The Doug Anthony All Stars (generally referred to as DAAS) were Paul McDerm… Read Full Bio ↴The Doug Anthony All Stars (generally referred to as DAAS) were Paul McDermott, Richard Fidler and Tim Ferguson. Famed for chaotic and deeply offensive live shows and recordings, The Dougs started life busking. They came to a wider audience in the late 80s on the ABC's standup show "The Big Gig" and made a huge name for themselves in the UK. Their live shows kept the audience on the edge of rioting and anarchy and showcased Paul McDermott's incredible vocal skill. They disbanded in 1994, reuniting just once for a charity concert - Concert For Holly in 2003.

My Way
Doug Anthony All Stars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

'Gentlemen, I'm Hosé Careros… Placido Domingo… Jano Pavaroti…'

Oh, 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,
And through it all when there was doubt
I'd eat it up and spit it out
I faced them all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've lived, I've loved, I've cried
I've had my share of joy and things
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing

No, oh no I may, I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took a blow…

'bad day for it'
'well this is the last night of these compendium shows and I think it was a sensational night and I think over the four nights we've been doing them I've come to realize a lot about myself, about my feelings of masculinity, about the whole male power play within this society, and ah I know that sometimes, especially in the 90's, it's very hard for men to come to terms with their feelings, what they'd like to say to other men, feelings that sometimes they suppress and hold back because they're frightened of the power that may be behind them. My heart has been in an absolute dilemma, I've been wretched, I've been torn asunder. I just wanna say to that man, you're a fucking handsome guy, you're a fucking nice looking bloke, you've got a lovely smile, nice smile, I just wanna say to you I love you and… I love you and ahh I want you to have my kids. At the moment they're in a psych ward in Sydney, but as soon as they get out, if they've gotten a clean bill of heath….'

and did it my……

'Venice, Liverpool, Brussels, Glasgow, the last temptation of Christ, DAD!'

way!

'Thankyou we're the Doug Anthony Allstars, goodnight'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Doug Anthony All Stars's song My Way explore themes of personal individuality, perseverance, and self-expression. The repeated motifs of "I did it my way" and "what is a man" reflect the idea that an individual's identity and self-worth are inherently grounded in their own unique experiences, their ability to rise above challenges, and their willingness to speak their truth. The singer reminisces about their past, acknowledging that they have made mistakes and faced moments of doubt, but ultimately asserts their own agency in life. The final stanza features a spoken word interlude where they express their conflicted emotions and then end with a declaration of love and a commitment to self-expression.

Overall, the song is a powerful anthem for individuality, self-expression, and overcoming adversity. It encourages listeners to celebrate their own unique experiences and to not be afraid to speak their truth, no matter what obstacles may come their way.

Line by Line Meaning

Gentlemen, I'm Hosé Careros… Placido Domingo… Jano Pavaroti…
Introducing oneself as three different famous opera singers.

Oh, much more than this, I did it my way,
I did things my way and my achievements surpass what is being talked about at the moment.

Yes, there were times I'm sure you knew,
Acknowledging that others are aware of my mistakes and bad decisions.

When I bit off more than I could chew,
Admitting to taking on more than I could handle.

And through it all when there was doubt
Despite being uncertain, I continued to push forward.

I'd eat it up and spit it out
I would take on challenges and conquer them.

I faced them all and I stood tall and did it my way
I faced every obstacle fearlessly and accomplished things on my own terms.

I've lived, I've loved, I've cried
I've experienced the ups and downs of life.

I've had my share of joy and things
I've experienced moments of happiness and material success.

And now as tears subside
As emotional turmoil passes,

I find it all so amusing
I can now look back on things with humor and perspective.

No, oh no, I may, I did it my way
I have no regrets about how I lived my life.

For what is a man, what has he got
What defines a man and his worth?

If not himself then he has not
If he doesn't have self-respect and confidence, he has nothing.

To say the things he truly feels
To express his true feelings,

And not the words of one who kneels
Rather than blindly following the opinions of others.

The record shows I took a blow…
I've faced setbacks and negative incidents,

'bad day for it'
A sarcastic comment, possibly in response to the previous line.

'well this is the last night of these compendium shows and I think it was a sensational night and I think over the four nights we've been doing them I've come to realize a lot about myself, about my feelings of masculinity, about the whole male power play within this society, and ah I know that sometimes, especially in the 90's, it's very hard for men to come to terms with their feelings, what they'd like to say to other men, feelings that sometimes they suppress and hold back because they're frightened of the power that may be behind them. My heart has been in an absolute dilemma, I've been wretched, I've been torn asunder. I just wanna say to that man, you're a fucking handsome guy, you're a fucking nice-looking bloke, you've got a lovely smile, nice smile, I just wanna say to you I love you and… I love you and ahh I want you to have my kids. At the moment they're in a psych ward in Sydney, but as soon as they get out, if they've gotten a clean bill of health….'
A rambling and emotional speech about societal expectations of masculinity, along with a humorous proposal of having a man's children.

and did it my……
Continuation of the previous line.

'Venice, Liverpool, Brussels, Glasgow, the last temptation of Christ, DAD!'
Possibly a list of places or events related to the artist's life.

way!
Ending the song on a positive and confident note.

'Thank you we're the Doug Anthony Allstars, goodnight'
Closing statement of the performers.

Contributed by Adam D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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