Pop Music

Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1941, Paul Anka had already recorded several records by the time he was 15. In 1957 the 15 year-old Anka traveled to New York City where he auditioned for Don Costa at ABC. Anka sang a love song. (The stories about the Diana who inspired the song vary. However, in his book My Way: An Autobiography, Anka says that he developed a crush for a 19-year-old girl named Diana Ayoub, who worked as a secretary in the offices of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa. He saw her at a church and she would sometimes babysit his younger siblings.)

Costa was impressed and gave him a deal and helped to make him a teen idol in the ’50s. In 1957, the song “Diana” brought Anka stardom as it went to #1 on the U.S., Canadian, and United Kingdom music charts. Anka was the first teenager at the time to have a million seller in the U.K. (he was still 15 when it charted). At the time, it was the biggest-selling single in the U.K. history. “Diana” is still one of the best-selling singles ever by a Canadian recording artist. And Anka has had a remarkably successful career to this day as a singer, songwriter, and performer.

Video

Lyrics

“I’m so young and you’re so old
This, my darling, I’ve been told
I don’t care just what they say
‘Cause forever I will pray
You and I will be as free
As the birds up in the trees
Oh, please stay by me, Diana

Thrills I get when you hold me close
Oh, my darling, you’re the most
I love you but do you love me
Oh, Diana, can’t you see
I love you with all my heart
And I hope we will never part
Oh, please stay by me, Diana

Oh, my darlin’, oh, my lover
Tell me that there is no other
I love you with my heart
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Only you can take my heart
Only you can tear it apart
When you hold me in your loving arms
I can feel you giving all your charms
Hold me, darling, ho-ho hold me tight
Squeeze me baby with all your might
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana”