For more than half a century, “My Way” has stood as one of the most iconic songs in popular music — a soaring statement of individuality, resilience, and pride. Yet, few know the full story of how Paul Anka, then a young Canadian singer-songwriter, came to pen the anthem that would become inseparably linked with Frank Sinatra.
Anka recalls that the inspiration struck in 1967 while vacationing in France. He heard a French pop song called “Comme d’habitude” and immediately recognized its potential. “I knew there was something there,” Anka once shared. “But it wasn’t going to be a love song — I heard it as a story about life, about looking back without regrets.”
Back in New York, the idea simmered until one night when Sinatra, frustrated with the music business, casually mentioned to Anka that he was thinking of retiring. That offhand comment lit the spark. “I thought, If Frank’s going to step away, he needs something personal, something that tells the story only he can tell.”
Anka spent the next few nights alone, writing the English lyrics tailored to Sinatra’s voice and persona. He changed the melody’s phrasing, carefully placing every word so it felt like Sinatra was speaking directly to the listener. “I wrote it as if Frank were having a conversation with the world,” Anka explained. “That’s why it starts with, ‘And now, the end is near…’ It was all him, in song form.”
When Sinatra first heard “My Way”, he reportedly smiled and said, “Kid, you did it.” In December 1968, he recorded it — and the rest was history. The song became his signature, resonating with millions who found their own lives reflected in its defiant grace.
But Anka also revealed an unexpected side to the story: Sinatra didn’t always love the song’s fame. “He told me later, ‘I’ll be honest, Paul, I don’t like singing it all the time. But the people love it, and I owe it to them.’”
For Anka, the real reward was not only crafting a timeless classic but sharing a deep bond with Sinatra over the years. “Frank was larger than life — tough, loyal, funny. To have been trusted to write his song… that’s something I’ll carry forever.”
Today, as “My Way” continues to echo at weddings, farewells, and celebrations around the globe, Paul Anka’s words remain a testament to friendship, artistry, and the power of a song to define a life.
cuong