The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Can… Read Full Bio ↴The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, best known for their covers of The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' version of the traditional "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".

The origins of the Nylons date back to 1978 when four experienced Toronto stage actors, Connors, Cooper, Morrison, and Simpson, used to get together in the back of a delicatessen to sing doo-wop together. They took their ensemble to parties and friend's houses and constant comments from people convinced them to take their unique a cappella act into the clubs. An acquaintence met at a party was about to open a new cabaret and invited them to debut there. They played there for six weeks, garnering rave critical and audience reviews. In 1979 Simpson retired from the group and Cole was brought on board. They very quickly established themselves as one of the area's classiest and most original ensembles and caught the attention of Attic Records. Their first album eventually went platinum in Canada (100,000 copies), and there followed four more releases on Attic that all sold at least gold in Canada (50,000 copies). They received the equivalent of a Dutch Grammy award and a gold disc for the One Size Fits All album and the Best Singer Award at 1986's Tokyo Music Festival. In 1987 Disney used their song That Kind Of Man in their feature The Tin Man, and their version of Up The Ladder To The Roof was used in the movie Made In Heaven. They also scored a second appearance on the Taft Broadcasting television show Throb after writing the theme song and a previous appearance on the program. In February 1991 founding member Connors left the group and in March of that year died of viral pneumonia. A new deal in 1991 with Scotti Brothers in the US and BMG in Canada saw the release of three more albums, and constant touring on either side of the border. Over the years various member changes have led to today's lineup of Morrison, Robinson, Mosbaugh, and Cassius. In 1997 they signed with Shoreline Records in the US, a label primarily devoted to vocal groups, and released the Fabric Of Life. Today they continue to tour the world to audience and critical acclaim.

Singles
1982 The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Attic) 1983 Silhouettes (Attic) 1983 That Kind Of Man (Attic) 1984 Take Me To Your Heart (Attic) 1984 Perpetual Emotion (Attic) 1984 Stepping Stone (Attic) 1984 Combat Zone (Attic) 1987 Kiss Him Goodbye (Attic) 1987 Happy Together (Attic) 1987 Chain Gang (Attic) 1989 Wild Fire (Attic) 1989 Drift Away (Attic) 1991 Call My Name (Attic) 1991 One Fine Day (Attic) 1992 Don't Look Any Further (Scotti Brothers)

Albums
1982 The Nylons (Attic) 1982 One Size Fits All (Attic) 1984 Seamless (Attic) 1987 Happy Together (Attic) 1989 Rockapella (Attic) 1991 Four On The Floor (Attic) 1992 Live To Love (BMG) 1993 Illustrious: A Collection Of Classic Hits (Attic) 1994 Harmony - The Christmas Songs (BMG) 1994 Because... (BMG) 1996 Run For Cover (BMG) 1997 Fabric Of Life (Shoreline) 1997 Perfect Fit (Windham Hill) [re-release of 1993's Illustrious]

Marc Connors (baritone; RIP 1991) Paul Cooper (tenor) Claude Morrison (tenor) Dennis Simpson (bass) Ralph Cole (bass; replaced Simpson 1979) Arnold Robinson (bass; replaced Cole 1981) Micah Barnes (tenor; replaced Cooper 1991) Billy Newton-Davis (baritone; replaced Connors 1992) Garth Mosbaugh (tenor; replaced Barnes 1994) Gavin Hope (baritone; replaced Newton-Davis 1994) Mark Cassius (baritone; replaced Hope 1997)

A Touch of Your Hand
The Nylons Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do I tell I'm not dreaming
When do I know that it's true
Why is the heartache not healin'
I can't shake this feelin'
When I'm thinking of you

Who is the face in the mirror
Where is the man I once knew

I can't believe that I'm fallin'
I hear your voice callin'
Should I run back to you

Why do I think I'm in love
With a touch of your hand
Why do I think I'm in love
With a touch of your hand
I lose all control
With a touch of your hand
It's a feelin' I can't understand
With a touch of your hand

How did you find my emotions
You made it hard to be strong
Now it's too late to refuse you
I don't want to lose you
I've been waiting so long

CHORUS

Don't you let go
This is just the beginning
Don't you let go
There are so many things that I wanted to say
Don't you let go

I've just got to know
If it's love, let me know where I stand
With a touch of your hand
With a touch of your hand

CHORUS

Overall Meaning

The Nylons's song "A Touch of Your Hand" appears to be about the confusion and uncertainty that comes with falling in love. The singer is grappling with a range of conflicting emotions and trying to figure out what to do about their feelings for this person, whom they feel connected to simply by virtue of a single touch. There is a sense of longing and helplessness in the lyrics, as the singer struggles to understand why they're feeling this way, and whether they should give in to their desire or try to resist it. The repetition of the chorus, with its catchy melody and insistent refrain, underscores the intensity of the singer's emotions and their closeness to this person.

The lyrics seem to call attention to the power of physical touch as a way of connecting with another person. There is a sense that, even though the singer may not fully understand their feelings, they are drawn to this person by the way that they make them feel - and that the touch of their hand is a powerful symbol of that connection. There is also an element of desperation in the lyrics, as the singer seems to be pleading with this person not to let go - to let them know what they really mean to them. It is as if they have finally found someone who can make them feel alive, and they are clinging to that feeling with all their might.

Overall, The Nylons's "A Touch of Your Hand" is a poignant meditation on the complexities of love and human connection. It doesn't offer easy answers, but rather captures the confusion, longing, and ambiguity that often accompany romantic desire.

Line by Line Meaning

How do I tell I'm not dreaming
I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is real

When do I know that it's true
How can I be certain that my feelings are genuine

Why is the heartache not healin'
The pain of not being with you is not going away

I can't shake this feelin'
My emotions are strong and persistent

When I'm thinking of you
You're always on my mind

Who is the face in the mirror
I don't recognize myself anymore

Where is the man I once knew
I've changed because of my feelings for you

I can't believe that I'm fallin'
I never expected to develop such strong feelings for you

I hear your voice callin'
Your presence is always with me

Should I run back to you
I'm considering the possibility of returning to you

Why do I think I'm in love
My feelings for you are intense and overwhelming