The Ultimate Theme Song of Selfishness

Jennifer,

Thank you for posting the lyrics of "My Way".

I never knew whether I loved the song only because of the heartfelt way Sinatra sings it ... as though he is experiencing every emotion at the moment of singing it.

Now I know it's that and the eloquently simple, powerful, moving lyrics.

There are certain songs, a tiny handful, where everything else in the restaurant or room has to stop - conversation, drinking a cup of coffee, seeing the people around me - so I can do nothing but concentrate on listening to the music.

Another song like that for me is Roberta Flack: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."

Phil

Post 21

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:41pm

Oh, Phil -- I could not agree more. That is one of the most poignant love songs ever written ("The First Time..."). I have it on CD because I wanted it to be in my possession and accessible at all times. :)

Edited so Phil would know what in hell I was talking about. Oh, and you're welcome!

(Edited by Jennifer Iannolo on 5/18, 10:42pm)

Post 22

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:55pm

Robert M,

(sigh)

The fucking song means nothing to you, but it does to zillions of people. I find it a good song for expressing love for a value, even Objectivism-wise. If you can't see it, then don't. Let's leave it at that, OK?

I do love My Way too. (God knows I did it enough...)

Michael

Post 23

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 11:38pm

Jennifer:

Nathan, I've always liked the use of "exemption," but until you brought it up, couldn't quite figure out why.

Yes, it is poetically awkward, but what I've realized is that the zealous pronunciation of its consonants offers the image of a man gritting his teeth and getting on with it. And Frank doing such a thing, well, let's just say it works for me. ;)

That's the marvelous nature of art--people are diverse, and there is something for everybody.

Tom Jones did a pretty decent rendition of the tune as well.

This is my personal anthem, and has been since I was 17 years old. Back then, I was headed off to university -- one I was told was too hard to get into, and that I could never afford. Graduation day was glorious.

For what is a girl, what has she got?
If not her dreams, then she has naught.
To give them life, and make them real;
To stand her ground, refuse to kneel.
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way!

And we're glad you did.

Nathan

Post 24

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 11:47pm

Thank you, Nathan.

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 2:00am

Excellent rephrasing of the lyric Jennifer.

I salute you for always following your dreams :-)

Post 26

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 5:52am

Phil,

I heartily agree about First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, by Roberta Flack. The song is so poetic, so moving, and her voice is that of an angel.

One of my favorite stanzas from the song:

I thought the sun rose in your eyes,
And the moon and the stars,
Were the gifts you gave,
To the dark and the endless sky.

I heard the song when it first came out in 1972 (when I was 12), just weeks after my first serious puppy love with a girl named Jill. I lay in bed enraptured with my radio turned surreptitiously low when those famous first acoustic guitar notes flowed through the night. I still think fondly of Jill and remember her face clearly whenever I hear that song.

Ah, memory lane.

P.S. The exquisite Roberta Flack had many other good songs, including Killing Me Softly.

Post 27

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 6:47am

Jesus effing Christ!

Phil, David, I was stretched out on the floor last night listening to that very song!

My 1 yr old came over and put his head on my chest and listened to it with me. A priceless moment for me.

John

Post 28

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 9:57am

Absolutely, David, that is a particularly beautiful stanza. And I'd forgotten about "Killing Me Softly." Thanks for reminding me!

Phil

Post 29

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:37am

Is anyone familiar with this version of My Way.....

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
You cunt, I'm not a queer
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
And each and every highway
And yet, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
But dig, what I have to do
I'll see it through with no devotion
Of that, take care and just
Be careful along the highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

There were times,
I'm sure you knew
When there was nothing
Fucking else to do
But through it all,
When there was doubt
I shot it up or kicked it out
I fought the just as before
And did it my way

Knocked out in bed last night
I've had my fill, my share of looting
And now, the tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think, I killed a cat
And may I say, oh no, not their way
But no, no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a brat,
What has he got
When he finds out that he cannot
Say the things he truly thinks
But only the words,
Not what he feels
The record shows,
I've got no clothes
And did it my way

Post 30

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:48am

Okay, enough punk (my age is showing).

Here is a pretty, yet selfish love song called Oh My Love from John Lennon's Imagine album.

Oh my love for the first time in my life
My eyes are wide open
Oh my lover for the first time in my life
My eyes can see
I see the wind, oh I see the trees
Everything is clear in my heart
I see the clouds, oh I see the sky
Everything is clear in our world

Oh my love for the first time in my life
My mind is wide open
Oh my lover for the first time in my life
My mind can feel

I feel the sorrow, oh I feel the dreams
Everything is clear in my heart
I feel life, oh I feel love
Everything is clear in our world

Post 31

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 12:46pm

Was it Syd Vicious?

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 10:34am

I�d heard about that song all my life but never actually heard it until a couple years ago. I was born into a religious cult that taught the complete opposite of that song. In fact, that song was used as a �horrible of example� of someone being �bloody & unbowed.� At the age of twelve I remember completely disagreeing with the cult�s stance on this. I confided in my younger brother that I thought there was something heroic about taking credit for one�s life, for accepting the consequences of one�s choices.

This was also at the time that we were being taught all of the cult�s propaganda on the illuminati, etc. One of the teachers mentioned Ayn Rand�s books. Her name stuck with me. Finally last year I borrowed Atlas Shrugged from the library. It confirmed everything I had thought as a child about how I would live my life.

Oh yes, the cult called themselves �The Family.� No wonder they didn�t like Ayn Rand.

Post 33

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 3:37pm

"My Way" definitely has a 'fuck you, too' tone to it that really appeals to anyone who has really had to face adversity and has triumphed. It is a very passionate song, and for the record, I wouldt change 'exemption' for all the tea in China. I think it lends the song distinction.

Post 34

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 12:18pm

Except that Frank was kind of a slimy, gangster wannabe, don't you think? When he sang it, it should've been edited to "I did it my way (or someone was in for a whuppin')."

Post 35

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 1:31pm

"Frank was kind of a slimy, gangster wannabe, don't you think?"

Do you have proof of this, or are you accepting the gossip and innuendo of the press and sensationalist "biographer maggots" who make a profession (and bestsellers) out of tearing down or psychologizing anyone who is admired or famous?

I tend to believe virtually -nothing- I read in the press about the character of public figures, good or bad.

Phil

Post 36

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 1:50pm

Hey, when you've loved and lost like Frank, well, that's the really human experience, right?

Now sure, there are suggestions that his career was helped by some shady characters. So? As far as I know, Mr. Sinatra wasn't Mafia himself.

Please, don't be prejudiced against Italians. Please.

Post 37

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 1:57pm

Just because a song is sang in the first person doesn't make it autobiographical. The point is for the listener to be able to identify with the lyrical stance, not whether or not Frank was gangster.

Post 38

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 2:07pm

Joe: "Just because a song is sang in the first person doesn't make it autobiographical. The point is for the listener to be able to identify with the lyrical stance, not whether or not Frank was gangster."

Whuh? Wha.....? Oh man, I'm going to get home early and really plow through my George Michaael/WHAM! collection. I think I had those guys all wrong...It might take me all weekend just to figure out "Father Figure" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" ;>)

Post 39

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 2:16pm