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)
Dock of the Bay
Rockapella Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll be sittin' when the evenin' down
Watchin' the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again
Sittin' on dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide, roll away
Sittin' on dock of the bay wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
I headed for the Frisco Bay
Now I got nothin' left to live for
Looks like nothings gonna come my way
No, no, no, no
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time
Well, looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same
Sittin' here restin' my bones
This loneliness won't leave me alone
Two thousand miles, I roam
Just call this dock my home
No, no, no
Sittin' on dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide, roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time
Wastin' time
Wastin' time
Wastin' time
Wastin' time
The song "Dock of the Bay" by Rockapella begins by setting the scene with the singer sitting in the morning sun and watching the ships roll into the dock. However, in the evening the ships roll away again, leaving the singer alone on the dock. The chorus repeats the phrase "sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time" which suggests that the singer is stuck in a rut and hasn't found a way to move forward in life.
The second verse reveals that the singer left their home in Georgia and moved to San Francisco Bay, but despite this change, they still feel like they have nothing left to live for. They are resigned to the fact that nothing good will ever come their way. The chorus is repeated once again, emphasizing the fact that the singer is feeling stuck in their current situation.
The final verse shows the singer accepting their fate and making the dock their home. They are resigned to the fact that they are wasting their time in this place, but they have nowhere else to go. The song fades out with the repetition of "wasting time," conveying the feeling of being stuck in a never-ending cycle.
Overall, "Dock of the Bay" is a song that reflects the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward in life. It's a melancholy tune that captures the sentiment of resignation and defeat.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I am sitting on the dock while the sun rises in the morning
And I'll be sittin' when the evenin' down
I will continue to sit here even when the evening comes
Watchin' the ships roll in
I am observing the ships as they arrive at the dock
Then I watch 'em roll away again
After the ships arrive, I observe them as they depart from the dock
Sittin' on dock of the bay
I am sitting on a dock located on the bay
Watchin' the tide, roll away
I am observing the tide as it recedes
Sittin' on dock of the bay wastin' time
I am spending my time sitting on the dock without any particular purpose or goal
I left my home in Georgia
I departed from my home in the state of Georgia
I headed for the Frisco Bay
I travelled to the San Francisco Bay area
Now I got nothin' left to live for
I feel as though I have nothing to live for anymore
Looks like nothings gonna come my way
It seems that nothing positive will come my way in the future
Well, looks like nothing's gonna change
I perceive that my situation is unlikely to change
Everything remains the same
My current circumstances have not changed
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
I am not willing to follow the directions or expectations of ten individuals
So I guess I'll remain the same
Therefore, I will continue to stay the way I am
Sittin' here restin' my bones
I am relaxing my body and taking a break from activity
This loneliness won't leave me alone
I am feeling lonely and cannot shake this emotion
Two thousand miles, I roam
I have travelled a great distance, about two thousand miles
Just call this dock my home
This dock has become the place where I feel most comfortable
Wastin' time
I am spending my time without any particular purpose or goal
Wastin' time
I am spending my time without any particular purpose or goal
Wastin' time
I am spending my time without any particular purpose or goal
Wastin' time
I am spending my time without any particular purpose or goal
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.