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."
True
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always in time, but never in line for dreams
Head over heels when toe to toe
This is the sound of my soul,
This is the sound
I bought a ticket to the world
But now I've come back again
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
With a thrill in my head and a pill on my tongue
Dissolve the nerves that have just begun
Listening to Marvin (all night long)
This is the sound of my soul
This is the sound
Always slipping from my hands
Sand's a time of its own
Take your seaside arms and write the next line
Oh, I want the truth to be known
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
I bought a ticket to the world
But now I've come back again
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
Oh I want the truth to be said
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
Huh, huh, huh, huh-uh, huh
I know this much is true
This much is true
I know, I know, I know this much is true
In Paul Anka's song "True," the lyrics explore the idea of truth and the difficulties of finding it. The opening lines, "So true funny how it seems, always in time but never in line for dreams," suggest that truth is something that is always present, but not always in the way that we expect it to be. The phrase "never in line for dreams" implies that the search for truth can be at odds with our desires and aspirations. The next lines, "Head over heels when toe to toe, this is the sound of my soul," express a sense of passion and intensity when in pursuit of truth.
The next verse speaks to the challenges of finding truth. The line "always slipping from my hands, sand's a time of its own," suggests that the search for truth is constantly in motion, and can be difficult to grasp and hold onto. The phrase "take your seaside arms and write the next line" can be interpreted as a call to action, urging the listener to continue seeking truth even when it seems to slip away. The chorus of the song reaffirms the belief in the presence of truth, with the repeated phrase "I know this much is true."
The song also incorporates references to music, with the line "listening to Marvin (all night long)" suggesting that music can be a source of comfort and inspiration in the search for truth. Overall, the lyrics of "True" convey a sense of persistence and belief in the importance of seeking truth, even when it is difficult to find.
Line by Line Meaning
So true funny how it seems
It's interesting how things can be true, but still seem funny or unusual.
Always in time, but never in line for dreams
I always seem to be on schedule for everything except my dreams, which I am not quite sure how to achieve.
Head over heels when toe to toe
I become completely and intensely involved when I am face to face with something or someone.
This is the sound of my soul,
The music or melody that I hear is a reflection of the deepest parts of myself, such as my emotions or desires.
This is the sound
It is the sound that is important and meaningful, rather than the words or lyrics.
I bought a ticket to the world
I sought adventure, experience, and excitement by exploring different places, people, and cultures.
But now I've come back again
I have returned from my travels, and although they were exhilarating, they did not necessarily provide me with what I was looking for.
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
I'm struggling to express myself and communicate what I'm feeling, thinking, or trying to say.
Oh, I want the truth to be said
I am eager to be honest and straightforward about my thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
I know this much is true
I am sure that this statement or idea is correct, accurate, or valid.
With a thrill in my head and a pill on my tongue
I am excited or exhilarated, and possibly under the influence of something that alters my state of mind, such as a drug or medication.
Dissolve the nerves that have just begun
I want to get rid of the anxiety or tension that is just starting to affect me.
Listening to Marvin (all night long)
I am listening to Marvin Gaye, possibly to feel comforted, inspired, or connected to a certain emotion or mood.
Always slipping from my hands
I repeatedly fail or lose control of something that I'm trying to achieve or hold onto.
Sand's a time of its own
The flow of sand is slow and independent, just like the passage of time cannot be controlled or rushed.
Take your seaside arms and write the next line
Embrace the calming or inspiring sensation of being near the ocean, and use it to fuel your creativity and ability to express yourself.
I know this much is true
I am sure that this statement or idea is correct, accurate, or valid.
This much is true
This idea or statement is definitely valid and truthful.
I know, I know, I know this much is true
I am completely certain and confident that this statement or idea is truthful and accurate.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gary James Kemp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind