I'm Not Afraid

Album: Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • One half of a Double A single along with Frank's duet with daughter Nancy Sinatra "Life's a Trippy Thing," this song flopped when it was released in 1971. However, the singer's son, Frank Sinatra Jr., told Mojo magazine that the Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest and Rod McKuen-penned tune is very much underrated. "This for me is a great song," he said. "The arranger was a man called Lenny Hayton. This never became a hit, unfortunately. It's a thoroughly sophisticated love song. It is not the usual mundane love song lyric. It's a very, very good piece of writing by a man who's been forgotten, named Rod McKuen. The music is by Jack Brel and Gérard Jouannest, but McEwan's lyrics."

    Sinatra continued: "Years ago, the concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein said, 'Chopin's music speaks directly to the heart of the people.' Certain lyrics do exactly that and Sinatra, as an interpreter of those lyrics, did that same thing. McKuen was a poet. A beautiful sadness."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?