Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

Always wondered what they sing.

 

I hear:

 

At the top of the stairs there's darkness,

I'm afraid of that shadow of lonliness,

at the top of the stairs there's darkness,

my life is not based on happiness

 

Just a room that is haunted,

my life has been sadly taunted,

a life so full of sorrow,

forever, today and tomorrow

 

Can someone please put the full lyrics up?

Edited by Soul-Slider
  • Replies 16
  • Views 2k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Most active in this topic

Posted

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness
My life is not based on unhappiness, 
Just a life unwanted
My life has been sadly taunted, 
I fear the sight of darkness, 
'Cause I can see you in the shadow of happiness.

Just a life on the border, 
My love has been taken from that order, 
My life has been arranged with sorrow, 
My life is cloudy today and tomorrow; 
When I had love, it was nice, 
How could I base my entire life?

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness, 
My life is not based on happiness, 
My life has been sadly taunted, 
Now I fear the sight of darkness, 
Now I fear the shadow of loneliness.

Posted

I think this is correct

 

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

My life is not based on happiness, 

 

Just a life unwanted

My life has been sadly taunted, 

I fear the sight of darkness, 

'Cause I can see your shadow of happiness.

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

My life is not based on happiness, 

Just a life on the border, 

My love has been taken from that order, 

My life has been arranged with sorrow, 

All these problems of today and tomorrow; 

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

My life is not based on happiness, 

 

When I had love, it was nice, 

How could I base my entire life?

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness, 

I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

My life is not based on happiness, 

Posted

Minor alteration - as per sheet music

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness
My life is not based on happiness,

 

Just a life unwanted
My life has been sadly taunted,
I fear the sight of darkness,
'Cause I can see your shadow of happiness.

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness
My life is not based on happiness,

Just a life on the border,
My love has been taken from that order,
My life has been arranged with sorrow,
I'm be-cloud-ed by today and tomorrow;

 

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness

I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness
My life is not based on happiness,

 

When I had love, it was nice,
How could I base my entire life?

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness,
I'm afraid of that shade of loneliness

At the top of the stairs, there's darkness
My life is not based on happiness,

 

 

post-12950-0-04244200-1399016047_thumb.j

Posted

Just thinking that, what a miserable depressing lyric!

 

But weren't a majority of the greatest soul songs like this Pete?

i.e. great, happy sounding, uptempo beat, but sad lyrics about how my baby left me, unrequited love etc.

Posted

But weren't a majority of the greatest soul songs like this Pete?

i.e. great, happy sounding, uptempo beat, but sad lyrics about how my baby left me, unrequited love etc.

Yeah, but that IS particularly shady.

Guest Carl Dixon
Posted (edited)

And yet another adjustment. However, don't always believe the lyrics on the sheet music either. I know for sure that the copy typists back in the day often wrote what they thought they heard on the records when working on new releases. A track I am working on right now for The Delgonives has incorrect lyrics sung in the song and incorrect lyrics on the original sheet music!

 

At The Top Of The Stairs

Performed by The Formations

Words and music by: Jerry Akines and Leon Huff

Copyright 1967 (unpub). And 1971 by Double Diamond Music Company, U.S.A.

Unichappel Music Inc, New York

Chappell & Co. Ltd, London W1

 

Recorded at 309 Broad Street/Philadelphia at the Cameo Parkway studios (which are being pulled down to build apartments!)

Arranged by Richard Rome

Karl Chambers - drums

Roland Chambers - Guitar

Leon Huff - Piano

Vince Montana - Vibes (I am led to believe)

 

 

INTRO

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

My life is not based on happiness,

 

VERSE 1

Just a life unwanted,

My life has been sadly taunted,

I fear the sight of darkness,

'Cause I can see you in the shadow of happiness,

 

CHORUS

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

I’m afraid of that shade of loneliness,

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

My life is not based on happiness,

 

VERSE 2

Just a life on the border,

My love has been taken from that order,

My life has been arranged with sorrow,

I’m beclouded by today and tomorrow,

 

CHORUS

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

I’m afraid of that shade of loneliness,

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

My life is not based on happiness,

 

BRIDGE/PRE HOOK

When I had love, it was nice,

How could I base my entire life?

 

CHORUS

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

I’m afraid of that shade of loneliness,

At the top of the stairs there’s darkness,

My life is not based on happiness,

Edited by Carl Dixon
Guest Carl Dixon
Posted

Like I maybe have said before The Trammps song 'Hold back the night', is never sung. Jimmy Williams sings ' Hold back tonight' which was probably the original name of the song, or he got it wrong and nobody noticed! like the vocals on my 'Suddenly there's you' by Pree...incorrect lyrics in the song for sure...


Get involved with Soul Source

Add your comments now

Join Soul Source

A free & easy soul music affair!

Join Soul Source now!

Log in to Soul Source

Jump right back in!

Log in now!


×
×
  • Create New...