Doo Wop

The song “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons is one of the wonderful golden oldies with its catchy refrain of  “doo-lang, doo-lang, doo-lang.” The Chiffons were an all-girl group from the Bronx, New York, who formed around 1960.The members included Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, Barbara Lee, and Sylvia Peterson. “He’s So Fine” was their first hit single. It was written by Ronald Mack, a fellow Bronxite, who had produced The Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”). The Tokens played on the record, and Carole King was on the piano. In 1963, the song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 in the U.K., and was awarded an RIAA gold record. Ronald Mack, sadly, passed away of cancer at the age of 23 while this record was successful around the world.

This song was also the center of the high-profile plagiarism case against George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.” The litigation went on for many years, due to various delays. The judge ruled that it was “subconscious” plagiarism due to similarities in the musical patterns (although not the lyrics). As to how the money settlements went, well, … Let’s just enjoy the song.

Here are the lyrics to “He’s so Fine” by The Chiffons:

“Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang
Do-lang, do-lang

He’s so fine
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
Wish he were mine
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
That handsome boy over there
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
The one with the wavy hair
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)

I don’t know how, I’m gonna do it
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
But I’m gonna make him mine
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
He’s the envy of all the girls
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
It’s just a matter of time

He’s a soft spoken guy
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
Also seems kinda shy
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
Makes me wonder if I
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
Should even give him a try
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)

But then I know he can’t shy
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
He can’t shy away forever
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
And I’m gonna make him mine
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
If it takes me forever
(Do-lang, do-lang)

He’s so fine
(Oh yeah)
Gotta be mine
(Oh yeah)
Sooner or later
(Oh yeah)
I hope it’s not later
(Oh yeah)
We gotta get together
(Oh yeah)
The sooner the better
(Oh yeah)
I just can’t wait, I just can’t wait
To be held in his arms

If I were a queen
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
And he asked me to leave my throne
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
I’ll do anything that he asked
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)
Anything to make him my own
(Do-lang, do-lang, do-lang)

For he’s so fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
He’s so fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
He’s so fine
(So fine)
Oh yeah
(He’s so fine)
He’s so fine”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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