Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” Single by Steam from the album Steam
Released: November 1969
Songwriters: Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer

The song started life as “Kiss Him Goodbye,” which a group called the Chateaus started writing in 1961. In 1969, Paul Leka of the Chateaus was producing Gary DeCarlo (Chateaus lead singer), when they needed a B-side for DeCarlo’s single. They decided to revive “Kiss Him Goodbye,” but the song didn’t have a chorus. Leka improvised one, using “na na” and “hey hey” instead of coherent words. In an all-night session, they recorded the song, using the goofy group chant at the beginning and then over and over at the end – it was a B-side, after all.

When an A&R man at the label heard it, he decided it should be an A-side credited to a group, which they called Steam. When the song started climbing the charts, an actual group was needed to promote it, so one was assembled – without DeCarlo.

The song takes the top spot from The Beatles, who reigned with “Come Together,” and spends two weeks at #1, December 6th, 1969.

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STEAM NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE HQ03:39

Steam:

• Bill Steer (lead singer),
• Jay Babins (guitar),
• Mike Daniels (bass),
• Ray Corries (drums),
• Tom Zuke (guitar),
• Hank Schorz (keyboards).

Lyrics:
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
He’ll never love you, the way that I love you
‘Cause if he did, no no, he wouldn’t make you cry
He might be thrillin’ baby but a-my love (my love, my love)
So dog-gone willin’
So kiss him (I want to see you kiss him. want to see you kiss him)
Go on and kiss him goodbye, now

Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye

Listen to me now
He’s never near you to comfort and cheer you
When all those sad tears are fallin’ baby from your eyes
He might be thrillin’ baby but a-my love (my love, my love)
So dog-gone willin’
So kiss him (I want to see you kiss him. I want to see you kiss him)
Go on and kiss him goodbye, na-na na-na-na na na

Na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
[fade in]
Hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey-ey, goodbye
[repeat many times and fade out]

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