who wrote the song my way

Who Wrote "My Way"? The iconic song "My Way," best known from Frank Sinatra's 1969 version, has English lyrics written by Paul Anka. Anka adapted it from the 1967 French song "Comme d'habitude," originally composed by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François.

Origin Story

Paul Anka heard Sinatra planned to retire during a 1968 trip to France and bought the rights to "Comme d'habitude" for $1. He rewrote the lyrics in one night at his hotel, channeling Sinatra's swagger with lines like "I ate it up and spit it out." Sinatra recorded it in a single take on December 30, 1968, turning it into his signature anthem that revived his career. Note there's an unrelated earlier "My Way" by Eddie Cochran from 1959, co-written with Jerry Capehart, but it lacks the fame of Anka's version.

Cultural Impact

Sinatra's "My Way" hit No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Easy Listening, spending 75 weeks in the UK Top 40—a chart record. Elvis Presley took it to No. 22 in 1977, while Sid Vicious's punk cover added notoriety. It's sparked everything from karaoke staples to bizarre "My Way killings" in the Philippines due to macho sing-along fights.

Forum Buzz & Trending Views

Online discussions, like Reddit's TIL post, highlight Anka's tale: he crafted it as Sinatra's retirement swansong. Recent YouTube stories (as of early 2025) retell its French-to-global journey, with creators like Matt Mardini emphasizing its bold-life theme. Some fans speculate Sinatra co-wrote vibes, but credits confirm Anka alone for English words.

Version| Writer(s)| Key Artist| Peak Chart
---|---|---|---
Comme d'habitude (1967)| Revaux, Thibaut, François| Claude François| France hit 4
My Way (1969)| Paul Anka (lyrics)| Frank Sinatra| US #27, UK long-run 5
My Way (1977)| Same| Elvis Presley| US #22 4
Punk My Way (1978)| Same| Sid Vicious| Cult favorite 9

TL;DR: Paul Anka wrote the English "My Way" for Sinatra from a French original—timeless regret-to-triumph tale.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.