Davis was a member of a local group called the "Six Soul Survivors" around 1966 and later in another group called the "Endless Chain." In 1968 he was a writer for Malaco Records, based at Jackson, MS.
Ilene Berns, widow of Bert Berns, signed Davis to Bang Records in 1969, and in 1970, released a cover of The Jarmels' hit song "A Little Bit of Soap", reaching #52 on the Billboard pop charts. His first album, A Little Bit of Paul Davis, was released in 1970. In 1974 he recorded his third album, Ride 'Em Cowboy, which garnered a Top 40 for the title track. The same song also became a Top-40 country hit for Juice Newton in 1984.
Davis had his first American Top 10 single with the slow ballad "I Go Crazy," which peaked at #7 in 1978. "I Go Crazy" spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, which at the time set the single-song record for most consecutive weeks on the chart in the rock era. The follow-up, "Sweet Life", did moderately well, peaking at #17. The corresponding album Singer of Songs - Teller of Tales was a modest success, peaking at #82 on the Billboard pop album chart. He was the last artist active on the Bang Records label when it folded in 1981.
After one more album, in 1981 he signed with Arista Records and had two more Top 20 singles, "Cool Night" (which rose to #11) and "'65 Love Affair" (which rose to #6). Davis retired from making records, except for two duet singles that went to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. The first was in 1986 with Marie Osmond on "You're Still New To Me" while the second was in 1988 was a collaboration with Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet on "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love". Davis also wrote "Meet Me in Montana", which Dan Seals and Osmond took to #1 on the Billboard country charts inn 1985.
He survived a shooting in Nashville on July 30, 1986.
Before his death on April 22, 2008 (one day after his 60th birthday), Paul returned to singing and songwriting recording two songs, "You Ain't Sweet Enough," and "Today." He died of a heart attack at Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.
65 Love Affair
Paul Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were into be-bop
You sang do wop diddy wop diddy wop doo
All of them changes you put me through
If I could go back again
Well I know I'd never let you go
Back with some of my friends
'65 love affair
We wasn't gettin' nowhere
But we didn't care
It was a crazy
'65 love affair
Rock 'n' roll was simple and clear
Oh, I still can hear I can hear it baby
Well I asked you like a dumb-dumb
You were bad with your pom-poms
You said ooh wah go team ooh wah go
Ooh-ee baby I want you to know
If I could go back in time
Well, I know somehow you'd still be mine
I wouldn't be so blind
To that wonderful
'65 love affair
When rock 'n' roll was simple and clear
Oh, I still can hear
I can hear it baby
Well, I tried to make you give in
One night at the drive-in
You said oh no baby, oh no woo
All of them changes you put me through
If I could go back in time
Well, I know somehow you'd still be mine
I wouldn't be so blind
To that wonderful
We sang doo wop diddy wop diddy wop doo
Doo wop diddy wop diddy wop doo
In Paul Davis's "65 Love Affair," the lyrics tell the story of a nostalgic love affair told in a retro musical style. The song begins with the singer describing their previous life as a car hop, serving food to customers in their car. This is juxtaposed with the love interest's interest in be-bop and doo-wop, giving the impression that they come from different worlds.
The chorus of the song highlights the simplicity and carefree nature of the couple's love affair. In the singer's memory, they "weren't getting nowhere" but "didn't care" because they were lost in the joy of each other's company. The singer laments about how they would never let go if they could go back in time to when they were happy.
The second verse reveals more about the love interest's personality, specifically their cheerleading abilities. This shows another side of the love interest and continues to emphasize the differences between them. The verse also hints at some of the problems within the relationship, with the singer being referred to as "blind" to the wonderful love that was occurring at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a car hop
I worked as a waitress at a drive-in restaurant
You were into be-bop
You were a big fan of the Bebop jazz subgenre
You sang doo wop diddy wop diddy wop doo
You sang along to the Doo-wop music that played in the restaurant
All of them changes you put me through
You made me go through a lot of ups and downs in our relationship
If I could go back again
If I had the chance to time travel back to the 60s
Well I know I'd never let you go
I would never let go of you if I had the chance to go back
Back with some of my friends
I'd like to go back in time with my old buddies
To that wonderful '65 love affair
To that beautiful romantic relationship I had with you back in 1965
We wasn't gettin' nowhere
Our relationship wasn't going anywhere
But we didn't care
But we were okay with that
It was a crazy '65 love affair
It was a wild, passionate, and unforgettable relationship we had back in 1965
Rock 'n' roll was simple and clear
The Rock 'n' roll music we listened to back then was straightforward, uncomplicated, and easy to appreciate
Oh, I still can hear I can hear it baby
I can still hear the Rock 'n' roll music we used to listen to and love
Well I asked you like a dumb-dumb
I asked you in a clumsy, awkward way
You were bad with your pom-poms
You were a cheerleader in high school
You said ooh wah go team ooh wah go
You chanted a cheerleading slogan or song
Ooh-ee baby I want you to know
I want you to know that I'm crazy about you
When rock 'n' roll was simple and clear
When Rock 'n' roll music was easy to understand and appreciate
Well, I tried to make you give in
I tried to make you falter or give up on something
One night at the drive-in
One night we went to a drive-in movie theatre
You said oh no baby, oh no woo
You said no to me and didn't want to do what I was asking
We sang doo wop diddy wop diddy wop doo
We sang along with the Doo-wop music that played on the radio
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mattdawg83686
I was nine years old when this was released, and I was in the grocery store this morning and it came on. I am now 49 years old, and I was instantly transported back to a far more simple time, and I remembered all of the words!
@MrMultitool
I was in Sams and heard it so I had to come home and pull it up!
@MonkeyMind02
I was in the grocery store this morning and this came on. Good memories
@lacticacidlaw
That sounds about right based on the age I was when I first began hearing this song. It was kind of catchy!
@joellepavolic1102
I hear You! Love all those great tunes, this one included, that we grew up with!
@johnconway6976
1982 -‐- Word Series Champs - St. Louis Cardinals.... Keith Hernandez, Ozzie Smith, and Willie McGee
@toniremer1594
I'm crying. My mom and I used to dance to this song. Damn!! I'd give ANYTHING to have just one more dance with her.
@Annahg78
😢
@mikebrubaker7232
😂😂😂
@kenperkins7921
Those 70s dudes made us happy for a long time! Rest in peace, PAUL, YOU WER A GREAT MAN.