The Evolution of
My Own Man
My Own Man, words and music by Greg Nathan, was written in 1976, when Greg was 21 years old. The lyric was edited in 2013 for the purpose of the I'll Think of Something CD-album recording. Much of the lyric remains intact from the original writing date.
Back in 1976, My Own Man's melody was highly praised by Greg's dad, Charles Nathan, an accomplished songwriter, who had a big success with his song, Say You're Mine Again, recorded by Perry Como in 1953. Charles thought Greg had a very valuable melody in My Own Man, but wasn't so impressed with the lyric.
Interestingly enough, Greg, many years later, in an effort to bring the tune to the public and in respecting his father's opinion, changed the title of My Own Man and rewrote almost all of the lyrics. This rewriting took place several decades ago, and Greg continued to make small improvements in the new lyrics throughout this period. My Own Man (under the "new" title) was the subject of multiple, unreleased instrumental recordings, demonstration recordings, a video recording, and at the end of the period, even live vocal performances.
Going into the recording session for this recording, Greg was still singing the "new" lyric and title. However, while listening to the pre-master tracks for the concerned CD, Greg noticed that the tune's presentation was not meeting the standard he wanted for the CD's release. Greg then realized the shortfall was because the title and lyric he was singing were not "born" together with the music as the original was, so Greg began to rework the song using the original title and lyric, soon solving the problems that had caused him to abandon the original lyric decades ago.
The result is what you are hearing today. Greg's dad didn't live long enough to hear this revision, but Greg is confident he would like the newly-edited, original lyric better now than when he heard it long ago.
Greg's desire and original concept for the song was to bring forward a beautiful, expressive ballad, a worthy subject for improvisation by the best of jazz musicians. Greg's melody in My Own Man has always had that potential, but now, where the original lyric has been reworked, the song is complete, and perhaps on its way to join the ranks of the many popular jazz standards.
For your convenience and consideration, the lyric to My Own Man that took so many decades to evolve is presented below. The tag ending on the recording is unique to Greg's rendition of his song, and is not included as part of the leadsheet to My Own Man.
My Own Man
Lyrics by Greg Nathan
I call she's not at home
I know she'll call me when she can
Since we're together I don't feel alone
While I'm my own man
I know her thoughts are of me
I know I'm still part of her plan
It's like she's here as I go on alone
As I'm my own man
To some such days
Might seem a little longer than a lifetime
But my days fly by
Towards a just right man and wife time
It's been a long time since I've seen her
And when I greet her I'll more than shake her hand
For I've been far too long away from seeing my own girl
Being my own man