My Way
Rich Little Lyrics
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And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way
Yes, it was my way
The lyrics to Frank Sinatra's "My Way" are truly an ode to individualism and autonomy. The song begins with the idea that everything must come to an end, and Sinatra is ready to face his final curtain. He declares that he lived a full life, having traveled all of life's various "highways" and accomplished more than he ever thought possible. He made his way through hardships and obstacles and took risks that were sometimes greater than he anticipated, but he always remained steadfast and confident in his decisions. Sinatra admits to having had regrets in his life, but they were few and far between, and he saw his decisions through until the end without giving up or seeking an exemption.
Throughout the song, Sinatra repeats the phrase "I did it my way" to emphasize his independence and the autonomy with which he lived his life. He recognizes that in life, there will be failures and losses, but he faced them head-on, and through it all, he remained steadfast and true to himself. The singer reflects upon his life's highs and lows, acknowledging not only the successes and joys but also the sadness and hardships endured. He concludes that life is about individuality, being true to oneself and unapologetically living life with pride, without compromising one's beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
And now, the end is near
As the end of my life approaches
And so I face the final curtain
I am ready to embrace my impending death
My friend, I'll say it clear
I speak candidly to you
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I have a clear and confident argument
I've lived a life that's full
I have experienced and done much in my time on this earth
I traveled each and every highway
I have explored every possible path in my life
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
I did all of this in my own unique and individual manner
Regrets, I've had a few
I acknowledge that I have made some mistakes in my life
But then again, too few to mention
However, these mistakes are insignificant and not worth discussing
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I faced challenges and obstacles head on, and overcame them without any favors or exceptions
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
I carefully mapped out my path in life, with each step taken deliberately
And more, much more than this, I did it my way
Again, I stress that everything I have done was in my own unique manner
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
I am aware that there were times when others may have thought I was taking on too much
When I bit off more than I could chew
When I pushed my limits beyond my capabilities
But through it all, when there was doubt
Even when I had doubts in my mind
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced the challenge head on and conquered it
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
I overcame all obstacles in a confident and resilient way, staying true to my own approach
I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I have experienced the full range of human emotions, both positive and negative
I've had my fill, my share of losing
I have experienced my fair share of defeat and disappointment
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
In retrospect, I see the humor and irony in many of my struggles and challenges
To think I did all that
I am amazed by all that I have accomplished in my life
And may I say, not in a shy way
I confidently declare
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way
That everything I have done was uniquely my own
For what is a man, what has he got?
What truly defines a person?
If not himself, then he has naught
If he cannot be true to himself, he is nothing
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
To express his true thoughts and feelings, and not to submit to the expectations of others
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way
My accomplishments speak for themselves, and demonstrate my individuality and resilience
Yes, it was my way
Once again, I stress that everything I have done was in accordance with my unique approach
Writer(s): Paul Anka, Lucien Thibaut, Gilles Thibault, Claude Francois, Jacques Revaud
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.