Rockapella is an American a … Read Full Bio ↴Download "A-Punk" from Rockapella HERE.
Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group best known for their series of Folgers Coffee commercials and the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song. "Rockapella" is a portmanteau of "rock" and "a cappella". In addition to original vocal music, the group also perform a cappella covers of pop songs.
The original group members consisted of Brown University alumni Elliott Kerman, David Stix, Sean Altman, and Steve Keyes, who started performing together sheerly out of their love for music. Stix left the group early on and was replaced with Charlie Evett. After having performed on New York City street corners for passers-by the group met a producer who found them a spot on the television show Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella, hosted by Spike Lee. It was this show that put them in the national spotlight.
The text "All sounds provided by the voices and appendages of Rockapella," the central idea of the group, appears on the group's label debut, Don't Tell Me You Do.
None of the original members of Rockapella currently remain in the group. Founding members Sean Altman and Steve Keyes, Rockapella alum Charlie Evett, and non-Rockapella-related baritone Kevin Weist now comprise an a cappella group called The GrooveBarbers. They can be seen on a current nationwide television ad for Astelin nasal spray as 'The Astelins'. Founding member Elliott Kerman, is working independently on jazz music compilations.
Frequently, songs downloaded on file-sharing programs are mis-tagged as Rockapella, when they are instead by other a cappella artists, including collegiate groups, Moxy Früvous, The Nylons, and Da Vinci's Notebook, as well as for other, less similar acts, such as Eddie From Ohio, or They Might Be Giants.
On December 11th, 2009 Rockapella made a free version of "White Christmas" available for download on Rockapella.com.
Members:
Current
* Charles S. ("Scott") Leonard (high tenor, joined 1991)
* Jeff T. Thacher (vocal percussion, joined 1993)
* George W. Baldi (bass, joined 2002)
* John K. Brown (baritone, joined 2004)
* Steven Dorian (tenor, joined 2010)
Former
* David Stix (bass, member 1986-1987)
* Charlie Evett (bass, member 1987-1988)
* Steve Keyes (high tenor, member 1986-1991)
* Sean D. Altman (tenor, member 1986-1997)
* Barry S. Carl (bass, member 1989-2002)
* Elliott S. Kerman (baritone, member 1986-2004)
* Kevin R. Wright (tenor, joined 1997)
16 TONS
Rockapella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Yes you was)
It was more of a drizzle
Fightin' trouble been my middle name
(Nasty boy, look out)
When I come 'round better step aside
Well, alotta men didn't and alotta men died
Doom, boode, doo, doode, doo, doo
Well, some folks say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
Gotta mind that's weak and a back that's strong
Sixteen tons, whatta you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
When I was born, that sun didn't shine
Along came a man who worked in a mine
I shoveled sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the foreman said, "Well, bless my soul"
Sixteen tons, whatta you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
You see me comin', better step aside
Alotta men didn't, alotta men died
I got one fist of iron the other is steel
If the left one don't getcha, then the right one will
Sixteen tons, whatta you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I cannot go
I owe my soul to the company sto'
Sixteen tons, whatta you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul, I owe my soul, I owe my soul
I owe my soul, I owe my soul, I owe it to the company sto'
I owe my soul to the company sto'
The lyrics to Rockapella's song "16 Tons" are a commentary on the brutal life of a coal miner. The singer declares that he was born in a "drivin' rain" which could signify the difficult circumstances under which he was born. The line "fightin' trouble been my middle name" suggests that the singer has always faced difficulties and difficult people. The refrain emphasizes that working in the mines is a never-ending cycle of debt and hardship. The line "I owe my soul to the company sto'" is a reference to the practice of coal companies paying miners in script, a form of currency that could only be used at the company store. This meant that the miners were always indebted to the company and could never escape from their difficult lives.
The verse "some folks say a man is made out of mud, a poor man's made out of muscle and blood, muscle and blood and skin and bone, gotta mind that's weak and a back that's strong" is a poignant reminder that the miners are just people, made of the same stuff as everyone else. However, because of their circumstances, they must use their bodies and muscles to do hard work, and their minds are worn down by the daily grind of the mines. The final verse ("you see me comin', better step aside, alotta men didn't, alotta men died...") is a statement of defiance against the harsh reality of the miners' lives. The singer states that he is strong and will not be defeated, but acknowledges that many of his counterparts have not been so lucky.
Overall, "16 Tons" is a powerful and emotional statement about the hard work and struggle of coal miners. It serves as a reminder of the difficult circumstances that many people in the world still face, and the toll that hard labor can take on a person's life and spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a drivin' rain
I was born on a rainy day
(Yes you was)
Agreeing that I was born on a rainy day
It was more of a drizzle
Actually, it was just a light rain
Fightin' trouble been my middle name
I've always been known for facing challenges
(Nasty boy, look out)
Watch out, because I'm not afraid to fight back
When I come 'round better step aside
People should move out of my way when I approach
Well, alotta men didn't and alotta men died
Unfortunately, some people didn't heed my warning and got hurt or killed
(Doom, doom, doom, doom, ba doom)
Making a dramatic sound effect to emphasize the danger
Doom, boode, doo, doode, doo, doo
Continuing the dramatic sound effect
Well, some folks say a man is made out of mud
Some people believe that humans are made of dirt
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
In contrast, poorer people are characterized by their physical strength
Muscle and blood and skin and bone
Listing the essential components of a human body
Gotta mind that's weak and a back that's strong
People in hard labor jobs often have weak mental capacity but strong physical abilities
Sixteen tons, whatta you get
Describing the heavy load one must carry in a hard labor job
Another day older and deeper in debt
Every day one gets older but also further into financial obligation
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
Not interested in dying yet
I owe my soul to the company sto'
I'm indebted to the company I work for
When I was born, that sun didn't shine
I was born on a cloudy day
Along came a man who worked in a mine
My father worked in a mine
I shoveled sixteen tons of number nine coal
I worked hard, carrying a huge amount of coal every day
And the foreman said, 'Well, bless my soul'
Even the boss was impressed by my hard work
You see me comin', better step aside
Again, warning people to get out of the way
Alotta men didn't, alotta men died
Sadly, not everyone heeded the warning
I got one fist of iron the other is steel
Emphasizing his physical strength
If the left one don't getcha, then the right one will
Threatening people to stay out of his way
I owe my soul, I owe my soul, I owe my soul
Repeating the fact that he owes a significant debt
I owe it to the company sto'
It is the company that he owes his debt to
Contributed by Ethan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.