‘Na Na Hey Hey’ songwriter dies at age 68

Know him or not, you know the song.

Paul Leka, who wrote the chorus for the 1969 hit, “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye),” has died. The 68-year-old died earlier this month in Connecticut of lung cancer.

The New York Times ran an obituary for Leka yesterday, detailing the songwriter’s accomplishments and his contributions to the “Na Na” song. The chorus doubled the time of the two-minute “Kiss Him Goodbye” song, which later became the chant heard ’round the stadium at major sporting events.