In the late 1960s he led a blues-rock trio called Love Sculpture, who scored a quasi-novelty hit by reworking Khachaturian's classical piece "Sabre Dance" as a speed-crazed rock number. "Sabre Dance" became a hit after garnering the enthusiastic attention of British DJ John Peel.
After Love Sculpture split, Edmunds had a number one single with "I Hear You Knocking", a Smiley Lewis cover. His only acting role followed, as a band member in the David Essex movie Stardust (1974 movie). After learning the trade of producer, culminating in a couple of singles in the style of Phil Spector, "Baby I Love You" and "Born To Be With You", he became linked with the pub rock movement of the early 1970s, producing Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, and also The Flamin' Groovies, using a stripped down, grittier sound.
His own solo LP from that era, Subtle As A Flying Mallet, was similar in style. In 1977, the Brinsley Schwarz connection brought about a collaboration with Nick Lowe under the name Rockpile, with Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. For contractual reasons they could not record as Rockpile until 1980, but contemporary solo LPs (such as Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust and Edmunds' own Repeat When Necessary) were in fact group recordings. Dave Edmunds had more hits during this time, including Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk", Nick Lowe's "I Knew The Bride", Hank DeVito's "Queen of Hearts" ), Graham Parker's "Crawling From The Wreckage", and Melvin Endsley's "Singing The Blues" (originally a hit for Guy Mitchell).
Unexpectedly, after Rockpile relased their first LP under their own name (1980's Seconds Of Pleasure), the band split, generally attributed to tensions between Edmunds and Lowe. Edmunds spent the 1980s collaborating with and producing an assortment of artists, from Paul McCartney to King Kurt, and from The Stray Cats to Status Quo. He recorded the soundtrack for Porky's Revenge, supplying the main theme, "High School Nights", and was the musical director for a television special starring Carl Perkins, with assorted guests including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Rosanne Cash.
On his 1983 and 1984 releases, Information and Riff Raff, Edmunds collaborated on two songs with Jeff Lynne, the lead musician of Electric Light Orchestra. He recorded less frequently after the mid 1980s.
Edmunds now lives in Wales in semi-retirement, touring Scandinavia infrequently, after surviving a quadruple bypass several years ago.
Trouble Boys
Dave Edmunds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now your knocking on my door
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been
I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been
You better get back to your used to be
Cause your kind of love ain't good for me
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been
I told you way back in '52
That I would never go with you
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been
The lyrics to Dave Edmunds’s song “Trouble Boys” tell the story of a man who had a lover who left him a long time ago, and now she’s back, but he doesn’t want her in his life anymore. He repeats the line “I hear you knocking but you can’t come in” throughout the song as a clear message to his ex. The man initially begged her not to leave him, but now he has realized that her love isn’t good for him.
The tone of the song is angry and dismissive, with the singer telling his ex-girlfriend to go back to where she came from, emphasizing that he doesn’t want her in his life. The lyrics suggest that the man’s ex wants to rekindle the relationship, but he isn’t interested. The final lines of the song reveal that the man had made it clear to his ex as far back as 1952 that he wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationship with her.
Line by Line Meaning
You went away and left long time ago
The person addressed in the song left a long time ago and has now returned.
Now your knocking on my door
The person has come to the singer's door and is knocking.
I hear you knocking
The singer can hear the knocking.
But you can't come in
The singer does not want the person to come in.
Go back where you been
The singer wants the person to leave and go back to where they came from.
I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
The singer did not want the person to leave, but the person still left.
Now your telling me all your lies
The person is now lying to the singer.
You better get back to your used to be
The singer thinks the person should go back to their previous life or situation.
Cause your kind of love ain't good for me
The type of love the person offers is not suitable or desired by the singer.
I told you way back in '52
The singer had previously told the person something in 1952.
That I would never go with you
The singer had previously made it clear that they would never be involved with the person.
I hear you knocking
The singer can still hear the knocking.
But you can't come in
The singer still does not want the person to come in.
Go back where you been
The singer repeats their desire for the person to leave and go back to where they came from.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Murray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kellypeterson2625
Dave is one of the all time greats. As pure a rocker as there ever was. Doesn’t get near enough recognition.
@sdovas
A true archivist, an aficionado, a craftsman AND a bitchin' guitarist!
@septembersapphire347
Oh man this brings back great memories of my childhood! My dad used to throw parties, crank up the stereo and our house would be rockin' on this shit! Good Times! 😂
@tattyshoesshigure5731
Dave Edmunds is amazing! A guitar genius & true musical craftsman who always kept a low profile & didn’t follow the latest trends... you’ll not hear Dai doing s disco number that’s for sure! Rockpile were a superb live band, one of the best you could see around the mid to late ‘70’s early 80’s. Nick, Billy, Terry & Dave provided unforgettable musical entertainment in relatively small venues for a very reasonable ticket price, they were simply the best night out you could have!
@douglasgordon6165
Very well-said, @TattyshoesShigure!
@herbertdunn3541
1978, a 28 year old Police Officer, me and my friends were the Trouble Boys, going out to Bunratty's in Brighton, The Rat, Kenmore Sq., Jack Lynch's and The Pour House, Back Bay, Kens Pub, Prospect Grill, Speakeasy, Joe's Place, Plough And Stars, Cantab Lounge, The Zircon, in Cambridge. I remember one of my so called compadres saying hide the women when we went into Kens Pub. Great Memories. This was my theme song.
@darrylwiggins1156
I was at a house party in the eighties and i couldnt get this girl to dance with me.when this song came on via the dj she came alive said lets go.never a better time.rarely a better song.
@eltigre8978
Rock-n-roll at it's best!
@donnabartlett884
Got this album and he rocks,
@psla6595
Just saw this performed on the kenny everett show on freeview and looked it up. Great stuff.