come on eileen

Dexy's Midnight Runners took the world by storm with the Celtic soul of this raggle taggle romp about a childhood friendship that could become more; and we'll hum this tune forever.  Kevin Rowland and Kevin Archer formed the band in 1978 in Birmingham and got the name from the effects of the drug Dexedrine.  Their debut album 'Searching for the Young Soul Rebels' was a hit in the UK with the single 'Geno' going to number one.  

Rowland remembers:  "We burnt too bright, almost. The feeling was so intense. We couldn't go on. I couldn't go on, not like that. I remember Kevin coming to me at the end of that tour and saying that the band wanted to carry on without me - ... Came to me as a friend, and told me. First of all it hurt, then I felt quite relieved to be apart from them. Thank God for that. That's how I felt. I couldn't carry on. Right now, I can let go of it."

Only lead singer Rowland and trombonist "Big" Jim Paterson remained from the original lineup.  They recruited guitarist and banjo player Billy Adams; keyboardist and accordion player Micky Billingham; bassist Giorgio Kilkenny; drummer Seb Shelton; and saxophonists Paul Speare and Brian Maurice.  They switched from EMI to Mercury Records and then brought in the Emerald Express fiddlers Helen O'Hara, Steve Brennan, Jennifer Tobis, and Roger MacDuff.  These new Celtic Soul Brothers (and Sisters) took on a scruffy new look with overalls, neckerchiefs, and bare feet to go with the rootsy new sound of their second album 'Too-Rye-Ay'.  

Archer claimed that Rowland got the new sound from him:
"Basically, I had an idea with a group called the Blue Ox
Babes, and Kevin listened to my tape, and their sound got to my sound and the same sound basically ended up on 'Too-Rye-Aye' I was offered a deal with Stiff records, and we didn't sign because Andy Leek left the group. First we had Helen, and she told me that she didn't really want to join the group. I told her we only wanted her to do bits and pieces, really. She was doing college stuff, so she didn't join us which was OK, but then she joined Dexys. I did tell Kevin that she's a really good player, and they found her out and she joined."

Rowland admits:  "I'd been pretty mood-altered for some time. For years I thought my part in everything was bigger than it was. Then I went through a longer period of feeling I was the worst piece of shit in the world, that I was nothing of the group's talent, that it was all other people and that I was a fraud. But the truth of it is this: Kevin played me his demo tape and I was more influenced by it than I should have been - specifically his idea of combining a couple of violins with a Tamla-sounding piano, and speeding up a song and slowing it down. And that's it. I didn't steal one note of his music, not one lyric or a melody."

 The first single 'The Celtic Soul Brothers' stalled at number forty-five on the British charts. Co-written by Rowland, Paterson, and Adams, 'Come On Eileen' was the second single released from 'Too-Rye-Ay'; and it went to the top of the charts around the world.  It spent four weeks at number one in the UK and Ireland in August of 1982; five weeks at number one in Australia during November of 1982; and one week at number one in the US in April of 1983, keeping Michael Jackson from having consecutive chart toppers with 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It'.  

The iconic video was directed by  Julien Temple and filmed at Brook Drive, Kennington, London.  Máire Fahey (sister of Bananarama's Siobhan Fahey) plays Eileen.  It also features footage of weepy crooner Johnnie Ray who is mentioned in the opening lines of the song.  










Poor old Jonny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers moved sing along, 
Who would blame them
Now you're grown (so grown up) 
So grown (so grown up) 
Now I must say more than ever
Toora loora torra loo rye aye
And we can sing just like our fathers

Come on Eileen, Oh I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress, oh my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen

These people 'round here
With their beat down eyes sunk in smoke dried faces
They're resigned to what their fate is
But not us, (no never) no not us (no never)
We are far to young and clever
Come on Eileen
Toora loora toora loo rye aye
We'll hum this toon forever

Come on Eileen well I swear (what he means)
Ah come on let's take off everything
That pretty red dress, oh Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen

Come on Eileen toora ta loo rye aye 
Come on Eleen toora ta loo rye aye
Torra torra ta loo rye
Oh Eileen
I said come on Eileen 
Oh come on Eileen 
We are far to young and clever, 
And things wont ever change
I said
Toora loora toora loo rye aye 

Sung in backround
Come on Eileen toora ta loo rye aye 
Come on Eleen toora ta loo rye aye
Torra torra ta loo rye

Come on Eileen oh I swear (what he means)
At this moment you mean everything to me
Oh to me, Oh Eileen
You mean everything








Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen by trashfan