Who wrote the English lyrics to Sinatra's signature song 'My Way'?

Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics to Sinatra’s signature song “My Way.” The song was adapted from the French composition “Comme d’habitude,” written by Jacques Revaux, Claude François, and Gilles Thibaut.

Anka heard the French song while vacationing in southern France and acquired the rights to adapt it. He later reshaped the lyrics specifically with Sinatra in mind, replacing the original song’s story of a troubled relationship with a reflective, self-assured account of a life lived independently.

Sinatra recorded “My Way” in one take on December 30, 1968. It appeared in 1969 on Reprise Records and became closely associated with Sinatra, although it was not his biggest U.S. chart hit. The song reached No. 27 in the United States but performed much better in the United Kingdom.

A common mix-up is crediting the French composers or Sinatra himself with the English words. The melody originated with the French writers; Anka supplied the English-language adaptation.