This is a song that has stuck in my head since 1963 - when I first heard it. As a teenager I grew from The Beatles and the Hollies to discover what I considered to be the real music of the heart - Bob Dylan, Free, The Moody Blues, Leonard Cohen, Richie Havens, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, The Nice, Donovan, The Beach Boys - but there was always "Hey Paula". Such sweet innocence.
Hey, hey Paula, I wanna marry you
Hey, hey Paula, no one else could ever do
I've waited so long for school to be through
Paula, I can't wait no more for you
My love, my love
Hey Paul, I've been waiting for you
Hey, hey, hey Paul, I want to marry you too
If you love me true, if you love me still, our love will always be real
My love, my love
True love means planning a life for two
Being together the whole day through
True love means waiting and hoping that soon wishes we've made will come true
My love, my love
Hey, hey Paula, I've been waiting for you
Hey, hey Paul, I want to marry you too
True love means planning a life for two
Being together the whole day through
True love means waiting and hoping that soon wishes we've made will come true
My love, my love
The song was written by Ray Hildebrand (Paul) who first performed it at a Texas radio station in 1962 with his then girlfriend Jill Jackson (Paula). When recorded, the song sold over two million copies globally and was top of the American hit parade throughout February 1963. Their musical careers were short lived and they each took different directions after their moment in the spotlight. Paul will now be seventy three years old and Paula seventy one.
I've always loved it too YP and it seems very apt to me today as my son has just rung to tell us he is engaged to his lovely partner ( finally !!!). They are far from being the young lovers in the song but there's still plenty of romance in the air with a romantic proposal in Fiji.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a relief that I am not alone in liking this innocent song of love. Congratulations regarding your son's good news. Time to buy a hat methinks!
DeleteOne of my favorite songs of all time, one that I ALWAYS sing along with in the car.
ReplyDeleteGreat that's three of us who love this song. I wonder what other drivers think when they see you singing along Marty? "Hey, honey look at that crazy woman!"
DeleteI was expecting an earworm. I missed this the first time round.
ReplyDeleteI must be a philistine as I think it is dreadful. I do know that they got an echo box for Christmas.
You probably missed it first time round because in those days you probably did your homework and went straight to bed with a glass of milk and a digestive..."Oo! Our Adrian is a good boy!"
DeleteMy father, who was a very good singer and outstanding ballroom dancer, used to sing this to our sister, Kate, when she was still a baby but he would substitute Paula with Katie.
ReplyDeleteThere's an effing big lump in my throat now (sniffle, sob)
I am pleased that I have accidentally stirred such a precious memory. Why don't you and Marcia try it as a duet? "Hey, hey Marcia..."
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