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)
God Only Knows
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe meThe world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I'd be without you
The Nylons’s song "God Only Knows" is a sweet and tender love song, that speaks about the deep love between two people. The opening line" I may not always love you" appears to be an unexpected way for someone to start professing their love, but as the lyrics progress it becomes apparent that the singer is reassuring his love that he will love her forever. The lines "As long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it, I'll make you so sure about it" convey a message of faithfulness and consistency in his feelings. He promises her that he will always be there for her, and that she can count on him.
The chorus "God only knows what I'd be without you" is a heart-warming and emotional expression of how much the singer needs his lover. He says that if she were ever to leave him, life would still go on, but it would not be worth living, as her love is what gives meaning to his life. The final repetition of the line "God only knows what I'd be without you" further emphasizes this sentiment.
Overall, The Nylons have captured the idea of true love through their lyrics, which express the depths of emotion that one can feel for another person. The song communicates that love is an integral part of a person’s life and that without it, life would be incomplete. It highlights the idea of being committed and devoted to one another, even in the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
I may not always love you
I may not be able to love you all the time
As long as there are stars above you
As long as the stars in the sky are shining
You never need to doubt it
There is no need to doubt my love for you
I'll make you so sure about it
I will make you absolutely certain of my love
God only knows what I'd be without you
I cannot fathom what my life would be like without you
If you should ever leave me
If by any chance you leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
Even though life would continue, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
I would not find anything worthwhile in the world
So what good would living do me
Living without you would be meaningless to me
God only knows what I'd be without you
I cannot fathom what my life would be like without you
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Tony Asher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind