft. Paul Anka is a cover of the classic song originally made famous by Frank Sinatra. The lyrics speak to living life on one's own terms and doing things the way one wants to. The opening lyrics "So now the end is near, And so I face the final curtain" refer to the end of one's life and the inevitable death that comes with it. Despite facing the end, the singer remains resolute in their independence and commitment to living life their own way.

The second verse expresses a lack of regret for the choices made in life. Though there may be opportunities missed or mistakes made, the singer stands by their decisions and accepts the consequences of their actions. The line "I did what I had to do And saw it through without exception" speaks to a sense of determination and self-assuredness. The third verse discusses facing challenges and doubts head-on, overcoming those obstacles and standing tall in the face of adversity. This verse emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not bowing down to others' expectations or opinions.

The fourth verse sums up the overall theme of the song. It speaks to the idea that a person's true worth lies in their individuality and the ability to express themselves honestly. The line "If not himself, then he has not, To say the things he truly feels" suggests that conformity and subservience deprive a person of their essence and purpose. The final lines of the song "The record shows I took the blows and did it my way" are a declaration of victory over life's challenges and a testament to the courage and conviction required to stay true to oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

So now the end is near
The end of my life is approaching.

And so I face the final curtain
I am ready to face death.

My friend I'll say it clear
I want to speak plainly to my loved ones.

I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I'll explain my actions, even if others may not agree with them.

I've lived a life that's full
I've lived a life without regrets.

I traveled each and every highway
I've experienced everything that life has to offer.

And more much more than this
I've done more than just live a normal life.

I did it my way.
I lived my life according to my own decisions and actions.

Regrets, I've had a few
I have some regrets, but they are minimal.

But then again too few to mention
I don't want to dwell on the things I regret.

I did what I had to do
I did what I thought was right.

And saw it through without exception
I completed all of my goals.

I planned each chartered course
I carefully planned how I wanted to live my life.

Each careful step alone the by way
I made every decision by myself.

Yes there were times I'm sure you knew
There were times when my friends and family were aware of my struggles.

When I bit off more than I could chew
I took on more than I could handle at times.

But through it all when there was doubt
Despite uncertainty, I kept going.

I ate it up and spit it out
I overcame challenges and moved forward.

I face it all and I stood tall
I faced adversity head-on and didn't let it defeat me.

And did it my way.
I persevered and conquered obstacles on my own terms.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've experienced a range of emotions.

I've had my fill my share of loosing
I've experienced my share of losses.

And the now as tears subside
Now, as I face the end of my life, I'm at peace.

I find it all so amusing
I find the ups and downs of life to be funny.

To think I did all that and my I say
I am proud of all that I have accomplished.

Not in a shy way
I don't want to be bashful about my achievements.

Oh no, oh no not me
I'm not afraid to speak up about what I've done.

The record shows I took the blows
My actions speak for themselves.

And did it my way
I lived life on my own terms.

The record shows I took the blows
Again, my actions speak for themselves.

And did it my way.
I have no regrets about how I lived my life.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, JEUNE MUSIQUE EDITIONS
Written by: Claude Francois, Gilles Thibaut, Jacques Revaux, Paul Anka

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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