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)
Stranded In The Jungle
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With my little girl who was back in the States
I was stranded in the jungle, afraid, alone
Trying to figure a way to get a message back home
But how was I to know that the wreckage of my plane
Had been picked up and spotted and my girl in Lover's Lane
Meanwhile, back in the StatesBaby, baby, let's make romance
You know your old-time lover hasn't got a chance
He's stranded in the jungle, sad as he can be
So come on pretty baby, just you and me
Meanwhile, back in the jungle
The boys in the jungle had me on the run
When something heavy hit me like an atomic bomb
When I woke up and my head started to clear
I had a strange feeling I was cooking gear
I smelled something cooking and I looked to see
That's when I found out they was cookin' me
Ooga booga, lemme outta here!
Meanwhile, back in the States
Baby, baby, let's make romance
You know your old-time lover hasn't got a chance
He's stranded in the jungle sad as he can be
So come on pretty baby just you and me
Meanwhile, back in the jungle
I jumped out of the pot, I finally got away
I was frantic, worried about what my baby would say
So I jumped in the ocean and started to swim
My chance of surviving was gettin' slim
So I thumbed down a whale that was headed my wayAnd I reached the States in about half a day
When I got to Lover's Lane I was almost dead
Heard him talkin' to my baby, and this is what he said
Baby, baby, the man's no good
Baby, baby, should have understood
You can trust me just as long as you please
So come back pretty baby where you used to be
'Cause I love you (I love you, I love you, you're fine baby)
'Cause I love you (So damn fine)
'Cause I love you (I got a job; I have money too)
'Cause I love you (Did I show you my vehicle)
'Cause I love you (I'll take you for a ride)
'Cause I love you
The Nylons' song "Stranded in the Jungle" tells the story of a man who crashes in the jungle while trying to keep a date with his girlfriend back in the States. He is stranded and alone, trying to find a way to get a message back home, unaware that his plane has been picked up and his girlfriend found a new lover. Meanwhile, the man is running from the boys in the jungle who are trying to capture him. He is hit by something heavy and wakes up to find out he is being cooked. Eventually, he escapes from the pot where he was put to be cooked, jumps in the ocean, and swims to the US. When he gets to Lover's Lane, he overhears his girlfriend’s new lover trying to convince her to leave him.
The song plays with the notion of two parallel realities: the hopeless and dangerous situation of the man stranded in the jungle contrasted with the carefree and romantic lifestyle of his girlfriend back home. The jungle represents a hostile and threatening environment, while Lover's Lane embodies safety and the comforts of familiarity. The song's use of comic relief and exaggerated expressions emphasizes its satirical tone and relegates the struggle for survival to a mere backdrop to the romantic comedy.
Line by Line Meaning
I crashed in the jungle while trying to keep a date
I had an accident in the jungle while trying to make it to a planned meeting.
With my little girl who was back in the States
I was on my way to meet my girlfriend who was in my home country.
I was stranded in the jungle, afraid, alone
After the crash, I was left alone and scared in the jungle.
Trying to figure a way to get a message back home
I was attempting to find a method to contact my family and friends back home.
But how was I to know that the wreckage of my plane
I had no prior knowledge that the remains of my aircraft
Had been picked up and spotted and my girl in Lover's Lane
were discovered and my significant other was seen with someone else.
Meanwhile, back in the States
At the same time, on the other side of the world.
Baby, baby, let's make romance
The man was making sexual advances towards my girlfriend.
You know your old-time lover hasn't got a chance
He reminded her that I was not present to compete for her affection.
He's stranded in the jungle, sad as he can be
He used my unfortunate situation as a way to make himself appear more appealing.
So come on pretty baby, just you and me
He urged her to engage in a romantic relationship with him instead of waiting for me to return.
The boys in the jungle had me on the run
I was pursued and threatened by the men in the area where I crashed.
When something heavy hit me like an atomic bomb
I was struck by a severe and unexpected blow.
When I woke up and my head started to clear
I regained consciousness and my thoughts began to become clearer.
I had a strange feeling I was cooking gear
I had a sensation that I was being prepared for food.
I smelled something cooking and I looked to see
I detected a cooking scent and investigated its source.
That's when I found out they was cookin' me
It was revealed to me that the men were in fact cooking me for their own consumption.
Ooga booga, lemme outta here!
I panicked and called out for my release.
I jumped out of the pot, I finally got away
I managed to escape from the men's cooking pot.
I was frantic, worried about what my baby would say
I was anxious and concerned about my girlfriend's reaction to my ordeal.
So I jumped in the ocean and started to swim
I fled towards the sea and swam away from the jungle.
My chance of surviving was gettin' slim
My likelihood of survival was diminishing.
So I thumbed down a whale that was headed my way
I was able to signal a passing whale to help me escape.
And I reached the States in about half a day
Thanks to the help of the whale, I arrived back in my home country quickly.
When I got to Lover's Lane I was almost dead
Upon arrival, I was exhausted and nearly lifeless.
Heard him talkin' to my baby, and this is what he said
I overheard him conversing with my girlfriend.
Baby, baby, the man's no good
He spoke negatively of me to her.
Baby, baby, should have understood
He insinuated that she should have known better than to be with me.
You can trust me just as long as you please
He attempted to gain her trust and emphasized his reliability.
So come back pretty baby where you used to be
He urged her to return to their previous relationship.
'Cause I love you (I love you, I love you, you're fine baby)
He professed his love and attraction to her.
'Cause I love you (So damn fine)
He reiterated his admiration for her physical beauty.
'Cause I love you (I got a job; I have money too)
He boasted about his employment and financial standing.
'Cause I love you (Did I show you my vehicle)
He attempted to impress her by showing off his car.
'Cause I love you (I'll take you for a ride)
He promised to take her for a drive in his car.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ernestine Smith, James Escar Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind