Come On Eileen
DEXY\'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS Lyrics
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He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried,
And sang along who'd blame them?
You've grown, so grown
Now I must say more than ever
(Come on Eileen) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye Aye
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
These people round here, wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces, so resigned to what their fate is
But not us, no not us, we are far too young and clever
(Remember) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye-Aye
Eileen I'll hum this tune forever
Come on Eileen, I swear, well he means
Ah come on let's, take off everything
Pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes)
Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen
Pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes)
Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen, please
Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye
Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye
(Now you have grown, now you have shown, oh, Eileen)
Said Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye (repeat in background)
You've grown
So grown (Show, how you feel)
Now I must say more than ever
Things 'round here have changed
I said too-ra-loo-ra-too-ra-loo-rye-aye
Come on Eileen, I swear (well 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, I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Well, they're dirty
Come on Eileen
The song "Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners is a nostalgic tune about a man who longs for the innocence of his youth. The opening lyrics pay homage to Johnny Ray, a 1950s pop singer who was known for his emotional performances that often left his fans in tears. The main character of the song notes how Johnny Ray's music brought people together and made them feel united. He, too, longs for that sense of connection that seems to be missing from his life in the present moment.
The chorus of the song is a call to action for Eileen, who is likely a former flame of the singer. He urges her to let go of her inhibitions and embrace the freedom of youth, which he believes they can do by reviving the music of their fathers. The singer is overwhelmed by his attraction to Eileen and the memories of their past together. He reminisces about her in a pretty red dress and confesses that his thoughts verge on dirty when he thinks about her. Despite this, he remains steadfast in his love for her and urges her to take a chance on him.
The verses of the song highlight the differences between the singer and the people around him. He notes that the people in his town are resigned to their fate and have given up on chasing their dreams. In contrast, he still feels young and clever and believes that he and Eileen can take on the world together. Overall, the song is a catchy and upbeat celebration of youth and the power of love to conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor old Johnny Ray sounded sad upon the radio
The singer hears a sad song by Johnny Ray on the radio and feels empathy for him
He moved a million hearts in mono
Johnny Ray's song had a big impact on listeners, despite being played in mono sound
Our mothers cried, And sang along who'd blame them?
The singer knows that their mothers were touched by Johnny Ray's music and it's understandable why they would sing along and feel emotional
You've grown, so grown Now I must say more than ever
The singer acknowledges that Eileen has matured and therefore has deeper feelings for her
(Come on Eileen) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye Aye And we can sing just like our fathers
The singer invites Eileen to join him and sing along to the tune in the same way their fathers used to do
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means) At this moment, you mean everything You in that dress, my thoughts I confess Verge on dirty Ah come on Eileen
The singer declares his love for Eileen and her appearance in the dress makes him have lustful thoughts, hence the slightly inappropriate nature of his declaration
These people round here, wear beaten down eyes Sunk in smoke dried faces, so resigned to what their fate is But not us, no not us, we are far too young and clever (Remember) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye-Aye Eileen I'll hum this tune forever
The people in the area around them seem to have given up on their lives and their looks reflect this, whereas both the singer and Eileen are young and optimistic. The singer will always remember the song that they are sing along with
Come on Eileen, I swear, well he means Ah come on let's, take off everything Pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes) Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen Pretty red dress Eileen (Tell him yes) Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen, please
The singer again talks of taking off Eileen's dress and trying to persuade her to do so. He compliments her on her pretty red dress and she eventually agrees to his request
Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye (Now you have grown, now you have shown, oh, Eileen) Said Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye (repeat in background) You've grown
The singer repeats the refrain and notes that Eileen has now grown up and become more confident
So grown (Show, how you feel) Now I must say more than ever Things 'round here have changed I said too-ra-loo-ra-too-ra-loo-rye-aye
The singer emphasises that Eileen has matured and he has stronger feelings for her in light of their changing surroundings
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means) At this moment, you mean everything You in that dress, my thoughts I confess Verge on dirty Ah come on Eileen
The singer repeats his declaration of love for Eileen, acknowledging the lustful nature of his thoughts towards her
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means) At this moment, you mean everything You in that dress, my thoughts I confess Well, they're dirty Come on Eileen
The singer reiterates that Eileen is the most important thing for him at this moment and again confesses to having impure thoughts as they continue to dance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES PATERSON, KEVIN ADAMS, KEVIN ROWLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind