The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant radio airplay. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough -- 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".
The band's song I Go Blind was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish.
The band's most recent album is 2008's Northern Soul released September 30th,2008 and they wrapped up their tour of Canada at the end of November 2008.
Northern Soul
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No my son is gone away you won't find him near
Is he over there then fightin' in that war
No my son has left that place we'll see him never more
War
And now this war has taken away our son
Has taken away our son
What ever happened to
Love your brother love your sister one another
In the darkest hour
Mama what was he fightin for did he really understand
No my son just went along he was told to by the man
Mama he was my son too I feel for him I can
Northern soul is what he had and I'd rather have him back
War
And now this war has taken away our son
Has taken away our son
What ever happened to love sweet love
What ever happened to
Love your brother love your sister one another
In the darkest hour
He's a bird that flies in your yard
And he won't be back again so put him in your heart
Cause you made him with your love and he flies above
And we both know he was better than this war
Mama is your daughter home or has she to run her time
No my girl has gone downtown carrying a sign
Hurray for the peace parade and the lovers of free will
Free to surrender the need to kill or be killed
The song "Northern Soul" by 54-40 is a powerful commentary on war and its impact on families. The opening verse sets the scene for a conversation between two women - one who is looking for her son and the other who is the mother of the missing boy. The lyrics reveal that the son has left to fight in a war, and the mother has no idea where he is. The second verse delves deeper into the impact of war on the family, with the chorus emphasizing the loss of love and the pervading darkness that accompanies war.
The third verse reveals that the son did not fully understand what he was fighting for, and the mother expresses her sorrow for losing her child to the war. The lyrics "Northern soul is what he had and I'd rather have him back" indicate that the son was passionate about something that gave him purpose, and the mother wishes that he could have come back to pursue his passion instead of succumbing to the war.
The final verse brings in another character, a daughter who has gone to join a peace parade. The lyrics suggest that there is hope for a future without war, where people can love each other and have the freedom to make their own choices. The poignant closing line "Free to surrender the need to kill or be killed" is a call for peace and an end to the cycle of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama is your boy home I used to see him here
The singer is asking if the mother's son is at home, as he used to be in the past.
No my son is gone away you won't find him near
The mother replies that her son has left and cannot be found nearby.
Is he over there then fightin' in that war
The singer asks if the son is fighting in the war.
No my son has left that place we'll see him never more
The mother responds that her son has left the place and they will never see him again.
And now this war has taken away our son
The war has taken the mother's son away from her.
Has taken away our son
Reiteration of the mother's loss of her son due to war.
What ever happened to love sweet love
The singer is questioning the absence of love in the world.
Love your brother love your sister one another
The artist is urging people to love and care for one another.
In the darkest hour
Even in difficult times, love and kindness should still prevail.
Mama what was he fightin for did he really understand
The artist is questioning the reason for the son's participation in the war and if he truly understood it.
No my son just went along he was told to by the man
The mother answers that her son simply followed orders and did as he was told by those in power.
Mama he was my son too I feel for him I can
The artist acknowledges that the son belonged to the mother but still feels empathy for him.
Northern soul is what he had and I'd rather have him back
The singer values the son's Northern soul (music subculture) more than anything else and wishes he was still alive.
He's a bird that flies in your yard
The son is like a bird that used to be in the mother's yard (life) but is no longer there.
And he won't be back again so put him in your heart
The singer acknowledges that the son will not return and advises the mother to keep him in her heart.
Cause you made him with your love and he flies above
The mother created the son and the love she put into him makes him soar above.
And we both know he was better than this war
Both the artist and the mother believe that the son was worth more than the war he fought in.
Mama is your daughter home or has she to run her time
The singer asks the mother if her daughter is at home or out doing something else.
No my girl has gone downtown carrying a sign
The mother replies that her daughter is downtown protesting or demonstrating.
Hurray for the peace parade and the lovers of free will
The artist cheers for the people who participate in peaceful demonstrations and value freedom of choice.
Free to surrender the need to kill or be killed
The artist is advocating for people to let go of their desire to kill or harm others.
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maggie Richards
My class listen to this today, their voices blend so beautifully!
countroshculla
I love this song.
Shakethestarsfromthesky
Dude on hollow body nailed this is perfect. It's Lovely
macaotim
I think that's his daughter! So good! And, in light of recent tweets, maybe relevant once again.
Mr. Murphy
do anybody know who that woman is
Ian Ferch
Coral Osborne , Neil’s daughter.