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)
Smalltown Boy
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face
Mother will never understand Why you had to leave
For the love that you need
Will never be found at home
And the answer you seek
Will never be found at home
Pushed around and kicked around
Always a lonely boy
You were the one
That they'd talk about around town
As they put you down
And as hard as they would try
They'd hurt to make you cry
But you'd never cry to them
Just to your soul
No you'd never cry to them
Just to your soul
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
The Nylons's song "Smalltown Boy" is a powerful and emotive exploration of a young man's struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and the societal pressures that haunt him. The lyricist paints a vivid picture of a lonely, isolated young man who is forced to leave his hometown in search of acceptance and love. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as we hear the melancholic strains of a lone traveler on a deserted platform, forced to confront his fears and anxieties alone.
The young man's journey is fueled by a sense of yearning and longing for something more, as he seeks the "love that you need" that he knows will never be found at home. He is pushed around and kicked around, always a "lonely boy" who is the target of ridicule and scorn in his small town. Despite the pain and hurt he experiences, he refuses to give in to his tormentors, choosing instead to suffer in silence and find comfort in his own soul.
The song's repeated refrain of "run away, turn away" serves as a reminder of the young man's struggle to escape the confines of his small town and the expectations placed upon him. It is a powerful and moving anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped by the constraints of their environment or society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
You leave in the morning
You depart at dawn
With everything you own
Your belongings are all you have left
In a little black case
Your possessions are contained in a small suitcase
Alone on a platform
You are by yourself waiting for the train
The wind and the rain
The weather is harsh and gloomy
On a sad and lonely face
You appear unhappy and isolated
Mother will never understand
Your mother will never comprehend
Why you had to leave
Why you had to go away
For the love that you need
The affection you require
Will never be found at home
Will not be found in the place you call home
And the answer you seek
The solution you are searching for
Will never be found at home
Will not be found where you are from
Pushed around and kicked around
You were bullied and mistreated
Always a lonely boy
You were perpetually alone
You were the one
You were the target of derision
That they'd talk about around town
People would gossip about you in the village
As they put you down
As they belittled you
And as hard as they would try
Despite their best efforts
They'd hurt to make you cry
They wanted to cause you pain and tears
But you'd never cry to them
You would not shed tears in front of them
Just to your soul
But only to your innermost being
No you'd never cry to them
No, you would not weep in front of them
Just to your soul
Only to your deepest essence
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
Flee, avoid, escape, avoid, run away
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: James William Somerville, Larry Steinbacheck, Steve Bronski
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind