The band got their first big break when their 1990 debut release, Home of the Brave, launched as a cassette at a St. Patrick's day gig at Reilly's in NYC, was heard by Frank Murray, manager of The Pogues, who signed them to his newly launched label. Their 1993 single, Funky Céilí from the CD, Fire of Freedom, with its signature eclectic sound and socio-political lyrics, and their off-the-wall live shows, is said to have paved the way for other Irish influenced bands such as Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.
Other band members were Geoffrey Blythe (saxophones; founder member of Dexy’s Midnight Runners), Fred Parcells (trombone; worked extensively in Latin/Jazz and big bands), Thomas Hamlin (drums; veteran of the Max’s/CBGB’s scene), Joseph Mulvanerty (uilleann pipes and various flutes), and Joseph “Bearclaw” Burcaw.
In the late 1990s, Byrne amicably left the band to concentrate on his solo project, Seanchai & the Unity Squad and Black 47 went on an unofficial recording hiatus, The band began performing, and recording, again in 2001.
In 2010, the band's 14th release, "Bankers and Gangsters" mixed rock, reggae, hip-hop, folk, Irish traditional, downtown noise, jazz and blues and featured socio-political commentary of “Long Hot Summer” and “Bankers and Gangsters” through humorous scenarios like “Long Lost Tapes of Hendrix” and “Izzy’s Irish Rose” to the classic pop songwriting and romantic nostalgia of “Yeats and Joyce” and “That Summer Dress.” “This time it was more about creating a balance between the joyous and the thoughtful,” said front man Larry Kirwan. “Really focusing on the rhythm section and coming up with innovative arrangements for the brass and pipes. After immersing myself in IRAQ it was a blast to catch the humor in the old Lower East Side friction between Jewish and Irish in ‘Izzy,’ or the plight of a wily Yank who seeks to steal the long lost tapes of Jimi Hendrix from the sex-starved ladies of West Cork – a true story, I might add. It was also nice to tip the cap to old friends like Hilly Kristal, Lester Bangs and Staten Island Danny in Long Hot Summer."
The band split in November 2014.
www.Black47.com
Desperate
Black 47 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go to the club, but the women oh they know me
Want a relationship, I wanna have a family
I'm schizophrenic paranoid, tell me what is wrong with me
Desperate, I'm desperate, why won't you hold me?
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
Desperate, I'm desperate, I feel so lonely!
I'm... so... desperate, baby
I think it was my birthday when you last...
When you last...
Ooh! Ah!
Go for a job, but they don't like the look of me
(...) this is not 1970
Want Rosie O'Donnell, she think I'm to kinky
She don't like perverts, why ain't I a yuppie?
Desperate, I'm desperate, why won't you hold me?
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
Desperate, I'm desperate, I feel so lonely!
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
Desperate, I'm desperate, why won't you hold me?
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
Desperate, I'm desperate, why won't you hold me?
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
Desperate, You make me jump around!
I reach up in the sky, I'll take it off the ground
Desperate, You make me dance and sing!
Oh come on to me, baby, do the right thing
The London girls make me, Desperate
The Brooklyn girls make me, Desperate
The Irish girls make me, Desperate
Jamaican girls make me, Desperate
(Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!)
Desperate!
I'm so desperate, baby now!
Desperate! (...)
(Oh, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!)
I'm so desperate, baby now!
Desperate! (...)
The lyrics to Black 47's song Desperate express the struggles of a person who is feeling alone and disconnected from the world around them. The singer tries to find connection and meaning in different places like religion, clubs, and relationships, but none of them seem to fit or fulfill their needs. The line "I'm schizophrenic paranoid, tell me what is wrong with me" highlights the anguish and confusion they feel about their own mental state. Throughout the song, the repetition of "Desperate" reinforces the feeling of hopelessness underlying their search for something that will make them feel less isolated. The final lines, "The London girls make me desperate, the Brooklyn girls make me desperate," suggest that even though the singer is surrounded by people, they still feel disconnected from everyone.
The themes of loneliness and desperation in the lyrics of this song are relatable and universal. The song speaks to the human need for connection and the struggle to find it, especially when struggling with mental health issues. The use of repetition and a catchy hook reinforce the idea that the feelings described in the song are hard to shake off.
Line by Line Meaning
Go to the church, but the preacher he just preach at me
I attend church but the preacher's messages are not helping me with my problems.
Go to the club, but the women oh they know me
I go to clubs but the women there only want to have casual relationships with me.
Want a relationship, I wanna have a family
I desire a committed relationship and family of my own.
I'm schizophrenic paranoid, tell me what is wrong with me
I am mentally ill and struggling with my symptoms.
Desperate, I'm desperate, why won't you hold me?
I am longing for physical and emotional closeness.
Desperate, Desperate for the next moment
I am constantly seeking something to fill the emptiness I feel.
I'm... so... desperate, baby
I am desperate for love and connection.
Go for a job, but they don't like the look of me
I struggle to find work because of my appearance or other biases.
(...) this is not 1970
Things have changed since past decades and I don't fit the current standards.
Want Rosie O'Donnell, she think I'm too kinky
I am attracted to someone who does not share my interests or desires.
She don't like perverts, why ain't I a yuppie?
The person I like is not interested in someone like me; someone who may not fit societal norms or expectations.
Desperate, You make me jump around!
Love and connection give me energy and excitement.
I reach up in the sky, I'll take it off the ground
In my desperation, I am willing to reach for something that may be unattainable or that others may perceive as impossible.
Desperate, You make me dance and sing!
Love and connection bring me joy and happiness.
Oh come on to me, baby, do the right thing
I am appealing to someone to reciprocate my feelings and willingness to commit, to choose the right path for love and connection.
The London girls make me, Desperate
I find the girls in London attractive and desirable.
The Brooklyn girls make me, Desperate
I find the girls in Brooklyn attractive and desirable.
The Irish girls make me, Desperate
I find the girls in Ireland attractive and desirable.
Jamaican girls make me, Desperate
I find the girls in Jamaica attractive and desirable.
Contributed by Daniel H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.