One of Sinatra’s most well-known songs, “My Way” is considered an all time … Read Full Bio ↴One of Sinatra’s most well-known songs, “My Way” is considered an all time classic. It holds the record for the most time spent in the UK top 40 singles chart at a massive 75 weeks and was also successful in the US, peaking at #27 in May 1969, and Belgium where it reached #19.

It has been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to The Sex Pistols.

Despite its success, according to his daughter Tina, Sinatra hated the song:

He always thought that song was self-serving and self-indulgent. He didn’t like it. That song stuck and he couldn’t get it off his shoe.

Written by Paul Anka specifically for Frank Sinatra, it uses the chords of “Comme d'habitude” by French singer Claude François. Anka bought the rights for this song for just one dollar. Anka described the emotional moment he heard Frank’s recording:

“I flew out to Vegas where he was at Caesars. I played it to him. I knew that by the reaction he gave me he was going to do it. I’m in New York two months later. The phone rings, Mr. Sinatra on the phone. He says, ‘Kid! Listen to this.’ Took the phone, put it up to the speaker. I heard ‘My Way’ for the first time and I started crying.

My Way
Frank Sinatra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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
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
And 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
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
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

Yes, it was my way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra reflect on the life of a person who has lived a fulfilling life without any regrets. As the person nears the end of their journey, they face the final curtain with clarity and without fear. They take pride in their independence and express that they have lived their life on their own terms. The singer of the lyrics asserts that they have always made their own decisions and taken responsibilities for their actions without seeking the approval of others.

Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes their confidence and courage to face challenges and adversity. They acknowledge that they have made mistakes in life, but their successes and achievements have outnumbered those difficulties. The lyrics imply that the person has gone through life accepting the consequences of their choices and actions. They have found strength in their differences and their ability to assert their individuality. The singer of the song makes it clear that they have lived their life with autonomy, autonomy that many people are afraid to embrace.

Line by Line Meaning

And now the end is near
I'm reaching the end of my life

And so I face that final curtain
I'm aware that my life is about to end

My friend, I'll make it clear
I want to explain my perspective to my friends

I'll state my case of which I am certain
I have strong convictions and beliefs to share

I've lived a life that's full
I've lived a life without regret

I traveled each and every highway
I've taken risks and explored all of life's opportunities

And more, much more
I've truly done everything I wanted to do

I did it, I did it my way
I've done everything on my own terms

Regrets, I've had a few
I have some things I wish I could've done differently

But then again, too few to mention
But overall, I'm satisfied with my life

I did what I had to do
I followed my own goals and aspirations

And saw it through without exemption
I've done everything I set out to accomplish

I planned each charted course
I've set specific goals for myself

Each careful step along the byway
I've taken deliberate actions towards my goals

And more, much, much more
I've accomplished everything I set out to do and more

I did it, I did it my way
I've done everything without compromise

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
I've faced difficult situations

When I bit off more than I could chew
When I took on more than I could handle

And through it all, whenever there was doubt
But I never lost faith in myself

I ate it up and spit it out
I dealt with it and moved on

I faced it all and stood tall
I stood up and faced every challenge head-on

And did it, did it my way
I never compromised on my beliefs and goals

I've loved, laughed and cried
I've experienced all the emotions life has to offer

I had my fill, my share of losing
I've experienced my fair share of setbacks and failures

And now, as the tears subside
But I've learned from those experiences

I find that it's all so amusing
And can now look back with a sense of humor

And to think I did all that
I accomplished a lot in my life

And may I say, not in a shy way
And I'm proud of what I've done

No, no, not me
I did everything on my own terms

I did it my way
I never compromised and accomplished everything on my own

For what is a man, what has he got?
After everything, what truly matters?

If not himself, then he has naught
A man who doesn't have control over his life has nothing

Not to say the things that he truly feels
It's important to be true to yourself and express yourself

And not the words of someone who kneels
Not let anyone influence you or control you

That record shows I took all the blows
My achievements and struggles are a testament to my strength

And did it my way
And I never compromised on my beliefs or goals

Lyrics © SUISA, ONErpm, 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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Mike

on The Lady Is A Champ

eight

She gets too hungry for dinner at eight
She can't eat late and stay up all night, because unlike society types, she has to get up in the morning.

She likes the theatre and never comes late
She cares more about seeing the play than being seen making an entrance.

She never bothers with people she'd hate
Her friends are friends, not social trophies.

Doesn't like crap games with barons or earls
While barrns and earls probably don't play craps, she associates with friends, not people to be seen with.

Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
She doesn't "slum", the practice of the rich in the 30's, when the song was written, of touring poor neighborhoods dressed in rich clothes to "tut, tut" about the deplorable conditions, and congratulate each other for "caring about the poor"

Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
Doesn't trade gossip for acceptance among an in-crowd

She likes the free, fresh wind in her hair
She cares more about how her hair feels than conforming with current hair fashions

Hates California, it's cold and it's damp
Since most of California is noticeably warmer and / or drier than New York, where the play the song was written for is set, this is probably a facetious excuse to like what she likes.

And she won't go to Harlem in Lincoln's or Ford's
Another reference to slumming, but facetious, since Lincolns and Fords were middle-class, not luxury brands when the lyric was written

Anonymous

on Try a Little Tenderness

Here are the correct lyrics

Try A Little Tenderness - Frank Sinatra - Lyrics

Oh she may be weary
Women do get wearied
Wearing that same old shabby dress
And when she’s weary
You try a little tenderness

You know she’s waiting
Just anticipating things she’ll may never possess
While she is without them
Try just a little bit of tenderness

It’s not just sentimental
She has her grieve and her care
And the words that soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
You wont regret it
Women don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness

Musical Interlude

And, it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness