Elvis Presley - My Way - 25 June 1977 - Final Time Performed Live

Despite recording the song in Nashville on 10 June 1971 it would be twenty four years before the studio recording would be given an official release in 1995 on The 5CD set 'Walk A Mile In My Shoes - The Essential 70's masters'.

In spite of it being introduced in August 72 and it's subsequent inclusion in the Aloha shows it was not until late 1976 before it became a standard inclusion in the show. In the interim it would be used sporadically making an appearance here and there.

Throughout all of the one hundred plus times that Elvis performed the song he would always graciously introduce it as being 'a song recorded by Frank Sinatra'. However on one occasion on 4 September 1970 in Las Vegas he sang one line of the song having just introduced the writer of the song's English lyrics - Canadian Paul Anka who was in the audience during that Midnight show.

During Elvis' final tour it would be used in only three of the ten shows of that tour and it's final rendition was that in this video during Elvis' penultimate live show in Cincinnati on 25 June 1977.

It is a common misconception that Elvis forgot the words to the song in the later years and was often photographed or filmed, as was the case in Rapid City, of reading from a lyric sheet. During most shows he would apologise for having to 'read the lyrics'.

However, this is likely to have always been the case because if you look closely during the close up during the first verse during the Aloha show, you can actually see Elvis reading the lyrics from Charlie Hodge's music stand. This was obviously quite a canny idea considering that this was a worldwide satellite telecast!

[toshiojohnston]

From the 1st time to the last always gave his best with this song even in 1976, 77 if sluggish early he always finished strong they say who did it better elvis or sinatra borh men lived the song but elvis loved it sinatra never cared for it nuff said.

[CastanedaCrew]

Was he flawed?? Yes. Was he self destructive?? Yes. Did he have years more of artistry to bless the world with?? Yes. Did he give his every ounce till his final breath?? Yes. Will he ever be forgotten?? Never...⚡️❤️⚡️

[lindsaybrougham]

They say there are seven wonders of the world, Elvis is the eighth. The words of this song are so true to some of us.

[JulienneMatheï]

ELVIS zijn stem is tot op t laatste van zijn leven mooi en krachtig gebleven

[аллакузнецов]

Супер-супер мастер . Виртуоз. Вокальное и актерское мастерство на супер высоте!

[dawnblue]

Greatest entertainer of all time!!! The world will never know another Elvis❤😢❤😢❤

[bernadettemegemont]

What an emotion when he sings, his life was slowly fading away, the last farewell to his beloved fans; We miss you Elvis but your songs are forever.
This song was written by French singer Claude Francois but Paul Anka appropriated the lyrics to make it a wonderful and moving song. (The French lyrics are far from being as beautiful).
Thank you Leon for this beautiful moment of emotion.

[pandora]

Imprecionante mesmo cansado ele cantava com amor

[susannethemann]

Elvis Presley the King ever and ever for all Times he is the Greates Entertainer of the World I miss him ever

[kittyread]

God Bless his beautiful precious heart. Thank you my dearest Elvis

[brigitte]

Il était merveilleux 😢❤️
J'espère qu'il est bien là où il est, qu'il repose enfin en paix .

[martinramos]

You might say iam crazy but I will always be around Elvis

[ivanacristofoli]

Non ne verranno altri come lui The King in eterno!!!

[MichaelJ]

I consider this "The kings last roar" although he performed a day later. He mustve thought about his times in 56' 68' or whenever when singing this song. A time when he was on a much higher pedestal. But still the King nonetheless less

[luizaborelli]

Junho de 1977, o que aconteceu de verdade com este ser iluminado, em 16/8/77, soDeus sabe 🙏

[koreanelvis]

This song bodes well for both Frank and Elvis. I WANT to sing this to my wife on my deathbed one day.

[infinitecowboy]

Not to quarrel about Elvis reading from a lyric sheet, but he had a photographic memory. Quite a photographic memory. He could recite certain lengthy dialogue from movies and once in the recording studio with his 1950s-early 1960s record producer Steven Sholes, Sholes thought he had gotten some notes or chords wrong. Elvis disagreed with Sholes and the music sheet was produced. It turned out Elvis had gotten everything right about the song and Sholes was wrong.

Elvis also had guests over at Graceland and he would astound them with his ability to memorize, like watching the 6pm newscast and then repeating everything verbatim on the 10pm newscast.

I'm not sure why he needed to read the lyrics, especially for a song he had been singing prior to the Aloha show and had recorded in the studio prior to the Aloha show. He also had to read the lyrics for Burning Love on occasion.

I don't think Elvis forgetting the words had as much to do with drugs as it did with the number of songs he had rehearsed for his concerts, some of which turned up in concerts while others did not. My Way was an especially wordy song. For every song Elvis performed in concert, there were probably 40 or 50 others he rehearsed but didn't do. Elvis rehearsed songs like Neil Diamond's song Holly Holy and Leon Russell's Delta Lady, but that was as far as the songs got. They never made it to becoming part of the regular concert setlist.

In concert, Elvis didn't always sing all of a song's verses and choruses. He left out verses but in My Way, he did them all. I believe the song resonated with Elvis and I think he enjoyed reading the lyrics. If you notice in the 1977 TV special, he eventually drops the lyrics page he's reading off of and finishes the song without needing to reading them. I think reading the lyrics was a gimmick, just as goofing the lyrics on Are You Lonesome Tonight was done for laughs and not because he actually forgot the words.

[russjohnson]

Hey Leon! I hope you’re doing well. First, I want to thank you for opening my eyes to Elvis music I didn’t know existed, such as this amazing rendition of My Way. I’ve heard there is a soundboard to this concert, but won’t be released. Have you ever heard this?

[martinramos]

He was wrong about Jesus but his believes in god is right