In 1975 Street Corner Symphony released its first single "Earth Angel" (B-side: I'm Not Ready (To Let You Go)) on Bang Records (B-719). The single was followed by the groups album "Harmony Grits", released also on Ban Records (BLP-406) in 1976. The album was produced by Jerry Love and Michael Zager.
In 1976 Street Corner Symphony released its hit album "Little Funk Machine" on ABC records. The album was produced by none other than Willie Hutch.
Essentially a vocal quintet, three of its members, (Jesse Harris, Milton Hayes and Lawrence Miller) had started out in Los Angeles group The Marvellos (aka The Sons Of Watts) during the sixties. Lead singer Morris Chestnut, formerly of the Attractions, The Sound-Masters and The Vows, recorded solo both under his own name and that of James Washington Lee.
The second, soon to be disbanded, Street Corner Symphony was founded as a birthday present for Mark on May 28, 2010. It began with six talented fellows–Jeremy & Richie Lister, Jon & Mark McLemore, Ben Dixon, and Sean Saunders–who had worked together, but not as a single group. In fact, Ben and Sean met Jeremy and Richie the day before SCS’s first gig.
Three weeks later, the group broke up. Citing reasons of some sort, Ben and Sean left void the high and low ends of Street Corner Symphony’s frequency spectrum. Within days, however, Mark had contacted two friends in his extensive network of talented people and restored balance. Welcome, John Martin and Adam Chance. Street Corner Symphony commenced the dominating.
The members of Street Corner Symphony are from all over the Southeast US and are proud to call Nashville TN their home base. The group was formed in May of 2010 for the sole purpose of winning the Sing Off. SCS brings a unique laid back southern soul to the competition, demonstrating notable influences from artists like Take 6 and Alison Krauss. While SCS offers a diverse repertoire, the group has a rich heritage in gospel music. Two of the members are grandsons of the legendary southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers.” In addition, five of the six members were preacher’s kids and grew up singing and learning music in church. SCS is made up of two sets of brothers and two other unrelated guys, and each brings a unique background and character to the group. One member is a pilot, one is a major label recording artist, one is an operatic baritone, one is a dichromat, one has indeed met Chuck D., and one has a serious phobia of fruit. When not singing together, the group is actually still just trying to get acquainted!
Adam Chance was born on the Florida Panhandle and grew up in southern Alabama just north of the beautiful, once oil-free, Gulf Coast beaches. His childhood home was two miles down a dirt road and he spent many summer days fishing in the Gulf. He is the only member of Street Corner Symphony that is not a minister’s son. He learned to sing in the shower, learned music theory in marching band and plays a number of instruments. He once met Chuck D. Adam studied journalism and music at the University of Alabama and is also a songwriter. He enjoys watching american and association football, wearing vests and ties, and would prefer not to die by sword or gunshot. Although he sings bass in the group, he is afraid of spiders.
John Martin is the high tenor for SCS, a native of Marianna FL and is probably shorter than you. His dad was a chaplain in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion and Music in 2009 from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. John is honored to have been selected as a winner of the state National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) auditions for Alabama, as well as to have been chosen as a two-time finalist in auditions for the world renowned Chanticleer. John is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in voice performance at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He enjoys cooking beef and once made a cheese soufflé just to prove he could. His favorite movies are the original Star Wars trilology, and his favorite actor is William H. Macy. He is red-green color blind and has a fear of upside down traffic lights.
Mark McLemore (The Plethora) was born in Alabama to a banjo pickin’ preacher and is Jon’s younger brother. He recently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. He received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) in 2008 for his work on the McLemore Brothers record ‘Sunday Drive.’ He is the group’s resident operatic baritone and he can read music faster than he can read text. His wife, Meredith, is an archivist for the state of Alabama, and taught Mark the importance of making the bed. He also helps out with the vocal percussion duties from time to time. Mark enjoys baking bread and making puns. He once rode a motorcycle from Alabama to California and back in 8 days, danced in the Nutcracker, and engineered his own ping-pong paddle. His favorite actors are Sean Connery and Christopher Walken. He still plays with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from time to time; his favorite is Raphael. He is afraid of poor intonation.
Richie Lister grew up the son of a minister in Mississippi. Although he primarily sings baritone, Richie has a tremendous range and can sometimes be heard singing the highest part. He moved to Nashville 7 years ago and is Jeremy’s older brother. He learned to sing from his parents and from church music and could match pitch with his dad at age 2. He is the grandson of renowned southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers”. Richie is a keyboardist and songwriter and has spent the last 15 years playing in various rock bands, most notably for Jeremy’s solo career. He majored in Music Composition at Mississippi College and has a dream of one day composing music for film. Richie is often told that he has an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon. He is afraid of fruit.
Jeremy Lister began singing and learning harmonies in church at the age of two. When his dad wasn’t looking, Jeremy would sneak into his guitar case and start picking out chords. He grew up collaborating and writing songs with his older brother Richie. At ages twelve and thirteen, he traveled through Europe with his parents. The trip changed his perspective on life and music, and upon returning to the States, he began exploring different musical outlets, ranging from an a cappella quartet to a progressive rock band. Setting out on his own in 2003, Jeremy moved to Nashville bringing his first EP “Shooting Star” with him. Here he began playing writer’s nights and passing his CD along to anyone who would listen. In 2005, he released his second EP, “So Far,” and quickly gained the attention of Warner Bros. Records. The label put him in the studio, where he wrote and recorded songs during ’06. In the spring of ’07, Lister signed a record deal with WBR. His debut release, the “Just One Day” EP, was released digitally on November 20, 2007. More recently, Jeremy has toured with Brett Dennen and Colbie Caillat as well as selling out his own headlining shows in and around the Nashville area. He is currently working on songs for his full-length album to be released later this year. Jeremy sings tenor and lead for SCS, and has a fear of flying with Jon.
