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)
Lady Madonna
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money when you pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nunMonday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
See how they run
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Tuesday afternoon is neverending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night your stockings needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
The Nylons's song Lady Madonna is a tribute to working-class mothers who manage to hold everything together despite their financial struggles. The lyrics begin by observing how the lady Madonna has children at her feet and wonders how she manages to make ends meet. The song seems to focus on the daily struggles of working-class mothers who are faced with the daunting task of sustaining their families with limited resources.
The song highlights the many challenges faced by these mothers who work around-the-clock to provide for their babies. Friday night comes without a suitcase, and Sunday morning feels like a chore just like a nun's chores. Even the children learn quickly that they need to tie their boots because time waits for no one. The mother's daily routine is filled with endless activities that are often mundane and seemingly never-ending. She is a mother who is always just one step ahead, always busy feeding and tending to her babies. Her work is never-ending, yet she finds the strength to go on.
On a deeper level, the song seems to explore the idea of how women are often undervalued and underappreciated for their hard work, especially when it comes to motherhood. The lyrics suggest that the challenges of motherhood are often invisible, but the strength and resilience of mothers are evident in the way they care for their families. The song's overall message is that these women are true heroes in society and deserve our respect and admiration.
Line by Line Meaning
See how they run
Observing the hectic lifestyle of a woman with a lot of tasks to accomplish.
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
The woman being referred to is a mother, who has a lot of responsibility towards her children.
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
The financial situation of the family could be difficult, and it could be a challenge to manage the family's expenses.
Who finds the money when you pay the rent
It seems that the woman is the sole earner of the household, and perhaps barely managing to pay for their rent and other expenses.
Did you think that money was heaven sent
A rhetorical question perhaps implying that the woman may doubt if their financial situation will ever improve.
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
The passage of time is relentless, and the days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, without any significant change.
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Another week begins, and it's not easy, as work and the challenges of everyday life never cease to be a burden.
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
Time marches on, and young children begin to grow and learn, indicating a hope for the future.
See how they run
A phrase repeated from the beginning, highlighting the constant struggles and running around the woman has to do to keep up with everything.
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
The woman has a newborn baby that she has to care for on top of all of her other responsibilities.
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
There is a struggle to provide for the family, and perhaps even to keep healthy food on the table.
Tuesday afternoon is neverending
Time seems to drag on for the woman, and there's always something else to be done or taken care of.
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
There are unexpected setbacks, such as the newspaper failing to arrive, that can further compound the woman's stress and frustration.
Thursday night your stockings needed mending
Even something small like a run in the stockings can seem like a major inconvenience, adding to the woman's already heavy stress load.
See how they run
Again, a repetition emphasizing the constant struggle and frenetic pace of the woman's life.
Lady Madonna, lying on the bed
The woman has a brief moment of rest, but there are still distractions, such as the music going on in the background, that remind her of all the things she has to do.
Listen to the music playing in your head
The woman is preoccupied with her thoughts and worries, unable to relax and fully enjoy the moment.
See how they run
The song ends with another repetition, emphasizing the theme of the song - the relentless, endless pursuit that the woman must continue to endure.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind