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who wrote the song my way for frank sinatra

The song “My Way” was written for Frank Sinatra by Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka, who adapted it from the French song “Comme d’habitude” by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François.

Who actually wrote “My Way”?

  • Paul Anka wrote the famous English lyrics specifically for Frank Sinatra after hearing “Comme d’habitude,” a French hit by Claude François.
  • The original French melody was composed by Jacques Revaux with lyrics by Gilles Thibaut and Claude François, but those lyrics are completely different from “My Way.”
  • Sinatra first recorded “My Way” in 1968, and it became one of his signature songs even though he reportedly had mixed feelings about it later in life.

Quick timeline

  • 1967: “Comme d’habitude” is released in France by Claude François.
  • Late 1960s: Paul Anka acquires the rights, rewrites the words in English with Sinatra in mind, and retitles it “My Way.”
  • 1969: Sinatra releases “My Way,” and it goes on to chart for an exceptionally long time in the UK and become a funeral and karaoke staple.

TL;DR: The tune comes from the French song “Comme d’habitude,” but the iconic English version “My Way” that Sinatra made famous was written for him by Paul Anka.

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