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)
Town Without Pity
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And bewildered by the world we see
Why do people get a soul
Ony those in love would know
What a town without pity can do
If we stop to gaze upon a star
People talk about how "bad" we areOurs is not an easy age
We're like tigers in a cage
What a town without pity can do
The young have problems
Many problems
We need an understanding heart
Why don't they help us
Try to help us
Before this plain granted planet falls apart
Take these eager lips and hold me fast
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two
What a town without pity can do
How can we keep love alive
How can anything survive
When these little minds tear you in two
What a town without a pity can do
No it isn't very pretty
What a town without pity can do
The Nylons’ song “Town Without Pity” is a bittersweet meditation on the struggles of love in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving. The song begins by acknowledging the innocent hopefulness of young love, but quickly turns to the harsh realities of the outside world. The young couple muses on how people judge and criticize them, and how this can threaten their love. They express frustration with the lack of understanding they feel from adults and society at large. The chorus repeats that only those in love truly understand the terrible power of “a town without pity,” where people are quick to judge and condemn others.
The song reflects the difficult cultural climate of the 1960s, when it was written. “Town Without Pity” was originally composed for a film of the same name about a young American soldier stationed in Germany who is accused of raping a local girl. The film explored many of the same themes that The Nylons’ song addresses – the danger of prejudice and the struggle for true understanding in a world ruled by harsh judgment. The Nylons’ version of the song became a hit in 1982, and its popularity has endured to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're young and so in love as we
When you're young and in love, the world is a confusing place
And bewildered by the world we see
The world is a confusing place
Why do people get a soul
Only those in love understand the importance of having a soul
Only those in love would know
Only those in love understand
What a town without pity can do
A town without empathy can be dangerous
If we stop to gaze upon a star
People judge us for innocent actions
People talk about how "bad" we are
People gossip and judge others unfairly
Ours is not an easy age
We live in a difficult time
We're like tigers in a cage
We are constrained and limited in our freedom
The young have problems
Young people face many challenges
Many problems
A myriad of difficulties
We need an understanding heart
We need compassion and empathy from others
Why don't they help us
Why don't others offer help and support?
Try to help us
Making an effort to assist us
Before this plain granted planet falls apart
Before the world becomes an unstable place
Take these eager lips and hold me fast
Embrace me with enthusiasm
I'm afraid this kind of joy can't last
I doubt that this happiness will be long-lasting
How can we keep love alive
How can we maintain a relationship?
How can anything survive
How can anything endure?
When these little minds tear you in two
When others tear us apart with their small-mindedness
No it isn't very pretty
It's not a pretty sight
What a town without pity can do
A town without empathy can be harmful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DIMITRI TIOMKIN, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind