About the song
- Origins: “My Way” began as a French song called “Comme d’habitude” in 1967. Paul Anka, while vacationing in France, heard it and later acquired the rights to adapt it into English. Anka’s version, with its new lyrics, became synonymous with Frank Sinatra’s legendary 1969 recording.
Elvis’s Connection
- Not Initially a Fit: Interestingly, Paul Anka didn’t believe “My Way” was a good fit for Elvis Presley’s style. However, Elvis saw something in the song’s bold, reflective lyrics and decided to include it in his live performances.
- Aloha from Hawaii (1973): Though Elvis never released a studio version of “My Way”, his rendition from the landmark “Aloha from Hawaii” satellite concert gained widespread recognition as a powerful and emotional performance.
- His Final Years (1977): “My Way” took on an even more poignant meaning during Elvis’s final tours. His live version included in the CBS special Elvis in Concert, filmed just a few months before his death, is often viewed through the lens of his struggles and mortality.
Why was his Version of “My Way” so Iconic?
- Emotion and Transformation: It’s impossible to separate Elvis’s version of “My Way” from the context of his later life. As his health declined, the lyrics of defiance and looking back on life with bittersweet acceptance took on a new weight and honesty.
- Vocal Power: Even during a period of personal struggle, Elvis possessed tremendous vocal power. He delivered the powerful high notes and crescendos of “My Way” with all the passion and pathos he was known for.
- The Final Curtain: The song was, unintentionally, a powerful send-off. The lyrics became deeply associated with Elvis’s own life and the unavoidable ‘final curtain’ of his career.
Legacy
Elvis’s version of “My Way” stands as one of his most memorable performances, demonstrating his enduring charisma and powerful presence even amidst his personal challenges. It solidified his status as a legendary figure in popular music and a quintessential part of American pop culture.
Video
Lyrics
And now the end is nearSo I face the final curtainMy friend, I’ll say it clearI’ll state my case of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s fullI’ve traveled each and every highwayAnd more, much more than thisI did it my way
Regrets, I’ve had a fewBut then again, too few to mentionI did what I had to doAnd saw it through without exception
I planned each charted courseEach careful step along the bywayAnd more, much more than thisI did it my way
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knowThat I bit off more than I could chewBut through it all when there was doubtI ate it up and spit it outI faced it all and I stood tallAnd did it my way
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and criedI’ve had my fill, my share of losingAnd now as tears subsideI find it all so amusingTo think I did all thatAnd may I say, not in a shy wayOh, no, no not meI did it my way
For what is a man, what has he gotIf not himself, then he has notTo say the words he truly feelsAnd not the words of one who kneelsThe record shows I took the blowsAnd did it my way