Paul & Paula was American pop singing duo Ray Hildebrand (born in Johnson C… Read Full Bio ↴Paul & Paula was American pop singing duo Ray Hildebrand (born in Johnson County, Texas, on 21 December 1940; died 18 August 2023) and Jill Jackson (born May 20, 1942, in McCamey, Texas) best remembered for their 1963 US hit number 1 "Hey Paula".

Hildebrand and Jackson were attending Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas in 1962 when a local DJ asked listeners to come to the studio and sing their songs to help the American Cancer Society. The duo sang a song called "Hey Paula," which Hildebrand wrote, and were encouraged by everyone in town to make a record of it.

Shelby Singleton of Mercury Records eventually signed them, but not before changing their professional name (Singleton reasoned that a pair named Ray and Jill singing about "Hey, hey Paula" and "Hey, hey Paul" didn't quite make sense). The pairing of Paul & Paula was credited with inspiring other famous male/female pairings down the line, mostly from record companies that had originally turned the duo down in 1962: Jerry Butler was quickly paired with Betty Everett, and Marvin Gaye was paired with a number of female partners before Motown finally settled on Tammi Terrell.

The duo put out two regular albums and a Christmas-themed album after the success of "Hey Paula", which sold over two million copies in early 1963, charting to N1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the entire month of February. Their follow-up, "Young Lovers," reached N6 on the Billboard charts later in 1963.

In 1965, Hildebrand left the act to complete his college education, having decided that a future in show business was not for him. He made this decision in the middle of a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars road trip, and Clark had to fill in at the last minute.

Jackson went on with a solo career and Hildebrand returned to singing in the 1980s in the Christian duo Land & Hildebrand.

Subsequently, the duo got together from time-to-time to sing as "Paul and Paula" for special events.

So Fine
Paul & Paula Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So fine, so fine
So fine yeah, my baby's so doggone fine
She sends cold chills up and down my spine
Oh oh, yeah yeah, so fine

She thrills me, she thrills me
She thrills me yeah,
She thrills me come rain or shine

She sends cold chills up and down my spine
Oh oh, yeah yeah, so fine

Well I know that she loves me so
Well I know because my baby tells me so

So fine, so fine
So fine yeah, my baby's so doggone fine

She sends cold chills up and down my spine
Oh oh, yeah yeah, so fine

Overall Meaning

The song "So Fine" by Paul & Paula is a classic love song that speaks of the intense feelings of attraction and love that the singer has for their significant other. The singer describes their lover as being so fine and so doggone fine, that they send cold chills up and down their spine. The powerful attraction that the singer feels for their partner is so strong that it thrills them, come rain or shine.

The lyrics of the song express a deep sense of passion and desire for the person they are singing about. The singer makes it clear that they know their partner loves them, and they are grateful for that love. The repetition of the line "So fine" throughout the song emphasizes the strong emotions that the singer is feeling. The words "So fine" become a mantra that the singer repeats to describe the beauty and allure of their partner.

Overall, "So Fine" is a beautiful tribute to the intense emotions that come with falling in love. The lyrics express the sense of awe and wonder that can come with feeling a powerful connection with another person, and the need to shout it out to the world.

Line by Line Meaning

So fine, so fine
My baby is amazing and wonderful

So fine yeah, my baby's so doggone fine
My baby is incredibly fine and perfect

She sends cold chills up and down my spine
My baby excites and moves me deeply

Oh oh, yeah yeah, so fine
My baby is really amazing, perfect, and exciting

She thrills me, she thrills me
My baby brings me immense joy and excitement

She thrills me yeah,
My baby brings me overwhelming delight

She thrills me come rain or shine
My baby always brings me joy and happiness, no matter what

Well I know that she loves me so
I'm certain that my baby loves me deeply

Well I know because my baby tells me so
I'm sure of my baby's love because she tells me herself

So fine, so fine
My baby is really amazing and wonderful

So fine yeah, my baby's so doggone fine
My baby is incredibly fine and perfect