- Album This song officially appears on the Hi, Hi, Hi / C Moon 7" Single.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Sep 18 - Sep 20, 1972
Nov 06, 1972
"James Paul McCartney" sessions
February - March 1973
Recording "One Hand Clapping" - Day 2
Aug 27, 1974
Related interviews
Paul McCartney: The Rolling Stone Interview
Jan 31, 1974 • From RollingStone
Dec 16, 1972 • From New Musical Express
Dec 02, 1972 • From Sounds
Related articles
“Hi, Hi, Hi” banned by the BBC
Dec 01, 1972
Nov 30, 1972
Spanish holidays for the McCartney family, and Wings
Mid-June to June 25, 1972
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Song facts
“Hi, Hi, Hi” is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney, and released as Wings’ third non-album single in December 1972.
From Wikipedia:
Release
The single peaked at number one in Spain, number five in the United Kingdom and at number 10 in the United States in January 1973. The song became a staple of Wings’ live shows in the 1970s.
The song was included on the 2001 Paul McCartney compilation album Wingspan: Hits and History and as a bonus track on the 1993 and 2018 reissues of Red Rose Speedway.
Reception
Cash Box described it as “good old rock ‘n roll as only the McCartney’s can perform it, but with lyrics that more than suggest.”
Ban
In the UK, the song was banned by the BBC for its sexually suggestive lyrical content. The BBC also assumed that the title phrase, “We’re gonna get hi, hi, hi” was a drug reference. The specific lyrics objected to is the apparent phrase “get you ready for my body gun”; McCartney has said that the correct lyrics are “get you ready for my polygon”, an abstract image, and later said, “The BBC got some of the words wrong. But I suppose it is a bit of a dirty song if sex is dirty and naughty. I was in a sensuous mood in Spain when I wrote it.” Furthermore, Paul refers back to the song when it’s played for a live audience – “Yeah, well, the great laugh is when we go live, it makes a great announcement. You can say “This one was banned!” and everyone goes “Hooray!” The audience love it, you know. “This next one was banned,” and then you get raving, because everyone likes to. Everyone’s a bit anti-all-that-banning, all that censorship. Our crew, our generation, really doesn’t dig that stuff, as I’m sure you know.” […]
“Hi, Hi, Hi” was the second Wings song banned by the BBC in 1972, following “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” in February 1972.
“Hi, Hi, Hi” was the one that brought you back to the Top Ten, after “Give Ireland Back to the Irish” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” although in Britain they played “C Moon” because “Hi, Hi, Hi” was banned by the BBC.
I thought the “Hi, Hi, Hi” thing could easily be taken as a natural high, could be taken as booze high and everything. It doesn’t have to be drugs, you know, so I’d kind of get away with it. Well, the first thing they saw was drugs, so I didn’t get away with that, and then I just had some line “Lie on the bed and get ready for my polygon.”
The daft thing about all of that was our publishing company, Northern Songs, owned by Lew Grade, got the lyrics wrong and sent them round to the radio station and it said, “Get ready for my body gun,” which is far more suggestive than anything I put. “Get ready for my polygon,” watch out baby, I mean it was suggestive, but abstract suggestive, which I thought I’d get away with. Bloody company goes round and makes it much more specific by putting “body gun.” Better words, almost.
It made it anyway in the States.
Yeah, well, the great laugh is when we go live, it makes a great announcement. You can say “This one was banned!” and everyone goes “Hooray!” The audience love it, you know. “This next one was banned,” and then you get raving, because everyone likes to. Everyone’s a bit anti-all-that-banning, all that censorship. Our crew, our generation, really doesn’t dig that stuff, as I’m sure you know.
Paul McCartney – From Rolling Stone interview, January 31, 1974
Paul McCartney in "Wingspan: Paul McCartney's Band on the Run":
Hi Hi Hi was a song of the times. As anyone knows about that period, drugs were fairly widespread. Looking back on it now I have a completely different perspective, but at the time it seemed to us that everyone was doing it. To me, Hi Hi Hi was a perfectly harmless little rock and roll song – ‘we’re gonna get high-high-high’. In my mind, if someone gets drunk then they’re getting high. But because of the times it was equated with pot, and so, again, the bbc banned it. They played the other side, C Moon. That was a safer track, a nice track, but Hi Hi Hi used to go down better at concerts.The drug scene was less harmful than it was going to get. Shortly after this period people were doing much harder drugs, and you were seeing casualties. Looking back on it, I realise we were lucky to get through it.
Quite a few bands around at that time were into drinking, and though it’s not really my thing. Wings got shares into that for a while in the beginning. With the Beatles I’ve never drunk before going on stage – anything like that was done afterwards. But there was a little period in the 1970s where it seemed like a cool thing to do and we did it. It was Iike growing up, but I know we didn’t play so well if we were drunk.
We wrote ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’ in Spain, because we had this tour coming up. Purposely as a nice easy rocker … it’s basically a rock and roll thing written on three rock and roll chords to give us something aside from the rest of our material. The general reaction is that ‘Hi Hi Hi’ is kind of the strong side, but the reason we made it a double A is that ‘C Moon’ is one of those songs that catches up on you after a while. I can hear ‘C Moon’ in a year’s time, people saying, ‘Yeah! I like that one’. There’s things to listen to on that one, put it on headphones and it’s quite a trip.
Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001” by Keith Badman
The BBC got some of the words wrong. But I suppose it is a bit of a dirty song if sex is dirty and naughty. I was in a sensuous mood in Spain when I wrote it. To me, it was just a song to close our act and since it went down well when we toured the Continent, I thought it would be a good single. I think it’s the best single we’ve done as Wings.
Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles: Off The Record 2 – The Dream is Over: Dream Is Over Vol 2” by Keith Badman
I just had some line, ‘Lie on the bed, get ready for my polygon.’ The daft thing about all of that was our publishing company, Northern Songs, owned by Lew Grade, got the lyrics wrong and sent them round to the radio station, and it said, ‘Get ready for my body gun,’ which is far more suggestive than anything I put. ‘Get ready for my polygon’ – watch out baby. I mean it was suggestive, but abstract suggestive, which I thought I’d get away with. Bloody company goes round and makes it much more specific by putting ‘body gun’ – better words, almost.
Paul McCartney – From “Together Alone” by John Blaney

You’ll see more sexual stuff in an evening’s viewing on TV than you’ll hear on my record. I was dejected when I heard that the BBC had banned it. but I have decided not to change the words. I write what I feel.
Paul McCartney – Interview with Daily Mirror – Friday 01 December 1972
Last updated on April 22, 2022

The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.
"Hi, Hi, Hi" is one of the 154 songs covered.
Lyrics
Well! When I met you at the station
You were standing with a bootleg in your hand
I took you back to my little place for a taste
Of a multi-coloured band.
We're gonna get hi hi hi, the night is young
She'll be my funky little mama
Gonna rock it and we've only just begun.
We're gonna get hi hi hi with the music on.
Won't say bye-bye bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
'Til the night has gone
I'm gonna do it to you, gonna do it sweet banana
You'll never give up.
We're going to get hi, hi, hi, in the midday sun.
Well, we'll take off your face,
Recover from the trip you've been on
I want you to lie on the bed,
Get you ready for my polygon.
I'm gonna do it to you, gonna do it sweet banana,
You'll never give up
Yes! Go like a rabbit, gonna grab it,
Gonna do it 'til the night is done.
We're gonna get hi hi, hi, with the music on.
Won't say bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
'Til the night has gone
I'm gonna do it to you, gonna do it, sweet banana
You'll never give up
We're gonna get, we're gonna get hi hi hi,
We're gonna get hi, hi, hi,
We're gonna get hi, hi, hi
In the midday sun
Variations
Officially appears on
7" Single • Released in 1972
3:08 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official live • Released in 1976
3:49 • Live • L1
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine, Vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Joe English :
- Drums, Vocals
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Jack Maxson :
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh :
- Assistant recording engineer
Concert From the concert in Denver, USA on Jun 07, 1976
Official album • Released in 1978
3:09 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:11 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:08 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:09 • Studio version • A1993
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2001
3:09 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Wingspan Hits And History (US version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:09 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Wingspan Hits And History (Japanese version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:09 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Organ
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Henry McCullough :
- Electric guitar
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Cow-bell, Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Alan Parsons :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- John Leckie :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Sep 20, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Nov 06, 1972
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Wings Over America - Archive Collection
Official live • Released in 2013
3:49 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine, Vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Electric guitar, Vocals
- Joe English :
- Drums, Vocals
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording
- Jack Maxson :
- Recording engineer
- Tom Walsh :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Simon Gibson :
- Remastering
Concert From the concert in Denver, USA on Jun 07, 1976
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
4:36 • Live
Concert From the concert in Montreux, Switzerland on Jul 22, 1972
Unofficial live
5:46 • Live
Concert From the concert in Sheffield, United Kingdom on Jul 04, 1973
Unofficial live
3:44 • Live
Concert From the concert in Cardiff, United Kingdom on May 13, 1973
Green's Playhouse - Glasgow Scotland - May 24, 1973
Unofficial live
5:00 • Live
Concert From the concert in Glasgow, United Kingdom on May 24, 1973
Live performances
“Hi, Hi, Hi” has been played in 236 concerts and 2 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Hi, Hi, Hi has been played
Sao Paulo • Allianz Parque • Brazil
Mar 26, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Tokyo • Ryogoku Kokugikan • Japan
Nov 05, 2018 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Oct 31, 2018 • Part of Freshen Up Tour

Private party for Robert Kraft
Oct 09, 2018 • USA • Foxborough • Gillette Stadium
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct 05, 2018 • USA • Austin • Zilker Park
Going further
If we like to think, in all modesty, that the Paul McCartney Project is the best online ressource for everything Paul McCartney, The Beatles Bible is for sure the definitive online site focused on the Beatles. There are obviously some overlap in terms of content between the two sites, but also some major differences in terms of approach.
Contribute!
Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!
On the page for the "Hi, Hi, Hi" single, the recording session listed is for the James Paul McCartney special February-March 1973, but the release date for the single was December 1972. In the Song Facts section, the track is described as recorded in the same session as "C Moon" November 1972.
I dig this website; I visit it regularly 🙂
Thanks @jesgear for your comment and the kind words !
On the song page, I list all sessions during which a song has been recorded - but in the case of Hi, Hi, Hi, I'm not done yet - I indeed haven't created the page for the session of official recording and single (so indeed pre-dated the recording of the James Paul McCartney special). So much to do yet :D
What does the end of the song sound like?