“It’s My Life” is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi. They released it on May 8, 2000, as the first single from their seventh studio album, Crush (2000). The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Max Martin, and co-produced by Luke Ebbin.
‘It’s My Life’ is a tribute to those who stand their ground no matter what. It motivates you to embrace each moment as if it were your last.
In this article, we’ll analyze the meaning behind the lyrics.
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“It’s My Life” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted (woah oh, woah oh, oh)
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd
You’re gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
In Verse 1, Bon Jovi is saying that the song isn’t for people who are feeling sad or have lost their faith.
Instead, it’s for those who refuse to blend into the background and want their voices to be heard.
Bon Jovi wants to shout out loud and make a statement with this song.
[Verse 2]
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow’s getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain’t even lucky, got to make your own breaks
In Verse 2, Bon Jovi is expressing admiration for people who stand their ground and don’t give up.
He mentions Tommy and Gina as examples of people who never back down from challenges.
Tommy and Gina are a fictional couple from his 1986 hit “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Bon Jovi suggests that as time goes on, life becomes more challenging, and luck alone won’t help you succeed.
He encourages taking control of your destiny and creating your own opportunities instead of relying solely on luck.
[Bridge]
Better stand tall when they’re calling you out
Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down
In the Bridge, Bon Jovi is expressing a message of resilience and determination. He advises not to give in when others criticize or challenge you.
Instead, he encourages standing tall and not letting anyone push you down or break your spirit.
It’s a call to stay strong and not back down in the face of adversity or criticism.
[Chorus]
It’s my life, it’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life) My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, “I did it my way”
I just wanna live while I’m alive
It’s my life
And it’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life) My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said, “I did it my way”
I just wanna live while I’m alive
In the Chorus, Bon Jovi is expressing a powerful message about living life on your own terms and seizing the moment.
He emphasizes that life is finite, and there’s no guarantee of living forever, so he wants to make the most of his time.
His heart is compared to an open highway, echoing Frank Sinatra’s famous saying, “I did it my way.” Frank Sinatra was a renowned American singer, actor, and entertainer who achieved legendary status in the world of music and entertainment.
Deeper Meaning Behind “It’s My Life”
Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” is a declaration that life is short and uncertain, and one should make the most of it, just as Frank Sinatra famously sang, “I did it my way.”
This song made the phrase “it’s my life” popular, as Jon Bon Jovi later said:
I thought I was writing very self-indulgently about my own life and where I was in it. I didn’t realize that the phrase ‘It’s My Life’ would be taken as being about everyone – by teenagers, by older guys, mechanics, whatever. ‘It’s my life, and I’m taking control.’ Everyone kind of feels that way from time to time.
The song rejects sympathy for the broken-hearted and prayers for those who have lost faith, setting the tone for a refusal to conform to conventional norms and expectations. It emphasizes the importance of individuality and not merely being a face in the crowd.
In the lyrics, Bon Jovi pays tribute to those who stand their ground, using the characters Tommy and Gina as examples of resilience and unwavering determination. He suggests that life’s challenges are inevitable, and relying solely on luck won’t suffice; one must proactively shape their destiny.
The song includes classic Bon Jovi elements, like Sambora using the talk box. In the second verse, the line “For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down” mentions Tommy and Gina, a fictional couple from his song “Livin’ on a Prayer.” In this 1986 hit, Tommy and Gina are described as a working-class couple who struggle to make ends meet but never gives up on their dreams for a better future.
“It’s My Life” is also known for referencing fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra with the line: “My heart is like an open highway / Like Frankie said / I did it ‘My Way’.”
Frank Sinatra was known for his captivating singing voice and charisma. He became a prominent figure in the music industry during the 20th century, with hit songs like “My Way.”
In the end, the phrase “It’s My Life” is a declaration that the decisions and actions taken in life belong to the person, and they are determined to live life on their own terms.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.