12 February 2014

Singalong

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.

8 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. It'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!

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  2. One of my favorite songs of all time, one that I ALWAYS sing along with in the car.

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    1. Great 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!"

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  3. I was expecting an earworm. I missed this the first time round.
    I must be a philistine as I think it is dreadful. I do know that they got an echo box for Christmas.

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    1. 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!"

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  4. My 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.

    There's an effing big lump in my throat now (sniffle, sob)

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    Replies
    1. 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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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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