Frank Sinatra’s recording of “My Way” spent longer on the United Kingdom’s music chart than any other song—an amazing 124 weeks. That’s almost twice as long as its nearest rival! Guess what that rival song was? “Amazing Grace,” recorded by Judy Collins.
Someone has said that “My Way” is a “timeless anthem that,
even in the digital world where songs can be streamed endlessly at the touch of
a button, will never be superseded, no matter the prevailing trends.” Now that
remains to be seen, but the history of the song is interesting. On December 30,
1968, in what was a rare event for the man known as, The Chairman, the song was
recorded in an afternoon session. Sinatra rarely did any work in the afternoon.
At around 3:00 pm, 40 musicians began working on what would become Sinatra’s
anthem. For generations to follow “My Way” would become his theme song.
It was originally composed by Frenchmen named Jacques Revaux
and Gilles Thibault. It was first recorded by Egyptian-born singer Claude
Francois. While the tune remains the same, Paul Anka changed the words into the
lyrics we now know.
Anka describes it this way, “I had a house in France where I
first heard the song. I immediately loved the melody, but not the words. I knew
the French publisher, so he gave me the song and I reconstructed the lyrics, to
give it a different feel. I went and met Frank where he was filming Tony Rome, but he said he was retiring. I
then made a demo with a session singer and called Frank telling him that I
thought it was pretty sensational. He remained cool, but I knew he liked it.
“Weeks later I had a phone call and they said, ‘Listen to
this,’ and they played Frank’s recording over the phone. They were very excited.
They said they never had a song quite of that substance.”
Sinatra’s version entered the Billboard Charts in the last
week of March 1969 at No. 69, the highest new entry of the week. Though many
have recorded it, including Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious, no version ever
eclipsed Frank’s version. It’s the hit that’s the most easily identified with
him.
Now think of the juxtaposition of “My Way” and “Amazing
Grace.” Can you imagine any two songs in such utter opposition to each other? The
first is a song Isaac and Rebekah could sing. In fact, the record of Genesis 27
is that they do a masterful job teaching the lyrics to their twins. In fact,
none of the four people pictured in Sunday’s text—Genesis 27:1-12, 27-29, are
averse to singing it or living it. But there is another “Player,” a far greater
“player” in this story that could more appropriately sing it, but He prefers, “Amazing
Grace.” His name is uttered in the second half of the 20th verse of
the text in a statement meant to deceive. But the truth is, those words are the
foundation of all that happens here. It’s not by the exertion of human will
that Isaac blesses Jacob, it’s by Amazing Grace.
In preparation for Sunday’s message: “Assembling the
Fragments,” you may wish to consider the following:
1. How old is Isaac here?
2. Why does Isaac call his son Esau to come to him with
prepared game?
3. What does his directive tell us about his interest in
following God’s command? (see Genesis 25:23)
4. What does his blessing have to do with a meal? (see Genesis
27:18-19)
5. What do fields and open country symbolize in Scripture?
6. How does Isaac appear to be an example of what Paul is
talking about in Philippians 3:19?
7. Why does Rebekah act as she does?
8. What’s the difference between Isaac’s directive to Esau and
Rebekah’s directive to Jacob?
9. What are the differences between the way Esau comes to his
father, Isaac, and the way Jacob comes?
10. How does this story illuminate the cross for you?
See you Sunday!
