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."
Walking In Memphis
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me
Yeah I got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a boy can be
Then I'm walking in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel
Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered 'round his tomb
But there's a pretty little thing
Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room
[Chorus]
They've got catfish on the table
They've got gospel in the air
And Reverend Green be glad to see you
When you haven't got a prayer
But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis
Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
And she said
'Tell me are you a Christian child''
And I said 'Ma'am I am tonight'
[Chorus]
Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
The lyrics of "Walking in Memphis" by Paul Anka describe a journey to the city of Memphis, Tennessee. The first verse talks about the singer putting on his blue suede shoes and boarding a plane to the "land of the Delta Blues" during a heavy rainstorm. He mentions W.C. Handy, who is considered the "Father of the Blues" for his contribution to the development of the musical genre. The singer is feeling blue despite having a first-class ticket to his destination.
In the chorus of the song, the singer describes himself as "walking in Memphis" with his feet ten feet off of Beale. It's a reference to Beale Street, a famous street in Memphis that has been the center of the city's music scene since the early 1900s. He questions whether he really feels the way he does, perhaps suggesting that he's feeling overwhelmed by the emotions that Memphis is stirring up in him.
The second verse of the song describes the singer seeing the ghost of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, on Union Avenue. He follows the ghost to Graceland, Elvis's former home, and watches him disappear through the gates. The singer notes that security didn't see him, only the singer did. He also mentions a woman "waiting for the King down in the Jungle Room," a room in Graceland that was decorated with an African theme.
The third verse of the song talks about the singer being taken by a friend to a piano bar where a woman named Muriel plays piano on Fridays. She asks him if he's a Christian, and he says he is "tonight," perhaps indicating that his experience in Memphis has brought out a spiritual side to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Put on my blue suede shoes
I packed my lucky shoes that remind me of Elvis Presley.
And I boarded the plane
I took a flight to Memphis, Tennessee.
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
I arrived in the birthplace of blues music, the Mississippi Delta region.
In the middle of the pouring rain
It was raining heavily when I landed.
W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me
I asked for the blessing of the father of the blues, W.C. Handy.
Yeah I got a first class ticket
I had the best seat on the plane.
But I'm as blue as a boy can be
Despite the luxurious journey, I feel sad and blue.
Then I'm walking in Memphis
I am literally walking in the streets of Memphis.
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
I am walking with so much excitement that my feet are barely touching the ground as I walk on Beale Street, the heart of the Memphis blues scene.
But do I really feel the way I feel
I am questioning and wondering if my emotions are really genuine.
Saw the ghost of Elvis
I had a surreal experience of seeing the spirit of Elvis Presley.
On Union Avenue
I saw the ghost of Elvis on Union Avenue, a street known for its music industry connections.
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
I pursued the ghost of Elvis to the entrance of Graceland, Elvis' former mansion.
Then I watched him walk right through
I saw the spirit of Elvis disappear through the gates of Graceland.
Now security they did not see him
Even though I saw the ghost of Elvis, the security guards at Graceland did not see him.
They just hovered 'round his tomb
The security guards were preoccupied with guarding Elvis' grave in the mansion's gardens.
But there's a pretty little thing
There was a beautiful woman waiting for me.
Waiting for the King
She was waiting for Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll.
Down in the Jungle Room
She was waiting for me in the Jungle Room, a room in Graceland with a safari theme.
They've got catfish on the table
I went to a restaurant and had traditional Southern cuisine, including catfish.
They've got gospel in the air
There was music playing, and it was gospel music, which is popular in Memphis.
And Reverend Green be glad to see you
Reverend Green, a popular local figure, would be delighted to meet me.
When you haven't got a prayer
Even if you're in a tough spot, there is still hope and positivity in Memphis.
But boy you’ve got a prayer in Memphis
The city of Memphis is a place of faith where hope springs eternal, even in difficult times.
Now Muriel plays piano
I met a woman named Muriel who is a piano player.
Every Friday at the Hollywood
She performs every Friday night at a club called the Hollywood.
And they brought me down to see her
I was taken to see her by someone else.
And they asked me if I would
They requested if I would perform for the crowd with Muriel on the piano.
Do a little number
They asked if I could sing a song.
And I sang with all my might
I sang at the top of my voice.
And she said 'Tell me are you a Christian child''
After my performance, Muriel asked me if I am a Christian.
And I said 'Ma'am I am tonight'
I replied that I feel like one now.
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
I landed in the birthplace of Delta blues music.
In the middle of the pouring rain
It was still raining heavily when I landed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marc Cohn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind