My Way
D. Julien Lyrics

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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
Oh, 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 charted course
Each careful step along the byway
But 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
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

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

Overall Meaning

D. Julien’s song “My Way” is a powerful declaration of self-acceptance and self-love. The lyrics are a reflection of a life well-lived, with the singer acknowledging the end of their journey as they face the final curtain. However, instead of lamenting their imperfections or wishing for more time, they confidently declare that they lived their life fully, and that they did it their way. The song is a tribute to individuality, and the idea that we should all embrace our unique paths instead of trying to conform to certain standards or societal expectations.

The singer of the song takes pride in their accomplishments, acknowledging that they’ve traveled each and every highway and done more than most would ever dream of doing. They’ve made mistakes along the way, but they refuse to dwell on their regrets. Instead, they focus on the fact that they’ve always done what they had to do, seeing everything they started through to the end. They acknowledge that there were moments when they may have bitten off more than they could chew, but they faced those challenges head on and didn’t let their doubts get in the way. The song is a celebration of a life lived with passion, courage, and individuality.

Overall, “My Way” is a powerful reminder that we should all be proud of who we are and the lives we’ve lived. The song encourages us to embrace our unique paths, even if they’re not always easy, and to never give up on our dreams. It’s a rallying cry for individuality and self-acceptance, inspiring us to live our lives with purpose and authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

And now, the end is near
The end of life is near and approaching fast.

And so I face the final curtain
I am ready to face death, which is the final act of my life.

My friend, I'll say it clear
In a plain and simple manner, I am going to speak my mind.

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I am confident about the decisions I have made in my life and I will now defend them.

I've lived a life that's full
I have led a life that was rich and fulfilling.

I've traveled each and every highway
I have explored every possible path through life.

Oh, and more, much more than this
I have accomplished far more than just traveling all possible paths.

I did it my way
I have lived my life according to my own desires and intentions, without being dictated by others’ expectations.

Regrets, I've had a few
I have some remorse about some things that I did in my life, but not many.

But then again, too few to mention
I have so few regrets that they are hardly worth recounting.

I did what I had to do
I have acted from a sense of responsibility, doing what I perceived to be right in the circumstances.

And saw it through without exemption
I have persisted in my course of action, without making excuses or seeking ways out.

I planned each charted course
I had made clear plans, and followed them purposefully.

Each careful step along the byway
I have paid attention to the details that were important along the way of my journey.

But more, much more than this
Despite the plans I had made, much of what I have done has been beyond or different from what I had intended.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
I am certain you are aware that there were times when things were tough.

When I bit off more than I could chew
I have taken on more responsibility than I could handle at times..

But through it all, when there was doubt
Despite the difficulties, I have persisted even when I was uncertain.

I ate it up and spit it out
I have taken tough times in life head-on but still managed to emerge victorious.

I faced it all and I stood tall
I have confronted all my hardships with courage and confidence.

And did it my way
I succeed by doing things independently without seeking help from anyone.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I have experienced the full range of human emotions such as love, happiness, and sadness.

Had my fill, my share of losing
I have had my own disappointments, and I have lost many things along the way.

And now, as tears subside
My emotions have settled down, and I am at peace with myself.

I find it all so amusing
I have realized that what I have gone through is humorous to me now.

To think I did all that
It is incredible to me that I have a portfolio of things I have done in my life.

And may I say, not in a shy way
I say what I feel and mean.

"Oh no, oh no not me
I never let anyone else dominate me or dictate what I should do.

I did it my way"
I did everything in life in such a way that was only guided by my own decisions and choices.

For what is a man, what has he got?
What is the worth and value of a man in this world?

If not himself, then he has naught
There is no value to a man if he accepts the guidance of others in place of his own convictions.

To say the things he truly feels
It is only valuable to say things which truly come from a person's own feelings and convictions.

And not the words of one who kneels
It is a wasteful use of words, to say things that are empty and meaningless or simply spoken to please others.

The record shows I took the blows
The historical events of my life prove that I have experienced tough times, and that I remained constant in my own way.

And did it my way
I accomplished all these and emerged victorious by doing things my own self.

The record shows I took the blows
The historical events of my life prove that I have experienced tough times, and that I remained constant in my own way.

And did it my way
I accomplished all these and emerged victorious by doing things my own self.

Lyrics © 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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