It’s My Way or the Steve Heighway

The international break must be filled somehow, so why not fill it by marvelling at how I have rewritten My Way to tell the story of the 1971 FA Cup final? I’ve managed to get the name of every Arsenal player in there, which is no mean feat, let me tell you.

First what some people laughingly regard as the ‘proper’ words (just for you to get the tune and rhythm in your head), then my rewritten version, which is superior in almost every way.

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I’ve travelled each and ev’ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each chartered course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes there were times I’m sure you knew
That I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up, yeh, and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that and may I say
“Not in a shy way” Oh no, oh no not me
I did it my way

What is a man, what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way
Yes, it was myyyyyy wasaaaayyyyyyyyy

That’s Frank’s rather tired version, and now mine. I swear this is social history coming alive in your hands.

And now the end is near
And so we face Cup Final curtains
My friend, I’ll say it clear
We’ve lost this one, of this I’m certain
We’ve watched a game that’s full
But the goal went in the sly way
That near post shot is why I hate Steve Heighway

Replays, we had a few
At Portsmouth, Leicester, then with Stoke
We did what we had to do
But this is just beyond a joke
I’d waited years, a generation
Since the FA Cup came my way
That’s why, with all my heart, I hate Steve Heighway

Yes there were times we thought we’d won
As chances came, and then were gone
Kennedy went close, and Armstrong too
While Wilson’s saves, yeah they were few
The Scouse defended and on the break
They had Steve Heighway

I hate them all, those men in red
The ones who came to steal our glory
Our boys fought well, McNab, Simpson
McLintock and the injured Storey
Radford, Rice, and Wilson too
They faced it all and they stood tall
But they couldn’t stop Steve Heighway

But wait, the ball breaks free
Graham or Kelly, one got the touch
And now there’s George, from 20 yards
It hits the net, it’s all too much
From one nil down to two one up
The double’s ours, both League and Cup
The record shows we took the blows
And beat Steve Heiiiiiiiiiiighwaaaaaaaaaaay

Thank you ladeezngennelmen, thank you. I’m here till Christmas, two shows a night, tell your friends.