Ikliphu Yevidiyo
Ingoma
And now, the end is near
– Kwaye ngoku, isiphelo sikufuphi
And so I face the final curtain
– Kwaye ke ndijongana nekhethini lokugqibela
My friend, I’ll say it clear
– Mhlobo wam, ndiza kuthetha ngokucacileyo
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
– Ndiza kuchaza imeko yam, endiqinisekileyo ngayo
I’ve lived a life that’s full
– Ndiphila obona bomi bumnandi
I traveled each and every highway
– Ndandihamba indlela nganye
And more, much more than this
– Kwaye ngakumbi, ngaphezu koku
I did it my way
– Ndenze ngendlela yam
Regrets, I’ve had a few
– Xoliswa ndoyiya
But then again, too few to mention
– Kodwa kwakhona, bambalwa kakhulu ukuba bathethe
I did what I had to do
– Ndenza oko kwakufuneka ndikwenze
And saw it through without exemption
– Kwaye wayibona ngaphandle kokukhululwa
I planned each charted course
– Ndicwangcise ikhosi nganye yetshathi
Each careful step along the byway
– Inyathelo ngalinye ngononophelo endleleni
And more, much more than this
– Kwaye ngakumbi, ngaphezu koku
I did it my way
– Ndenze ngendlela yam
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
– Ewe, bekukho amaxesha, ndiqinisekile ukuba uyazi
When I bit off more than I could chew
– Xa ndihlafuna ngaphezu kokuba ndikwazi ukuhlafuna
But through it all, when there was doubt
– Kodwa kuyo yonke loo nto, xa kwakukho amathandabuzo
I ate it up and spit it out
– Ndayidla ndayikhupha
I faced it all, and I stood tall
– Ndajamelana nayo yonke into, kwaye ndahlala ndide
And did it my way
– Kwaye ndiyenzile indlela yam
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
– Ndithanda laugh kwaye laugh
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
– Ndilahlekile, isabelo sam sokuphulukana
And now, as tears subside
– Kwaye ngoku, iinyembezi ziyancipha
I find it all so amusing
– Ndifumana yonke into ehlekisayo
To think I did all that
– Ucinga ukuba ndenze yonke loo nto
And may I say, not in a shy way
– Kwaye ndingathi, hayi ngendlela eneentloni
Oh, no, oh, no, not me
– No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I did it my way
– Ndenze ngendlela yam
For what is a man, what has he got?
– Kuba yintoni umntu, unantoni na?
If not himself, then he has naught
– Ukuba ayinguye ngokwakhe, ngoko akananto
To say the things he truly feels
– Ukuthetha izinto aziva ngokwenene
And not the words of one who kneels
– Kwaye hayi amazwi omntu oguqileyo
The record shows I took the blows
– Chrum chrum chrum chrum chrum chrum kwik chrum chrum chrum chrum chrum kwik
And did it my way
– Kwaye ndiyenzile indlela yam
Yes, it was my way
– Aye, aye my way
