大象传媒

From Father Brian D鈥橝rcy, a Catholic Passionist priest:

This weekend the music world celebrates the centenary of the birth of Frank Sinatra. The man they called The Voice was born on the 12th December 1915.

I had the good fortune to see him perform live on just one occasion. Although he was at the end of an incredible career, his amazing ability to interpret the lyrics of the songs he sang, had me in awe of Old Blue Eyes. I still am.

Sinatra鈥檚 most remembered hit is MY WAY. It began life as a French song whose English title was 鈥淎s Usual鈥� and told the story of a man living out the final years of a marriage killed by the boredom of everyday living.

Paul Anka, a hugely successful performer himself, heard the song whilst on holidays. He saw potential in the melody. One night he had dinner with Sinatra who hinted that he might soon retire. At 3.a.m Anka wrote what he thought would be Sinatra鈥檚 farewell hit. It now told the story of a man looking back fondly on life lived on his own terms.

鈥淎nd now the end is near/And so I face the final curtain鈥�Regrets I鈥檝e had a few/ But then again too few to mention鈥�The record shows I took the blows and did it My Way鈥�

It was a huge chart hit in Britain but not in America. However, it became Sinatra鈥檚 theme song and a show 鈥搒topper for the rest of his life.

Trouble is I鈥檝e heard it so often as the velvet curtains close in the crematorium that I now dislike the song with a passion. Sinatra had to sing it so often that he too came to loathe it.

Many see it as the perfect summary of how they鈥檇 like to be remembered. Sinatra thought it was just self-indulgent.

I鈥檓 with Frank on this one. Jesus said 鈥淚 am the Way, the Truth and the Life鈥� and I believe He鈥檚 the only one who can truly say 鈥淚 did it My Way鈥�.

Sinatra died in 1995.At his request, written on his tombstone are the words 鈥淭HE BEST IS YET TO COME.鈥� That鈥檚 what I believe too.