The Nu Tornados - ’Philadelphia U.S.A.’
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Topic: The Nu Tornados - ’Philadelphia U.S.A.’
Posted By: Paul C
Subject: The Nu Tornados - ’Philadelphia U.S.A.’
Date Posted: 15 March 2012 at 1:58pm
My U.S. commercial 45 of 'Philadelphia U.S.A.' by The Nu Tornados (Carlton 492) states the run time as (1:58), but I timed it at (2:02).
I've always loved this record, but I've never been able to decipher what they're singing in the first line, after they start with "When you see clear skies..." Can anyone figure out what they're singing. "And hearts of gold"???... "And arms aglow"???
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Replies:
Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 15 March 2012 at 2:53pm
When you see clear skies and hearts of gold
And a girl that wears a smile
Don't stop to check your road map
Philadelphia's about a mile
To me, one of the 'Net's greatest resources is the many free lyric sites out
there today. Quick, correct lyrical answers are everywhere!
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Posted By: Yah Shure
Date Posted: 15 March 2012 at 3:27pm
Well, the variations amongst the various lyrics sites are a source of amusement in themselves. I tried dozens of them once to figure out the lyrics of the Bee Gees' "Sinking Ships" (non-LP B-side of "Words") and the sometimes-hysterical lyrical interpretations ("caramel cuffs"?? In Homer Simpson's dreams, perhaps) had me on the floor. Never did get any closer to deciphering a song whose lyrics were likely written to be nonsensical in the first place.
As for the Nu Tornados record, I prefer the "and arms aglow" lyric, myself. Had it been re-titled "Harrisburg, U.S.A." and released it in 1979, it would've been a massive hit for miles beyond Three Mile Island.
FWIW, my 45 also runs (2:02).
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Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 16 March 2012 at 12:14pm
Thanks, Jim, but the reason every lyrics site I've checked gives the words as "hearts of gold" is that those were the words I myself submitted to the lyrics site top40db.net about 8-10 years ago, and every other site over the years has simply copied the lyrics from them. Top40db was the first site to offer the lyrics to every Billboard Top 40 hit, and I played a minor role in transcribing some of the final few missing songs. I did not transcribe "Philadelphia U.S.A.", but when the person who did couldn't figure out those few words, I mentioned that my best guess was "hearts of gold". I now think those words are wrong. And the fact that all those lyrics sites around the world have had the wrong words all these years is all my fault!!!
I think "arms aglow" is a better guess, but I have no idea why Philadelphians would have glowing arms. (Yah Shure, I recall hearing a parody of 'Wolverton Mountain' called 'Three Mile Island' in 1979.)
One song I remember transcribing and submitting to Top40db was "I Love You Madly" by The Four Coins. I just checked four different lyrics sites in addition to top40db, and the lyrics on all of them are exactly as I submitted them to top40db about ten years ago.
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Posted By: jimct
Date Posted: 16 March 2012 at 12:59pm
Sorry, Paul C. I had absolutely no idea that some lyric sites were actually
"Wikipedia, citizen-sourced". The few times I'd previously sourced lyrics
sites, I'd always seen copyright dates, publisher info, etc. at the bottom,
leading me to believe the info were generated by those "official"
organizations - my apologies.
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Posted By: Todd Ireland
Date Posted: 16 March 2012 at 10:59pm
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According to a book I have called Who Wrote That Song? by Dick & Harriet Jacobs, "Philadelphia U.S.A." was written by Anthony Antonucci and Bill Borrelli, Jr. Anyone know if either of these guys or any of the members of the Nu Tornados are still around? If I knew of any of their e-mail addresses, I'd ask them about the lyrics directly!
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Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 18 April 2012 at 5:58pm
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I've managed to obtain a 45 of Art Lund's recording of the song (which reached #89 on the Hot 100 at the same time the Nu Tornados version was on the chart) and, whaddaya know, Art Lund clearly sings "hearts of gold".
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