Exploring The Risqué Lyrics of Paul McCartney & Wings’ “Hi Hi Hi”
The Introduction
It’s no secret that Paul McCartney is one of the most celebrated songwriters of our time. With a career spanning over six decades, he has produced countless hits ranging from deeply introspective ballads to upbeat and playful rock anthems. One of the songs that catches your attention when looking back at his discography is the 1972 hit single, “Hi Hi Hi,” which he recorded with his band, Wings. The song’s provocative lyrics sparked controversy among fans and critics alike upon its release, leaving many to question the meaning behind the words.
The Beginning of “Hi Hi Hi”
The first verse of the song opens with the line “Well, when I met you at the station, you were standing with a bootleg in your hand.” This could be interpreted as an allusion to drug use, which was prevalent during the early 1970s in the music scene. The lyrics seem to celebrate indulging in recreational substances, as he sings, “I took you back to my little place for a taste of a multicolored band.” In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, McCartney clarified that “multicolored band” referred to “a rainbow pill.”
Exploring the Risqué Lyrics
One of the most controversial parts of the song comes with the chorus, which repeats the phrase “We’re gonna get hi hi hi.” The phrase can easily be understood to relate to marijuana, but McCartney revealed in a 1973 interview with Melody Maker that it had an alternate meaning. “The song was in fact synthesized from three separate song fragments, and the words ‘hi hi hi’ really came from a joke Yoko Ono had made during a telephone conversation,” he said.
The second verse of the song further cements the idea that it is a song celebrating sex and recreational drug use, as McCartney sings, “Well, I took you to my sideboard, to get it while the getting’s good.” The term “sideboard” is thought to be a euphemism for a cupboard where drugs may have been stored, while “getting it while the getting’s good” could imply a hook-up.
The Sexual References
While the lyrics to “Hi Hi Hi” are clearly focused on sex, the song has been noted for its particularly risqué and crude descriptions. The line, “Get ready for the judgements, you’re gonna hear a lot” could be interpreted as McCartney anticipating backlash for the song’s sensual content. The reference to “judgement” could be seen as a nod to the moral conservatives of the era, who were known for being highly critical of rock music.
The Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, “Hi Hi Hi” is a song that celebrates sex and drug use, using provocative and sometimes blunt language to do so. McCartney has said that he was inspired to write the song by “four words you hear so often in those little American hi-fi commercials – ‘hi-fi, mi-fi, sci-fi and wi-fi.'” While “Hi-Fi” refers to the high quality of sound, McCartney chose to use the phrase “Hi Hi Hi” to mean euphoria or highs, be it from music or from drugs. Regardless of its base meaning, it remains a celebrated track for many fans to this day.
