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)
Huron Christmas Carol
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That mighty Gitchimanitou (sp?) sent angel choirs instead.
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Chorus: "Jesus our King is born. Jesus is born.
In exchelsis deo."
'Twas in a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found. A ragged robe of rabbit skin had wrapped his beauty round.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Chorus
Oh children of the forest free, oh sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and Heav'n is born this day for you.
Come kneel before ths radient boy who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.
Chorus: repeat and fade.
The Nylons's "Huron Christmas Carol" is a retelling of the Christmas story from the perspective of the Huron people. In the song, the setting is the moon of wintertime, a time where all the birds had left, leaving the forest in silence. However, the silence is broken with joyous music played by angel choirs sent by the Great Spirit or Gitchimanitou. The music was so bright that it dimmed the stars and could be heard by wandering hunters. The chorus declares the birth of Jesus, the King, in Latin, "In exchelsis deo."
The song then describes the humble setting of Jesus's birth, in a lodge made of broken bark. Wrapped in a rabbit skin robe, the child lay in a manger. Chiefs from faraway lands came to pay their respect to the Holy Infant, offering gifts of fox and beaver pelt. The second chorus repeats the declaration of the birth of Jesus as the source of joy and peace across the forest free and sons of Manitou.
Line by Line Meaning
'Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
During the winter season, when birds migrated and left, the events of the song happened.
That mighty Gitchimanitou (sp?) sent angel choirs instead.
God, known as Gitchimanitou by some indigenous tribes, sent a choir of angels to share the good news.
Before their light the stars grew dim,
The angels' light was so bright that it made the stars look dimmer.
And wandering hunters heard the hymn:
Even the hunters who were wandering around heard the angels' hymn.
Chorus: "Jesus our King is born. Jesus is born.
The chorus celebrates the birth of Jesus, acknowledging him as the King.
In exchelsis deo."
This is a Latin phrase that means 'in highest praise of God.'
'Twas in a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found.
The baby was found in a simple lodge made of broken bark.
A ragged robe of rabbit skin had wrapped his beauty round.
The baby was wrapped in a simple robe made of rabbit skin.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
Even chiefs from far away came to kneel before the baby.
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
They brought gifts of animal pelts, such as fox and beaver.
Oh children of the forest free, oh sons of Manitou,
The song addresses the indigenous people, calling them 'children of the forest' and 'sons of Manitou.'
The Holy Child of earth and Heav'n is born this day for you.
The song emphasizes that the birth of Jesus is a special event for everyone, including the indigenous people.
Come kneel before ths radient boy who brings you beauty, peace, and joy.
The song invites the indigenous people to come and kneel before the baby Jesus, who represents beauty, peace, and joy.
Chorus: repeat and fade.
The chorus is repeated, gradually fading away as the song ends.
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@davidcoupal8083
Beautiful