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"His Way"

And now, the time is here;
To pay respect to our friend Burton
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

He's lived a life that's full.
He's traveled each and ev'ry highway;
And more, much more than this,
He did it his way.

Regrets, he's had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
He did what he had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

He planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
He did it his way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure he knew
When he bit off more than he could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, he ate it up and spit it out.
He faced it all and he stood tall;
And did it his way.

To think he did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not he,
he did it his way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows he took the blows -
And did it his way!

—Sung by Jamie Davis to Burton Richter, Stanford Faculty Club, February 20, 2007

Above image: Jamie Davis