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."
Save The Last Dance For Me
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Baby, don't you know
I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
'Til the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's your gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Save the last dance for me, mm-hum
Save the last dance for me, mm
Paul Anka's song "Save The Last Dance For Me" is a beautiful love song that tells the story of a man who is about to attend an event with his wife or girlfriend. He knows she will dance with other men, but he's not worried because he trusts her completely. He knows that in the end, she will save the last dance for him.
The song opens with the man telling his partner that she can dance with anyone she wants, but she should save the last dance for him. He tells her that she can smile at other men and have fun, but she should remember who she will be going home with. He asks her to save the last dance for him because he loves her, and he wants to be the one to hold her in his arms at the end of the night.
In the middle of the song, Anka reminds the listener that he loves his partner deeply and will never let her go, even if she dances with other men. He urges her to have fun, but warns her not to give her heart to anyone else but him.
At the end of the song, Anka reminds his partner that she should not let any other man take her home, but to remember that he is the one who will be taking her home. He asks her to save the last dance for him once again, and the song ends with the beautiful melody of the chorus.
Overall, "Save The Last Dance For Me" is a touching love song that reminds us that even when we are apart from the ones we love, we can still trust them to remain loyal to us. It is a song that speaks to the power of love and the importance of trust in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You can dance
You are free to dance with anyone you want.
Ev'ry dance with the guy
You can dance with any guy you want.
Who gives you the eye
Pick the guy who shows interest in you.
Let him hold you tight
If he holds you tight, embrace the moment.
You can smile
You can smile at anyone you want.
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
Smile at the man you've held hands with.
'Neath the pale moonlight
Under the moonlight.
But don't forget who's taking you home
Remember who's taking you home at the end of the night.
And in whose arms you're gonna be
Remember whose arms you'll be in later on.
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Save the last dance for me.
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
I know.
That the music's fine
The music is great.
Like sparkling wine
It's like a fine wine.
Go and have your fun
Enjoy yourself.
Laugh and sing
Laugh and sing along with others.
But while we're apart
While we're not together.
Don't give your heart to anyone
Don't give your heart away to anyone else.
Baby, don't you know
Don't you know, my dear?
I love you so
I love you.
Can't you feel it when we touch
Can't you feel my love when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I will never let you go.
I love you oh, so much
I love you so much.
Go and carry on
Continue enjoying yourself.
'Til the night is gone
Until the night is over.
And it's time to go
When it's time to leave.
If he asks if you're all alone
If someone asks if you're alone.
Can he take you home you must tell him no
Say no if someone offers to take you home.
And in whose arm's you're gonna be
Remember whose arms you'll be in later on.
Save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me.
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
Remember who's taking you home.
Save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me.
mm-hum
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anabela Rijo
You can dance
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Baby, don't you know
I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
'Til the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's your gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Save the last dance for me, mm-hum
Save the last dance for me, mm ♥
mihail jurkovic
Save the Last Dance for Me
Paul Anka
You can dance
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Baby, don't you know
I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
'Til the night is gone
And it's…
Anabela Rijo
You can dance
Ev'ry dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Ev'ry smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Oh, I know (oh, I know)
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Baby, don't you know
I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh, so much
You can dance (you can dance)
Go and carry on
'Til the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's you're gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arm's your gonna be
So, darlin', save the last dance for me, mm
Save the last dance for me, mm-hum
Save the last dance for me, mm ♥
Mike C
Paul Anka! One of the best song writers ever and fantastic singers way back when and his voice still comes through with great memories just like back then! Wonderful recording!
Zbigniew Rogowski
Nie ptzemijajaca piosenka slucham ja od lat.
Bernard Epacher
Merveilleuse chanson c est la version préférée
홍승찬
ㅣ
Sam Ray
I find Paul's interpretation the best of all!
Mike C
Outstanding! What a voice for this tremendous song. Who can beat Paul Anka singing this?
Paulo Dantas
Michael Bublé
Eva Hajjar
Paul Anka was and still the best song writer of his time. Wrote some very popular songs that are still going strong. Lovely family man.
2107mar
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