Paul Anka – Diana

About The Song

Recorded in 1957 at Don Costa studio in New York City, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Best Sellers In Stores chart and climbed no higher than No. 2 on Billboard′s composite Top 100 chart. “Diana” also hit No. 1 on the R&B Best Sellers chart. 

But in the United Kingdom, the song soared well as it topped the UK’s New Musical Express chart for an impressive nine weeks. After it was first released in America, a European record distributor heard the song in a New York record store and arranged for the song to be issued in that region, and proved to be immensely popular. 

Paul Anka was only fifteen years old when he wrote, “Diana.” As stated in his autobiography, the song was inspired by a girl named Diana Ayoub, whom he had met at his church, and had developed a crush on. 

“She was a little out of my league,” Anka said. “She really didn’t want anything to do with me, which made it even worse.” She was also five years older than him.

Anka and Ayoub did not cross paths all that often. He would only see her at church and some other community events, babysitting his younger brother and sister every so often. That crush did not go anywhere, just merely an unrequited love, but the song did as it topped several charts and launched Anka’s career.

Anka and his family then moved from Ottawa, Canada, to New Jersey, where they set up a publishing and management operation to support Anka’s career. Anka quickly became one of his generation’s biggest hitmakers, being one of the few teenagers who wrote and recorded songs about teenage love as early as the ’50s. Several hits of the era were written by experienced and skilled songwriters who were much older.

As for the muse of Anka’s song, it is said that the crooner has never reconnected with her. In 2002, it was reported by the Ottawa Globe And Mail that Diana Ayoub had two children, got divorced, and managed a dress shop in the city.

“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,” the song goes. 

Video

Lyric

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 with 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-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Only you can-a take my heart
Only you can-a tear it apart
When you hold me in your loving arms
I can feel you givin’ all your charms
Hold me, darling, hold me tight
Squeeze me baby with all your might

Oh, please stay with me, Diana

Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana
Oh, please, Diana