Tonight, the most famous song about looking back on a whole life. An old man faces the end, and tells us what he has done.
Learn from Songs · Unit 6: The perfect aspect · B1–B2
My Way
The great song of looking back on a life: the present perfect for life experience (I’ve travelled, I’ve loved, Have you ever…?), the past simple for finished events, been or gone, and ever, never, already, how many times, with Philo, writing the life of an old sea captain.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
My grandfather sings this at every wedding.
SOPHIA
Everyone’s grandfather does. And it’s the perfect song for the present perfect.
PHILO
Because it’s about a life that isn’t finished yet.
Before you listen: the song
Paris and Los Angeles, 1967–1969
The music of “My Way” comes from a French song, “Comme d’habitude” (“As usual”), by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, about the boring end of a love affair. The Canadian singer Paul Anka heard it in France, bought the rights, and wrote completely new English words, especially for Frank Sinatra.
Sinatra recorded it in 1969. In Britain it spent seventy-five weeks in the top forty, a record that still stands. It is one of the most performed songs in the world, at birthdays, retirements and funerals. Sinatra himself later said he grew tired of it.
In the song, an old man looks back on his life. He has lived a full life, he has travelled everywhere, he has known love, joy and sadness, and he has made some mistakes. But whatever he did, he did it his own way.
A life lived my way.
Listen: a life
PHILO
Listen once. Is the man young or old? What has he done in his life? Does he have regrets?
SOPHIA
Then listen for I’ve + past participle. How many can you hear? Answer Section A.
⚓ Listen to the song: “My Way” (Paul Anka, English words, 1969; music by Claude François and Jacques Revaux), sung by Frank Sinatra.Listen to the official recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “My Way”, Frank Sinatra.Read the lyrics →
The present perfect: life experience
DEMETRIA
I’ve travelled. I’ve loved. Have you ever been to India?
SOPHIA
have / has + past participle for experiences in your life up to now, without saying when: I’ve been to Rome. She’s met the president. Questions: Have you ever…? Negative: I’ve never…
Present perfect or past simple?
MARCOS
I’ve sailed to India. I sailed there in 1985.
SOPHIA
As soon as you say when (a finished time: in 1985, yesterday, last year, when I was young), use the past simple. When…? questions always take the past simple: When did you go? (not When have you gone?)
Been or gone? Ever, never, already
PHILO
He’s been to Spain (and come back). He’s gone to Spain (he’s there now).
SOPHIA
ever in questions (Have you ever…?), never = not at any time, already = sooner than expected (I’ve already finished), How many times have you…? for repeated experiences.
Sophia’s comparison: Solon and Croesus
SOPHIA
Rich King Croesus asked the wise Solon: who is the happiest man you have ever seen? He expected Solon to say: you. Solon said: call no man happy until you have seen how his life ends.
PHILO
And the Preacher looks back on all he has done, all his works and his gardens, and says it is all a breath of wind.
DEMETRIA
So My Way is the opposite of the Preacher: he looks back and is proud of it.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| have / has + past participle | life experience, no time given | I’ve travelled all over the world. |
| Have you ever…? / I’ve never… | questions and negatives | Have you ever seen an elephant? |
| past simple | a finished, specific time | I went to India in 1985. |
| been to / gone to | visited and back / went and still there | She’s been to Rome. |
| already, how many times | other present perfect words | How many times have you moved house? |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. Who is singing?
2. What has he done?
3. Does he have any regrets?
4. What is he proudest of?
5. Where does the music come from?
6. Who wrote the English words?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I’ve all over the world. (travel)
8. Have you been to India?
9. I’ve seen a tiger. (not at any time)
10. I to India in 1985. (go, finished time)
11. When you first go to sea?
12. He’s to Spain. He’s there now.
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I have went to Paris twice.”
14. “Have you ever met a famous person?”
15. “I’ve visited Rome last year.”
16. “She’s already finished her homework.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Find someone who… Walk around and ask: Have you ever… been on TV / broken a bone / met a famous person? When someone says yes, ask a past simple question: When did you…?
Discuss. 1. Is it good to do things “your way”? 2. What would you like to have done by the time you are old? 3. Why do people choose this song for funerals?
Write (120–150 words). My life so far. Write about your experiences, with at least five present perfect sentences and three past simple sentences with a specific time.
Now play the gamebook: Philo writes the life of Captain Nikanor.Play the gamebook →