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)
Rock & Roll Lullaby
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So we grew up together, my mama-child and me
Now things were bad and she was scared but whenever I would cry
She'd calm my fear and dry my tears
With a rock and roll lullaby
And she'd sing
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, it'll be all right Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, just hold on tight
Sing it to me, mama
My, my, my, my mama
Sing it sweet and clear, oh mama let me hear
That old rock and roll lullaby
We made it through the lonely days but, Lord, the nights were long
And we'd dream of better mornin's when mama sang a song
Now I can't recall the words at all, it don't make sense to try
'cause I just knew lotsa love came through
In that rock and roll lullaby
And she'd sing
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, it'll be all right
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, just hold on tight
I can hear ya, mama
My, my, my, my mama
Nothin' moves my soul like the sound of the good old
Rock and roll lullaby
Just hold on tight
My, my, my, my mama
Nothin' moves my soul like the sound of the good old
Rock and roll lullaby
The Nylons’ song “Rock and Roll Lullaby” is a poignant story of a mother and son growing up together. The song begins with the son acknowledging how he and his mother became a family when she gave birth to him at just sixteen years old. Despite their struggles, the mother always ensured that her child was comforted by singing a rock and roll lullaby. The song speaks to the emotional bond between the mother and son, and how they relied on each other for comfort during the difficult times.
As the song progresses, the son speaks of the lonely nights they endured together wishing for better days, but they would comfort themselves by dreaming and singing the lullaby. Although the son cannot recall the exact words of the song, he knew it was a symbol of the love and comfort that his mother had always provided. The song ends with the son expressing how much the rock and roll lullaby had always moved his soul more than anything else.
Overall, the lyrics of “Rock and Roll Lullaby” represent the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child, and how the power of music can provide comfort and healing during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
She was just sixteen and all alone when I came to be
My mother was young and alone when she gave birth to me
So we grew up together, my mama-child and me
My mother and I grew up together as a team
Now things were bad and she was scared but whenever I would cry
My mother went through tough times but she was always there to comfort me when I cried
She'd calm my fear and dry my tears
My mother had the ability to ease my anxieties and wipe my tears away
With a rock and roll lullaby
She used music to put me to sleep and reassure me
Sha-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, it'll be all right
She sang a simple melody to let me know that everything would be okay
Sing it to me, mama
I asked my mother to sing that song to me
My, my, my, my mama
I have a strong emotional bond with my mother
Sing it sweet and clear, oh mama let me hear
I wanted my mother to sing that song in her sweet and lovely voice
We made it through the lonely days but, Lord, the nights were long
We went through many tough times, and the nights were especially difficult
And we'd dream of better mornin's when mama sang a song
We were hopeful that things would get better one day, and my mother's song gave us comfort and joy
Now I can't recall the words at all, it don't make sense to try
I can't remember the lyrics of the song, so there's no point in trying to remember them
'cause I just knew lotsa love came through
What mattered was the love my mother conveyed through the song
Just hold on tight
My mother's song reminded me to persevere through tough times
Nothin' moves my soul like the sound of the good old
My mother's song still resonates with me to this day
Rock and roll lullaby
Her song was a comforting and familiar melody that put me to sleep
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY BUIE, J COBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind