When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.
He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".
After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.
Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.
In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.
It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.
Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.
My Way
Brook Benton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, you know, I got to face the final curtain
My friends, I'll say it clear
Let me state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived, I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
More than this
I did it my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my way (my way)
Regrets (I got regrets)
Well, I've had me a few (I've had a few)
But then again (but then again)
Too doggone few to mention (too few to mention)
I did (all I did) what I had to do (what I had to do)
Oh, I saw it through (I saw it through without exemption) without exemption
And took my time and planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more than this (more than this)
More than this (more than this)
More than this (more than this)
I did it my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my way (oh)
Yes, there were times (yes, there were times)
I'm sure you knew (I'm sure you knew)
When I kinda bit off (I bit off)
A little bit more than I could chew (than I could chew)
But by the help of God
When there was doubt
People, I ate it up, yes, and I spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way, my way, my, my, my, my way
I've loved, yes, I have
I've laughed and cried
God knows I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, now, now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
Now just to think, I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Woah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, not me (not me)
Man, I had to do it my way
My way
What is a man, tell me what has he got
If not himself, then, people, he has not
He's gotta say the things, he truly feels
And not the words, of one who kneels
My record shows, I had to take a few blows
But I did it my way
The song 'My Way' by Brook Benton was originally written by Paul Anka, and popularized by Frank Sinatra. It is a song about living one's life on their own terms, without any regrets. In this song, the singer reflects on his life, acknowledging that the end is near and he is facing the final curtain. He states clearly that he's lived a life that's full, traveled every highway and done it his way. The singer admits to having regrets, but he didn't let them hold him back. He did what he had to do and saw it through without exemption. The singer took charge of his life with each charted course, each careful step along the byway, and did it his way.
This song is an anthem for living one's life boldly and to the fullest. It urges the listener to take life into their own hands and do what they need to do to fulfill their dreams without any hesitation. The message is evident in the lyrical content, which speaks to anyone regardless of their age, race, or gender. The song's message of individualism, legacy and a life well-lived made it popular among generations of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
And now the end is near
I am approaching the end of my life
And so I face the final curtain
I am facing death with acceptance
My friend I'll say it clear
I am being honest with you
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I will defend my life choices
I've lived a life that's full
I have experienced a rich and fulfilling life
I traveled each and every highway
I have explored all opportunities
And more, much more than this
I have accomplished beyond my expectations
I did it my way
I have lived according to my own choices and values
Regrets I've had a few
I have made some mistakes in life
But then again too few to mention
But they were not significant enough to remember
I did what I had to do
I did what was necessary to achieve my goals
And saw it through without exemption
I persevered without exception
I planned each charted course
I have made careful plans for my life
Each careful step along the byway
I have taken each step with care and caution
Yes there were times I'm sure you knew
I acknowledge that I had difficult times
When I bit off more than I could chew
When I took on more than I could handle
But through it all when there was doubt
But I persevered even when I was uncertain
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
I handled everything that came my way
And I stood tall and did it my way
I remained confident and true to myself
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I have experienced a range of emotions in life
I've had my fill, my share of losing
I have experienced failure and disappointment
And now as tears subside
As I near death, I am no longer emotional
I find it all so amusing
I can now look back at life with humor
To think I did all that
I am amazed at all that I accomplished
And may I say not in a shy way
I say this without hesitation or modesty
Oh no, oh no, not me
I am unique and not like others
I did it my way
I have lived according to my own choices and values
For what is a man what has he got
A man's worth is defined by his own achievements and values
If not himself then he has not
If he doesn't stay true to himself, he has nothing
To say the things he truly feels
To express his true emotions and beliefs
And not the words of one who kneels
Not to speak someone else's words or beliefs
The record shows I took the blows
My achievements prove my resilience
And did it my way
I have lived according to my own choices and values
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