Jon McLemore (A Cappella Morpheus) was born in North Alabama and is Mark’s older brother. He began his lucrative career in a cappella at age 19 and over the following four years, performed in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. At age 23, while on tour in Montana with Four Shadow, he met and married Mandy after she was brought on stage to help the group sing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ Following marriage, Jon came off the road, got a real job and had five kids. He recently earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Ministry from Amridge University in Montgomery, AL. Jon has received numerous Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) and nominations as a solo artist, as a member of Four Shadow, No Joe, and the McLemore Brothers. He sings tenor and lead for SCS and does vocal percussion for the group when needed. Jon is an instrument rated pilot and enjoys motorcycles, fishing, and family time. He is afraid of driving over a bridge, having it collapse under him, plummeting to the depths of a mighty river and being trapped in his vehicle until he drowns.
Hey Soul Sister
Street Corner Symphony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Your lipstick stains
On the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeams
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I know when we collided you're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind
Hey soul sister
Ain't that Mister Mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey ey!
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Just in time
I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me
You gave my life direction
A game show love connection
We can't deny
I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind yeah
Hey soul sister
Ain't that Mister Mister on the radio (radio) stereo (stereo)
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
You can cut a rug
Watching you is the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be by myself now finally
There ain't nothing I can't be
I'm gonna tell the world that you are with me
Hey soul sister
Ain't that Mister Mister on the radio (radio) stereo (stereo)
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey soul sister
Ain't that Mister Mister on the radio (radio) stereo (stereo)
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
Tonight
Hey ey!
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Tonight
Hey ey!
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Tonight
The lyrics of Street Corner Symphony's "Hey Soul Sister" suggests a love-struck narrator describing the woman he is enamored with. He is captivated not only by her physical appearance but also by her personality and the way she moves. The phrase "your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains" not only emphasizes his infatuation with her but also implies that she has left a lasting impression on his mind. He then goes on to describe how she has given direction to his life, leading to an obsession with her. Despite his obsession, he acknowledges that she is the one he wants to blow his mind.
The chorus of the song, “hey soul sister,” encourages the listener to feel and understand the passion and love the singer has for his soulmate. He compares their love to being Madonna and a virgin, two opposite ideas that express how he has never felt this way before. The phrase "ain't that Mister Mister on the radio, stereo" might be a reference to the band Mr. Mister and their hit song "Broken Wings." The way his soul sister moves is so impressive that he says it's not fair, playing with the idea that she is almost otherworldly. The singer concludes with a declaration of his love and a desire to tell the world that they are together.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey ey!
Expression of excitement to begin the song
Hey hey hey hey
Continuation of excitement
Your lipstick stains
Remembrance of the girl with lips that put stains on his frontal lobe
On the front lobe of my left side brains
Exact location where the lipstick stains were left
I knew I wouldn't forget you
His memory of that girl was not going to fade away
And so I let you blow my mind
He allowed her to inspire and surprise him
Your sweet moonbeams
Describing the girl as someone who emits positive energy like moonbeams and is uplifting
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
The girl is constantly present in his thoughts and imagination
I know when we collided you're the one I have decided
His moment of encountering her was a sign that she was the one he wanted to be with
Who's one of my kind
She is unique and special, and he is fortunate to have found someone like her
Hey soul sister
Term of endearment towards the girl who has become an important part of his life
Ain't that Mister Mister on the radio, stereo
The song playing on the radio is by the band Mister Mister
The way you move ain't fair you know
Her moves are too good and he can't help but fall for her more
Hey soul sister
Reiteration of his feelings towards her
I don't wanna miss a single thing you do
He wants to cherish and appreciate every moment he spends with her
Tonight
The night they are together is special to him
Just in time
He met her at the right moment and is grateful for it
I'm so glad you have a one track mind like me
Their compatibility is based on their focused intentions and desires
You gave my life direction
She brought meaning and purpose to his life
A game show love connection
Metaphorically referencing their love as a successful match on a game show
We can't deny
They both feel the same attraction towards each other
I'm so obsessed
He is entranced by her and cannot get enough of her
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
He is overwhelmed with emotions and feelings for her
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
She is pure and precious to him, like the iconic singer Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind yeah
He will do everything in his power to keep her intrigued and pleased
You can cut a rug
She has the ability to dance well and gracefully
Watching you is the only drug I need
He is addicted to her presence and doesn't need any other drug to feel high
So gangster, I'm so thug
He is cool and confident, like a gangster or thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
She is the only one he wants to be with and think about
You see I can be by myself now finally
He is happy being alone, but is even happier with her
There ain't nothing I can't be
He feels empowered and invincible with her by his side
I'm gonna tell the world that you are with me
He is proud and excited to proclaim their relationship to everyone
Hey soul sister
Repeated call to her affectionately
Tonight
Reiteration of how special the night is with her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Amund Bjorklund, Espen Lind, Pat Monahan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind