You’ve heard the brass. You’ve heard that soaring, slightly cocky baritone. When Frank Sinatra belted out "My Way" in 1969, he wasn’t just singing a song; he was laying down a manifesto. But the specific line—what is a man what has he got—isn't just a bit of rhyming fluff. It’s a philosophical pivot point that has defined masculine identity in pop culture for over half a century. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how a song written by Paul Anka on a rainy night in France ended up becoming the ultimate anthem for self-reliance.
Let's be real. Most people think "My Way" is a celebratory victory lap. It’s actually pretty dark. It’s the sound of a man looking at the "final curtain" and tallying up his soul. When we ask what a man has got, Sinatra’s answer was simple but brutal: if he hasn’t got himself, then he has naught. Not money. Not fame. Just his own agency.
The Story Behind the Lyrics
Paul Anka didn't just pull these words out of thin air. He was in the south of France when he heard a tune called "Comme d'habitude" performed by Claude François. The original French song was about a couple's relationship dissolving into a boring, repetitive routine. It was depressing. Anka saw something different in the melody. He flew back to New York and sat down at an IBM electric typewriter at 1 a.m.
He wrote with Sinatra’s voice in his head. He used words like "eat it up and spit it out." He wanted it to sound like a "tough guy" talking. By the time he reached the climax of the song, he arrived at the central question of the human condition. What is a man what has he got if not his own integrity? It was a shift from the French version’s focus on external routine to an American focus on internal grit.
Sinatra actually grew to loathe the song. He thought it was self-indulgent. He once told an audience at Caesars Palace that he "hated" it. But the world didn't care what Frank thought. The world saw a template for how to live.
What a Man Has Got: The Ownership of Self
The phrase suggests that a man's value isn't found in his bank account or his title. It’s found in his "say." To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels. This is classic post-war individualism.
In the late 1960s, the world was changing. The Rat Pack era was fading, and the counter-culture was rising. Sinatra felt like an outsider. This lyric was his way of saying that even if the world moved on, he still owned his choices. This "ownership" is the core of the what is a man what has he got philosophy. It’s about the refusal to kowtow.
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The Psychology of "Having Naught"
Psychologists often look at this through the lens of internal versus external locus of control. If your happiness depends on people liking you, you have an external locus. You "have naught" because you don't own your emotions. If you have an internal locus, you own your reactions. Sinatra was singing about the ultimate internal locus of control.
But there’s a cost.
If you do it your way, you do it alone. The song mentions "the record shows I took the blows." It’s a violent metaphor. It suggests that masculinity is defined by the ability to absorb damage and keep walking. It’s a very 1950s view of the world, yet it resonates in 2026 because everyone feels like they’re being told what to do by algorithms and social pressure.
Why This Question Still Matters Today
People still search for what is a man what has he got because they’re looking for a definition of success that isn't tied to a paycheck. We live in an era of "quiet quitting" and "hustle culture." Both are extremes. Sinatra’s lyrics offer a middle ground: the idea that the only thing you truly possess is your integrity.
Think about it.
You can lose your job. You can lose your house. You can lose your followers. But the "words of one who kneels" are words you choose to say. If you refuse to say them, you still have your soul. That’s a powerful message for anyone feeling squeezed by modern life.
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The Cultural Impact and the "Sinatra Doctrine"
This wasn't just a hit in the US. In the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev’s policy of allowing Warsaw Pact states to determine their own internal affairs was jokingly called the "Sinatra Doctrine." The idea was that these countries would do it "their way."
It’s fascinating. A song about a man’s personal ego became a metaphor for international geopolitics.
- It changed how we view aging.
- It redefined the "tough guy" persona.
- It gave permission for people to be unapologetically themselves, for better or worse.
However, we have to look at the downsides. The "My Way" mentality can lead to arrogance. It can lead to a refusal to listen to advice. If you’re always doing it your way, you might be doing it the wrong way. Sinatra’s lyrics acknowledge this with the line "and not in a shy way." There’s no humility here. It’s all bravado.
Reevaluating the Masculine Identity
When we talk about what a man has got in a modern context, we’re often talking about emotional intelligence and vulnerability. Sinatra’s version doesn’t have much room for that. It’s about "regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention."
Is that healthy? Probably not.
Actually, burying your regrets is a great way to end up with a mid-life crisis. But there is something noble in the grit. There is something worth saving in the idea that a person should stand by their convictions.
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Modern interpretations of what is a man what has he got focus more on the "man" part being universal. Anyone, regardless of gender, wants to feel like they haven't just been a passenger in their own life. We all want to feel like we’ve had a hand on the steering wheel, even if we’ve driven into a ditch once or twice.
How to Apply the "My Way" Logic Without Being a Jerk
You don’t have to be a 1960s crooner to take something from this. You just have to figure out what your "non-negotiables" are.
If you want to live out the spirit of the lyrics, start by auditing your "kneeling" moments. Where are you saying things you don't believe just to get along? Where are you following a path that someone else laid out for you?
- Identify your core values: What are the three things you won't compromise on?
- Audit your regrets: Don't be like Frank. Mention them. Learn from them. Then move on.
- Speak your truth: Stop using the "words of one who kneels." If you disagree, say so respectfully.
- Own the blows: When things go wrong, don't blame the "landscape" or the "environment." Take the hit, learn, and keep going.
The real answer to what is a man what has he got is quite simple: he has his choices. Everything else is just temporary. The house, the car, the fame—it all goes. What stays is the record of how you handled yourself when the chips were down.
At the end of the day, the song isn't about being perfect. It's about being authentic. It's about being able to look in the mirror and recognize the person looking back. If you can do that, you've got everything you need.
Don't wait for the "final curtain" to start making your own choices. Start by saying no to one thing today that doesn't feel like "you." That’s how you start doing it your way.
Next Steps for Applying This Philosophy:
Start a "Personal Manifesto" document. It sounds cheesy, but write down exactly how you want to handle failure. Most people plan for success, but Sinatra’s song is actually about handling the "blows." Decide now what your response will be when you get knocked down. That way, when it happens, you won't have to kneel; you'll already know how to stand. Review this every time you feel pressured to compromise your integrity for a quick win.