That's Life - Frank Sinatra, 1966

 
 

That's life (that's life) that's what all the people say
You're riding high in April
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June

I said that's life (that's life) and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine ol' world it
keeps spinning around

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life)
I tell ya I can't deny it
I thought of quitting baby
But my heart just ain't gonna buy it
And if I didn't think it was worth one single try
I'd jump right on a big bird and then I'd fly

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself laying flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That's life (that's life)
That's life and I can't deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won't buy it
But if there's nothing shakin' come this here July

I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die

My, My

 
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Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998), is probably the most famous member of the Rat Pack, which included such greats as Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. With 59 albums, 297 singles and 65 movie appearances, he was more of an institution than an individual.

Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, and started singing in the early 30s – his first band was the Hoboken Four. In the 1930s, he worked with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, two Swing-era giants. His career really sky-rocketed in 1953 with the release of the war-drama, From Here to Eternity.  He won an academy award for Best Supporting Actor. Other cinematic roles include The Manchurian Candidate, and, of course, Ocean’s 11.
 
Of the 297 songs released, you may have heard of these: Love and Marriage (opening to TV’s Married With Children), My Blue Heaven, It Was a Very Good Year, Strangers in the Night, Somethin’ Stupid (a 1967 duet with daughter Nancy), My Way (written by Canadian Paul Anka) and That’s Life.

With suspected ties to mob figures Sam Giancana, Lucky Luciano, and Joseph Fischetti,  Sinatra was under surveillance for 5 decades. This never seemed to worry his fans, though - Ol' Blue Eyes, The Chairman of the Board, or just plain Frankie, was one of the best known celebrities in the last half of the 20th Century. And that's a fact, Jack!

Connections: Check out Frank's fellow Rat Packer, Dean Martin. Also, daughter Nancy Sinatra had a fairly successful career herself.