1) The Par… Read Full Bio ↴Three groups have recorded under the name "The Paragons".
1) The Paragons was an influential rocksteady band from Kingston, Jamaica, operating in the 1960s.
2) The Paragons was a doo wop group perhaps best known for their 1957 single Florence.
3.) Charlotte, NC, '60s garage band. "I saw Abba late last night."
1) If you're familiar with the song "The Tide Is High" you probably know it as a huge hit for Blondie, but before Deborah Harry and company got a hold of it, it was a 1960s hit in for the Paragons. Formed in Kingston Jamaica, the Paragons were originally made up of Garth "Tyrone" Evans, Bob Andy, Junior Menz, and Leroy Stamp. In 1964, just before they broke big in Jamaica, Stamp was replaced by John Holt, and Menz (who left to join another Jamaican vocal group the Techniques) was replaced by Howard Barret. The early Paragons sound is heavily influence by American soul music and the singing is in the familiar tight, interlocking harmony style of Jamaican vocal trios and quartets of the early '60s. In 1964, the group caught the attention of legendary producer Coxsone Dodd who immediately brought the group to Jamiaca's famous Studio One and under the watchful eyes and ears of Duke Reid (who became the group's mentor) cut a succession of popular singles such as "Love At Last" and "Good Luck and Goodbye" for Reid's label Treasure Isle.
Not long after this first flush of success Bob Andy quit the group and the Paragons stopped recording as John Holt (who by this point had emerged as the group's leader) decided that the group should soften their soulful sound and go for a more root-heavy rock steady approach. It turned out to be a good idea as the Paragons became the most popular rock-steady vocal act in Jamaica and in Britain. But money problems, specifically issues over why the group wasn't rich after more than a dozen number one Jamaican hits, led to the band's breakup. Of the members only John Holt went on to have a significant solo career. Still, the Paragons recordings, including "The Tide Is High," are some of the most wonderful and sublime moments in Jamaican pop.
Hey Baby
The Paragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to know if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby!
I want to know if you'll be my girl
When I saw you walking down the street
I said that's a kind of girl I'd like to meet
She's so pretty, Lord she's fine
I'm gonna make her mine, all mine
Hey, hey hey baby!
I want to know if you'll be my girl
When you turned and walked away
Thats when I want to say
C'mon baby, give me a whirl
I want to know if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby!
I want to know if you'll be my girl
When you turned and walked away
Thats when I want to say
C'mon baby, give me a whirl
I want to know if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey baby!
I want to know if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey hey hey hey, baby
C'mon, baby now
The Paragons' Hey Baby is a classic 1960s song that features a boy expressing his interest in a girl he sees walking down the street. The song is an upbeat and catchy tune that describes the boy's desire to know if the girl will be his girlfriend. The lyrics are playful, and the boy expresses his interest in a respectful and charming manner, hoping to win the girl's affections.
In the first verse, the boy sees the girl walking down the street and immediately knows that he wants to meet her. He is smitten with her beauty and feels that she is the type of girl he has been looking for. The second verse shows the girl walking away, and the boy is determined to win her over by asking her to give him a chance to prove himself. The chorus repeats the same lyrics, emphasizing the boy's desire to know if the girl will be his girlfriend.
The song's lyrics evoke a sense of youthful exuberance, energy, and excitement that was characteristic of the 1960s era. The catchy melody, along with the playful lyrics, made the song a hit with teenagers, and it has since become a timeless classic that is still enjoyed today.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey hey baby!
The singer is addressing the person they are interested in and trying to get their attention.
I want to know if you'll be my girl
The singer is expressing their desire to start a romantic relationship with the person they are addressing.
When I saw you walking down the street
The singer is recalling the moment they first noticed the person they are interested in.
I said that's a kind of girl I'd like to meet
The artist is expressing their initial attraction to the person they saw walking down the street.
She's so pretty, Lord she's fine
The artist is complimenting the person they are interested in on their physical appearance.
I'm gonna make her mine, all mine
The singer is expressing their determination to pursue a romantic relationship with the person they are interested in.
When you turned and walked away
The singer is recalling the moment when the person they are interested in walked away.
Thats when I want to say
The artist is expressing their regret at not having spoken to the person they are interested in before they walked away.
C'mon baby, give me a whirl
The artist is asking the person they are interested in to give them a chance to pursue a romantic relationship.
Hey, hey hey baby!
The artist is once again trying to get the attention of the person they are interested in.
C'mon, baby now
The singer is urging the person they are interested in to take action and start a romantic relationship with them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRUCE CHANNEL, MARGARET COBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind