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.
Stepping Stone
Paul & Paula Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone.
You're trying to make your mark in society,
You're using all the tricks that you used on me,
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines,
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes.
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone. (No!)
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes,
But, now you're walking around like you're front page news,
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose,
But, you won't find my name in your book of "Who's Who".
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone, (No, girl, not me!)
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone. (No!)
Not your steppin' stone,
I'm not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
Not your steppin' stone,
The song "Stepping Stone" by Paul and Paula is a song about the singer's refusal to be used and manipulated in a relationship. The repeated refrain of "I'm not your steppin' stone" emphasizes this sentiment. The lyrics suggest that the subject of the song is attempting to climb the social ladder and is using the singer to get ahead. The subject is described as using tricks to get ahead, reading high-fashion magazines, and wearing clothes that cause public scenes.
The singer also mentions that when they first met, the subject was in a very different place than they are now. They didn't even have shoes. But now that they have climbed the social ladder, they are more selective about their friends and who they associate with. However, the singer is not interested in playing this game and being used as a means to an end.
Overall, the song is a defiant statement from someone who refuses to be used and manipulated. It is a powerful statement of individuality and self-respect.
Line by Line Meaning
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone,
I refuse to be your pawn or tool for personal advancement.
You're trying to make your mark in society,
You're striving to gain social status and recognition within the community.
You're using all the tricks that you used on me,
You're using the same devious tactics on others as you did on me.
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines,
You're absorbing the latest trends from fashionable publications.
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes.
Your attire is attracting attention and causing commotion in public settings.
Not your steppin' stone,
I am not willing to be used for your benefit.
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes,
You were once humble and unassuming when we first met.
But, now you're walking around like you're front page news,
You've become arrogant and conceited, acting as if you're a celebrity.
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose,
You're selective and cautious in selecting your associates.
But, you won't find my name in your book of 'Who's Who'.
I won't be found among the elite in your social circle or among the most respected individuals in society.
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone,
I want to make it clear that I won't allow myself to be used by you.
Not your steppin' stone,
I won't be your instrument for personal gain.
Not your steppin' stone,
I'm not willing to be involved in your manipulations.
Not your steppin' stone,
I won't be your stepping stone to success.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind