Album: Red Rose Speedway (1973)
Charted: 5 10
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was banned by the BBC for what they described as "inappropriate sex and drugs references." Fair enough - McCartney is singing about getting high, using his "sweet banana" and "doing it" to her! >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Noel - Barrow-In-Furness, England
  • McCartney talked about this song in a 2018 interview with GQ. "A lot of people were getting high, so to me it was just like a fantasy song, sort of saying, 'Hey girl, come on let's get high,'" he said. "It was just about the times. It's very much a period piece, but it goes down well."
  • In an interview with the October 2010 edition of Mojo magazine, McCartney claimed to be surprised when the BBC blacklisted this song. Said the former Beatle: "Look at Bob Dylan, 'everybody must get stoned.' It was like, 'Ooh, does he mean you get high? Or does he mean getting drunk? So there was that ambiguity and I assumed the same would apply to me."
  • McCartney dropped this from his setlists after 1976, but brought it back in 2013 and has played it recurrently ever since. As a grandfather, the song can be a bit embarrassing, so he tweaks it a bit, singing, "Let's get hi... on life!"

Comments: 26

  • Roman Pierson from LouisianaWhat does the end of the song sound like?
  • Oliver Clothesoff from The ClosetWas Donovan's "electrical banana" reference banned?
  • Don from Sevierville, TnI have read that during the Beatle years, Paul was the biggest womanizer of the 4, and only after marrying Linda, a former groupie, did both of them stop that, sticking to each other until she died.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 28th 1973, "Hi, Hi, Hi" by Paul McCartney and Wings peaked at #10 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on December 10th, 1972 and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
    The record started a string of eight straight Top 10 hits by the group; after this one came "My Love" (#1), "Live and Let Die" (#2), "Helen Wheels" (#10), "Jet" (#7), "Band On The Run" (#1), "Junior's Farm" (#3), and finally "Listen To What The Man Said" (#1).
  • Steve from Whittier, CaI downloaded it,too..and I;m aware of that 2nd verse line.."KI'm gonna get you ready ..for my body gun/LIke a Rabbit I'm gonna grabbit [sic :)] and do it do it..

  • Charlotte from Liverpool, United Kingdomlovin' this song its real rock n roll! the bannana bit makes me go to pieces though its hilereous
  • Ken from Louisville, KyPaul has always liked to work in sexual innuendo into his songs, sometimes obscure, sometimes blatant. In the Beatles, it was "Four and fish and finger pie" in Penny Lane. In 1977, he recorded a song called Girls School which could easily be a theme song to a pornographic movie!
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScLike a few of you I'm of a younger age group, and when I heard this song initially, I have to say I was a bit shocked. Lol. I'd never heard him sing lyrics like this before, but luckily, this shock wasn't a bad kind of shock; I like it when he's more edgy like that. ;)
  • Jar from Cleveland, OhThe 50 cent song of the 70's lol -- NOT!
  • Britt from Boston, MaI just downloaded this song a few days ago, I'm unfortunately 16 and wasn't around when this song came out, but I have never heard Paul's lyrics like this before. I was so surprised and happy that he went on the edge. I looove this song now and I can't get the lyrics outta my head. Paul McCartney is so amazing, this is officially my new favorite song by him. Oh yeah, I would like his 'polygon/body gun'. ;)
  • Nick from North Kingstown, RiI love this song! One of Paul's best 'rockers' regardless of the controversial lyrics. It's his expressing himself, thats the beauty of it.
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaWhatever the lyrics are, this is great rock 'n roll. Paul rocks out! And what's wrong with dirty lyrics? It's rock'n roll!
  • Joe from College Corner, OhOf course "Sir Paul" SAYS it's "polygon". Just like John said Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was a picture Julian made in school, and had nothing to do with drugs. They were pretty leery after the whole "we mean more to the kids than Jesus" thing. They ALSO denied any knowledge of the dirty backwards message looped at the end of Sgt. Pepper. The rest of the song is filthy. And polygon really doesn't make any sense whatsoever. He just didn't want to get banned from the BBC.
  • Jessi from San Diego,well in that case i'll take Paul's polygon anytime
  • Belczaar from Grants Pass, OrI believe his "polygon" would be his penis,Bianca Sanchez
  • Christy from Palm Springs, CaI just bought this song a few days ago from iTunes (I'm a teenager and unfortunatly wasnt around when all of these songs came out), and now I cant get it out of my head!!!!!The first time I heard it my mouth completly dropped open because I had never heard lyrics from Paul like that before!!! (Im a huge Beatles and Wings fan) But this song rocks wheather or not you like the lyrics (which I have to admit I do lol)
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI dont get it. what is Paul refering to when he says "Get you ready for my POLYGON"
    whats tehe polygon in this case?
  • Krissy from Boston, MaGood song. Yes it's a bit dirt but some of the best are. Like Panic! At The Disco Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes. Joni if u think this song is dirty listen to the one I just said. U well be quite surpised.
  • Joni from New York, NyI was just listening to this song. I realized it is pretty damn dirty. Still, it's on Wings' greatest hits.
  • Joshua from Twin Cities, MnCould the "sweet banana" bit have been a backhanded reference to Donovan's "electrical banana" (which has been interpreted as both a drug reference and a vibrator) from "Mellow Yellow" (on which McCartney purportedly makes a guest appearance)?
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaDon't you love that chainsaw noise that comes right after Paul sings "polygon" (or "body gun" if you perfer)?
  • Ken from Louisville, KyPaul said the the actual lyric WAS "polygon", NOT "body gun." But he admitted that "body gun" was probably a better lyric!
  • Cecile from Rennes, FranceYes, I thought "body gun" was what I'd heard, and not "polygon"...
  • Julian from Anaheim, Cathis an awesome song, it's really quite funny.
  • Benn from Arcola, IlBack in the Seventies, Paul McCartney denied the lyrics to the song were "I want you to lie on the bed/Get you ready for my body gun." Macca maintained that the line was "Get you ready for my polygon." Yeah, right.
  • Kyle from Detroit Rock City, MiDidn't want Ashlee to be the only comment.
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