He began singing as a child, first starting in the St Elijah Syrian Orthodox Church choir in Ottawa. As a student at Ottawa's Fisher Park High School he was part of a trio called the Bobby Soxers.
Encouraged by his parents, at age 14 he recorded his first single, I Confess. In 1957 he went to New York City where he auditioned for ABC, singing a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter, Diana Ayoub. The song, Diana, brought Anka instant stardom as it rocketed to number one on the charts. Diana is one of the best selling 45s in music history. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, making him one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain and then, with Buddy Holly, toured Australia.
His talent went beyond singing, writing Buddy Holly's giant hit, It Doesn't Matter Anymore, the theme for Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, Tom Jones' biggest hit record, She's A Lady, and the English lyrics for My Way, Frank Sinatra's signature song and sung by many well known artists, including Greta Keller, for whom the words were very fitting.
In the 1960s, Anka would begin acting in motion pictures as well as writing songs for them, most notably the theme for the hit movie The Longest Day. From his movie work, he wrote and recorded his monster hit, Lonely Boy. He then went on to become one of the first pop singers to perform at the Las Vegas casinos.
After more than ten years without a hit record, in 1974 he teamed up with Odia Coates to record the number 1 hit, Having My Baby. They would record two more duets that both made it into the Top 10. In 1975, he wrote a jingle for Kodak called The Times of Your Life. The jingle became so popular, he recorded it as a full song, The Times of Your Life, and it became a hit a year later.
By the 1970s, Anka's career centered around adult contemporary and big-band standards, played regularly in Las Vegas. On September 6, 1990, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He returned to his home town to buy a part of the Ottawa Senators hockey team.
In 1999 he visited Lebanon for sell-out performances at the Forum de Beyrouth (The Beirut Forum).
Paul Anka was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1980. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. In 1991, the Government of France honored him with the title "Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters". He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.
On the WB show Gilmore Girls, Lorelai named her new dog Paul Anka. He also made a guest appearance as himself in the episode "The Real Paul Anka", which aired April 11, 2006.
Paul Anka recently did a live session on Live @ The Orange Lounge playing songs from his new cover-CD Rock Swings.
Notable rap artist Jay-Z featured his vocals on the track I Did it my Way on The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse in 2002.
He became infamous amongst musicians (and more recently to internet users) for a mid-70's after-show tirade which was secretly recorded by a "snake we later fired" (Anka: Fresh Air interview). The diatribe, in which Anka berates his crew and band members, has spawned a number of in-joke references and quotations, the main ones being: "The guys get shirts", "Where's Joe?", and "Slice like a hammer."
Heaven
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now nothin' can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Oh, once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
I've been waitin' for so long
For somethin' to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you
The song "Heaven" by Paul Anka is a love ballad that speaks of young love that has lasted through time and all types of challenges. The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is reflecting on their youthful years, where they once shared an incredibly intense love with someone. Despite the fact that they have been through many trials and tribulations, the two lovers were able to remain together and make their relationship stronger.
The singer believes that his love is all he needs now and that he has found it in the heart of his lover. He confesses that he has waited for so long for the love he has been yearning for to come his way, but now that he has it, he is sure that they are in heaven. The song's theme of eternal love asserts that there is no obstacle too difficult to overcome when there is unconditional love.
The track was released in 1983 and went on to become a major hit. "Heaven" is still regarded as one of Anka's most famous songs, and the sweet melody and inspiring lyrics continue to touch the hearts of generations even many years after the release.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, thinkin' about all our younger years
Reflecting on the past experiences of a loving relationship
There was only you and me
The bond between two individuals who share a deep connection
We were young and wild and free
The carefree nature of their youth and relationship
Now nothin' can take you away from me
The security of the relationship and its strength to endure challenges
We've been down that road before
The couple has faced difficulties in the past
But that's over now
The past is in the past, and they are moving forward
You keep me comin' back for more
The love and attraction that draws them back to each other
Baby you're all that I want
The centrality of their partner in their life and happiness
When you're lyin' here in my arms
The comfort and security they feel in each other's presence
I'm findin' it hard to believe
The incredulity of their love and connection
We're in heaven
The euphoric state of their relationship
And love is all that I need
The power of love to bring true happiness and fulfillment
And I found it there in your heart
The certainty and satisfaction of finding true love
It isn't too hard to see
The obviousness of their love and compatibility
Oh, once in your life you find someone
The rarity of finding a truly compatible and loving partner
Who will turn your world around
The transformative power of love and a deep connection with another person
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
The support and encouragement that a true partner can provide
Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me
The unshakable love, devotion, and importance of their partner
Oh there's lots that I could say
The depth and complexity of their emotions and feelings
But just hold me now
The comfort and reassurance of physical affection
Cause our love will light the way
The power of their love to guide and support them through life
I've been waitin' for so long
The anticipation and patience required to find true love
For somethin' to arrive
The hope and expectation of finding a loving partner
For love to come along
The importance of love in their life and happiness
Now our dreams are comin' true
The realization of their hopes and aspirations through their relationship
Through the good times and the bad
The ups and downs of life that they will face together
Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you
The commitment to stand by each other through thick and thin
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID DREW, WILLIAM KENNETH III ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind