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)
Rise Up
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh rise and show your power
Rise up rise up
Dance into the sun
Rise up rise up
It's time for celebration
Rise up rise up
Spirits time has come
We want lovin' and laughter again
We want heartbeat
We want this madness to end
We want dancin'
want to run in the street
We want freedom to live in this peace
We want power
want to make it ok
Want to be singin' at the end of the day
Children to breathe a new life
We want freedom to love who we please
[Chorus]
Talkin' 'bout the right time to be workin' for peace
Wantin' all the tension in the world to ease
We want to love
Run wild in the streets
We want to be free
We want to be free
We want to be free
Talkin' 'bout a new way
About changin' our names
Talkin' ''bout buildin' the land of our dreams
This tightrope's gotta learn how to bend
We're makin' new plans
Gonna start it again
Gonna start it again
We're gonna start it again
[Chorus]
Lovin'
Singin'
Dancin'
Feelin'
Startin' again
[Chorus]
The Nylons's song Rise Up is a call-to-action anthem that encourages listeners to rise and show their power. The song champions celebration, freedom, and peace. The first verse talks about the need for love and laughter, the end of madness and tension in the world, and the desire to dance and run free in the streets. The lyrics also express the longing for freedom to love and live in peace. The chorus expresses the need to work for peace and ease tension in the world while embracing freedom and the power to make things okay. The song closes with a renewed sense of purpose to build a world of dreams, where people can love, sing, dance, and start things again.
Line by Line Meaning
Rise up rise up
We urge you to awaken and become active
Oh rise and show your power
Show your confidence and strength
Dance into the sun
Embrace life and its beauty
It's time for celebration
This is a moment that deserves to be celebrated
Spirits time has come
This is a time for spiritual growth
We want lovin' and laughter again
We crave love and happiness once more
We want heartbeat
We seek vitality and energy
We want this madness to end
We hope for an end to senseless chaos
We want dancin'
We desire joyous movement
want to run in the street
We want to move freely and without constraint
We want freedom to live in this peace
We want to be able to live freely and peacefully
We want power
We want the ability to make a meaningful impact
want to make it ok
We seek to make things right
Want to be singin' at the end of the day
We want to feel happy and content when the day is done
Children to breathe a new life
We want the future generations to thrive
We want freedom to love who we please
We want the ability to love without judgment
Talkin' 'bout the right time to be workin' for peace
We believe this is the correct moment to strive for harmony and understanding
Wantin' all the tension in the world to ease
We want the pressure and stress to dissipate
We want to love
We desire to give and receive affection
Run wild in the streets
We want to have fun and be free-spirited
We want to be free
Our deepest longing is to be free from all constraints
Talkin' 'bout a new way
We're speaking about taking a different path
About changin' our names
We're referring to redefining ourselves and our identities
Talkin' ''bout buildin' the land of our dreams
We're conversing about constructing a better world
This tightrope's gotta learn how to bend
We must learn to be flexible in difficult situations
We're makin' new plans
We're devising alternative approaches
Gonna start it again
We will begin anew
Lovin'
We believe in the transformative power of love
Singin'
We find solace and joy in music
Dancin'
We celebrate life through movement
Feelin'
We want to connect with the essence of being alive
Startin' again
We will begin again and again until we achieve what we seek
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LORRAINE SEGATO, LAURI CONGER, DONNA LYNNE FERNIE, WILLIAM TAYLOR BRYANS, STEVEN D. WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind