''It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M,'' Lady Gaga says at the beginning of the song. ''Just put your paws up, because you were born this way, baby.''

Even Elton John has called it the anthem that's going to obliterate Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." He said: "This is the new 'I Will Survive.' That was the gay anthem. This is the new gay anthem. Actually, it's not a gay anthem – it can apply to anybody."

"'Born This Way", which premiered on February 11, is the first official release from her upcoming studio album of the same name and scheduled to hit stores worldwide on May 23.

The song shares a similar title as "I Was Born This Way" which was first recorded by a gay black singer named Valentino in 1976. The lyrics went: "I'm walking through life in nature's disguise/ You laugh at me and you criticise/ Just because I'm happy, I'm carefree and I'm gay/ Yes I'm gay/ Ain't a fault tis a fact/ I was born this way." It became better known in the version released in early 1978 by a gospel singer Carl Bean who later became an AIDS activist, and archbishop and founder of the gay affirmative Unity Fellowship Church in Los Angeles. "It's God's way of making a statement through me," the singer said at the time. "I'm very positive about it because it is something that should have been said a long time ago."

In the latest version, Lady Gaga sings:

It doesn't matter if you love him,
Or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'cause you were born this way, baby

...

I'm beautiful in my way
'cause god makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

...

Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're lebanese, you're orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'cause baby you were born this way

No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to be brave