This is probably the last time I will have the honour to stand at this podium to address the General Assembly. Born as the First World War came to a close and departing from public life as the world marks half-a-century of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I have reached that part of the long walk when the opportunity is granted, as it should be to all men and women, to retire to some rest and tranquillity in the village of my birth.

I would like to be remembered as a man who brought an innovation to popular singing.

My goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance.

All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love positivity and gratitude that things aren't worse or hate negativity and bitterness that things aren't better ...I choose love positivity and gratitude that things aren't worse.

When I'm gone I'll be remembered as the workin' man who put his point across with a right hand full of knuckles.

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.