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."
Tears In Heaven
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I saw you in heaven?
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way, through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven?
Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please
Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Will it be the same?
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven?
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
The lyrics to Paul Anka's song Tears in Heaven express the profound grief and longing that a person feels after losing a loved one. In particular, the song focuses on the idea of reuniting with that person in the afterlife. The lyrics follow a series of questions that the singer poses to his lost loved one, asking if they will recognize him and if their relationship will be the same in heaven as it was on earth. He also asks for comfort and support during his own struggles, saying that he must be strong and find his own way, but hoping that his loved one will still be there to help him.
The song's chorus offers a glimpse of hope and comfort, with the idea that beyond the door of heaven there is peace and an end to the tears that come with loss. Overall, the lyrics of Tears in Heaven are a poignant reflection on the pain of losing someone and the hope for connection and peace in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you know my name
If we met in the afterlife, would you still recognize me?
If I saw you in heaven?
If I join you in heaven, would you welcome me?
Will it be the same
Will our relationship remain as strong as it was on earth?
If I saw you in heaven?
If I could see you in heaven, would it be worth it?
I must be strong, and carry on
I have to stay strong and continue living without you on earth.
'Cause I know I don't belong
I feel lost and out of place in this world without you.
Here in heaven
Even though I wish to join you in heaven, I know I don't belong there yet.
Would you hold my hand
If we were both in heaven, would you still offer me comfort?
If I saw you in heaven?
If I were to see you in heaven, would you forgive me?
Would you help me stand
If I were to struggle in the afterlife, would you still be there to help me?
I'll find my way, through night and day
I'll continue forward, day or night, searching for a way to be with you.
'Cause I know I just can't stay
I can't remain on this earth without you anymore.
Here in heaven?
Is there a place for me in heaven beside you?
Time can bring you down
As time passes, it can feel like life is getting more difficult without you.
Time can bend your knee
The passage of time can make you feel weak and helpless.
Time can break your heart
As time goes on, the pain of losing you can become unbearable.
Have you begging please
The suffering of losing you can make me feel desperate, asking for your return.
Beyond the door
Beyond death and into the afterlife,
There's peace I'm sure
I believe there is a place of peace waiting for us.
And I know there'll be no more
I have faith that we will be reunited and there won't be any more pain or suffering.
Tears in heaven
I hope that we can finally be together and find joy in the afterlife.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eric Patrick Clapton, Will Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aviebriani6054
Dear Paul Anka, you have been always one of my favorite Music Artists , & a huge household name back in our old homeland. My brother Jacob always played your songs on his guitar & encouraged us to sing along since 1958!!
Thank you for being with us & for years making your songs favorite part of our lives.
@bigg9391
Incredibly beautiful.As usual he does an outstanding job.We need to start a petition to get him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nobody deserves it more.
@tairowyes3455
Wonderful..Pawel..bravo.. ❤
@limaneto208
This arrangement and this interpretation transports us to true peace and love. Thank you with all my heart. A fraternal hug from a Brazilian fan.
@nervo6321
Glorious version of a very emotional song.
@janinazakrzewska1516
Thanks so much, mr. Paul, for you beautiful version (+ your swinged rock) (Fabrizio Lazzaroni's comment)
@SofiLepra
Very Beautiful Paul!!!!!!!! Thank you...
@madelinehouser6291
MY DAUGHTER DIANE DIED 11 YEARS AGO JULY 23 2011AGE 47 I MISS HER SO MUCH LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH MOM
@madelinehouser6291
LOVE THIS SONG BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES OF MY DAUGHTER DIANE THAT PASSED AWAY
@MsBrosset
EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!!!! HEAVENLY SOUND!!!!!!!! MERCI BEAUCOUP.