Song Lyric Sunday #12

I like that Jim Adams of Song Lyric Sunday Challenge gives us plenty of notice about each Sunday’s prompts. Today it’s Go Your Own Way. I’m going for something rather obvious by one of my favourite artists, “Are you Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz.

The track is from the album of the same name, Lenny’s third studio album, released in March 1993 by Virgin Records. It became his first top 20 album on the United States Billboard 200, and his first number one in both Australia and the UK. The title track is considered one of Lenny’s signature songs and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

The single has been covered by numerous artists, such as Metallica, in a medley at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards, Tom Jones, Robbie Williams, Melanie Brown (Mel B) and Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack. Plus, a remixed version is played as the opening theme song in the film Gran Turismo 3.

But nobody does it quite as well as Lenny!

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Lenny explained why he wore that particular outfit in the video:

I wore a red suede tunic suit: a pair of trousers with a long sleeveless top that reached almost to the floor, with buttons from the collar all the way down. We paired it with big platform boots, and I would wear the whole thing for rehearsals to get used to playing in it. The first time I put it on, it felt amazing. It felt powerful and beautiful and ceremonial, and it was perfect for the video.

At the same time, I knew that I was taking a risk. It was very different from what anybody was wearing at that time, in 1993. But people loved it, and when that video came out, it broke down walls. It was the perfect song with the perfect image and it blew up.

Lyrics: Are You Gonna Go My Way

I was born long ago
I am the chosen I’m the one
I have come to save the day
And I won’t leave until I’m done
So that’s why you’ve got to try
You got to breath and have some fun
Though I’m not paid I play this game
And I won’t stop until I’m done
But what I really want to know is
Are you gonna go my way?
And I got to got to know
I don’t know why we always cry
This we must leave and get undone
We must engage and rearrange
And turn this planet back to one
So tell me why we got to die
And kill each other one by one
We’ve got to love and rub-a-dub
We’ve got to dance and be in love
But what I really want to know is
Are you gonna go my way?
And I got to got to know
Are you gonna go my way?
‘Cause baby I got to know
Yeah

Source:Lyric Find
Songwriters: Craig David Ross/Lenny Kravitz
Are You Gonna Go My Way lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management, Provident Financial Management

Challenge Rules

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not. If it does not fit, then please explain why you chose this song.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to Jim’s post or place your link in his comments section.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Most of all, have fun and enjoy the music.