Hildebrand and Jackson were attending Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas in 1962 when a local DJ asked listeners to come to the studio and sing their songs to help the American Cancer Society. The duo sang a song called "Hey Paula," which Hildebrand wrote, and were encouraged by everyone in town to make a record of it.
Shelby Singleton of Mercury Records eventually signed them, but not before changing their professional name (Singleton reasoned that a pair named Ray and Jill singing about "Hey, hey Paula" and "Hey, hey Paul" didn't quite make sense). The pairing of Paul & Paula was credited with inspiring other famous male/female pairings down the line, mostly from record companies that had originally turned the duo down in 1962: Jerry Butler was quickly paired with Betty Everett, and Marvin Gaye was paired with a number of female partners before Motown finally settled on Tammi Terrell.
The duo put out two regular albums and a Christmas-themed album after the success of "Hey Paula", which sold over two million copies in early 1963, charting to N1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the entire month of February. Their follow-up, "Young Lovers," reached N6 on the Billboard charts later in 1963.
In 1965, Hildebrand left the act to complete his college education, having decided that a future in show business was not for him. He made this decision in the middle of a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars road trip, and Clark had to fill in at the last minute.
Jackson went on with a solo career and Hildebrand returned to singing in the 1980s in the Christian duo Land & Hildebrand.
Subsequently, the duo got together from time-to-time to sing as "Paul and Paula" for special events.
Holiday Hootenanny
Paul & Paula Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With true hearts all aglow
Up the pike we run
For a holiday of fun
Winston's at the wheel
And Peggy's by his side
Skeet's with Kay
And Paul's with meAnd Jackie will arrive
We've been surfing all summer long
Now we gotta stay inside
But we're gonna have some holiday fun
With a hootenanny good time
When Mom and Dad were young
Jingle bells they'd sing
But on the modern scene
Hootenanny is the thing
Wish these holidays
Could last the whole year through
But they'll be gone before too long
And we'll be back in school.
The song "Holiday Hootenanny" by Paul & Paula depicts a joyful winter adventure with a group of friends. As they dash through the snow, their hearts are filled with excitement and happiness. They are on their way to have a fun-filled holiday celebration. Winston takes the lead as the driver, accompanied by Peggy, and Skeet pairs up with Kay. The singer reveals that Paul is their partner, highlighting a romantic connection. They anticipate the arrival of Jackie, another friend, to complete their gathering.
The lyrics present a contrast between the carefree summer days spent surfing and the confinement of winter that keeps them indoors. However, despite this change in season, they are determined to bring the joy of summer into their holiday festivities. They aim to have a "hootenanny good time," a term associated with lively and joyful gatherings. This indicates their intention to create a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere despite the limitations imposed by the weather.
The song also acknowledges a generational shift in holiday traditions. While the singer suggests that their parents used to sing "Jingle Bells," they recognize that the modern trend is to embrace the hootenanny spirit for celebrating the holidays. This reflects a desire for something more lively and inclusive, aligning with the youth's perspective on enjoying festive occasions.
Although they wish for the holidays to last forever, the reality is that they will soon come to an end, and they will have to return to school. This bittersweet realization emphasizes the fleeting nature of joyful moments. In essence, the song captures the spirit of youthful enthusiasm, the desire for togetherness and celebration, and the cyclical nature of life's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Dashing through the snow
Moving quickly and energetically through a blanket of white, wintery landscape
With true hearts all aglow
Filled with sincere and genuine feelings of joy and excitement
Up the pike we run
We are eagerly traveling along the road, determined to reach our destination
For a holiday of fun
In pursuit of a joyful and entertaining vacation time
Winston's at the wheel
Winston is in control and leading the way
And Peggy's by his side
Peggy is steadfastly accompanying Winston, acting as a supportive presence
Skeet's with Kay
Skeet is together with Kay in this holiday adventure
And Paul's with me
Paul is by my side, sharing this experience
And Jackie will arrive
Jackie is expected to join us soon, completing our group
We've been surfing all summer long
Throughout the summer season, we enjoyed riding the waves on our surfboards
Now we gotta stay inside
Currently, circumstances require us to remain indoors
But we're gonna have some holiday fun
Nevertheless, we are determined to partake in enjoyable activities during this vacation
With a hootenanny good time
Engaging in a lively and festive gathering, full of merriment and celebration
When Mom and Dad were young
In the days of our parents' youth
Jingle bells they'd sing
They used to joyfully perform the classic Christmas song 'Jingle Bells'
But on the modern scene
In contemporary times and current cultural milieu
Hootenanny is the thing
The popular and trendy thing to do is to partake in a lively and festive gathering
Wish these holidays
Expressing a desire for these celebratory occasions
Could last the whole year through
Lamenting the fact that the joy and happiness of the holidays are not everlasting
But they'll be gone before too long
However, the holiday period will come to an end in a short while
And we'll be back in school
Soon we will return to our educational institutions, resuming our studies
Writer(s): Margie Singleton, William Gerald Kennedy
Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@teresajolewis7692
Oh yes my mom nana loved this album to play on Christmas eve so hope you 1:57 have a hootany good time