Thursday October 15, 2020 “Come on Eileen” Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Nearing the end of earworm week and you may be thinking, ‘thank God!”.

 Kevin Rowland, co-writer of “Come on Eileen” and founder of Dexy’s Midnight Runners” said the song grew out of a  ‘bomp a bomp’ rhythm borrowed from songs like “Concrete and Clay” and “It’s Not Unusual” and the lyrics came from a teenage relationship that Rowland had with Eileen (really Jennette) when he was a Catholic, altar boy.  So you get the drift of the song.

 A multi-million selling international number one hit, helped by the very idiosyncratic video that accompanied the song (which for some reason was unavailable) along with its take on teenage lust, “Come on Eileen” would become Dexy;s signature tune and primary success.

 "Come On Eileen" won Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards and in 2015, the song was voted by the British public as the nation's sixth favorite 1980s song in a poll for ITV and it was ranked number eighteen on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.

 Stay safe and well...but will he still love her tomorrow?

Come on, Eileen
Come on, Eileen

Poor old Johnnie Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
Moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried
Sang along, who'd blame them?

You've grown (you're grown up)
So grown (so grown up)
Now I must say more than ever
(Come on, Eileen)
Too-ra-loo-ra
Too-ra-loo-rye-ay
And we can sing just like our fathers

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

Come on, Eileen

These people 'round here
Were beaten down, eyes sunk in smoke-dried face
They're so resigned to what their fate is
But not us (no never)
But not us (not ever)
We are far too young and clever
(Remember)
Too-ra-loo-ra
Too-ra-loo-rye-ay
And you'll hum this tune forever

Come on, Eileen
Oh, I swear (what he means)
Ah, come on, let's
Take off everything
That pretty red dress
Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on, let's
Ah, come on, Eileen, please
That pretty red dress
Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on, let's
Ah, come on, Eileen, please

(Come on, Eileen, too-rye-ay)
(Come on, Eileen, too-rye-ay)
Now you're full grown (too-ra)
And now you have shown (too-ra, ta-loo-ra)
Oh, Eileen
Said, come on, Eileen (come on, Eileen) (you've grown)
These things they are real and I know (ta-loo-rye-ay) (so grown)
How you feel (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
Now I must say more than ever (too-ra, ta-loo-ra)
Things 'round here have changed
I said, too-ra-loo-ra (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
Too-ra-loo-rye-ay (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
(Too-ra, ta-loo-ra)

Come on, Eileen
Oh, I swear (what he means)
At this moment
You mean everything
You in that dress
My thoughts, I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah, come on, Eileen
Come on, Eileen
Oh, I swear (what he means)
At this moment
You mean everything
In that dress
Oh, my thoughts I confess
Well, they're dirty
Come on, Eileen
Come on, Eileen
Whoa (what he means)
Whoa
Ah, come on, Eileen

Oh, believe me
If all those endearing young chums
That I gaze on so fondly today
Were to suddenly leave you, oh fly in the night
Just like fairy gifts gone in the sky