Geno
Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics


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Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno!
Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno!
Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno!

Back in '68 in a sweaty club
(Oh, Geno)
Before Jimmy's Machine and The Rocksteady Rub
(Oh, Geno)
On a night when flowers didn't suit my shoes
After a week of flunkin' and bunkin' school
The lowest head in the crowd that night
Just practicin' steps and keepin' outta the fights

Academic inspiration, you gave me none
But you were Michael the lover
The fighter that won
But now just look at me as I'm looking down at you
No, I'm not bein' flash, It's what I'm built to do

That man took the stage, his towel was swingin' high
(Oh Geno)
This man was my bombers, my Dexy's, my high
(Oh, Geno)
How the crowd, they all hailed you, and chanted your name
But they never knew like we knew
Me and you were the same
And now you're all over, your song is so tame, brrr
You fed me, you bred me, I'll remember your name

Academic inspiration, you gave me none
But you were Michael the lover
The fighter that won
But now just look at me as I'm looking down at you
No, I'm not bein' flash, It's what I'm built to do

Oh, Geno
(Oh, Geno)




Oh, Geno
(Oh, Geno)

Overall Meaning

The song "Geno" by Dexys Midnight Runners features a first-person narrative where the singer reflects on a life-changing moment that occurred in 1968. The song describes his experience at a club where he first witnessed a man named Geno Washington take the stage. The singer describes Geno as the lowest head in the crowd that night, practicing steps and staying out of fights. Despite not being an academic inspiration, the singer acknowledges that Geno was "Michael the lover, the fighter that won." The crowd hailed Geno's name, and the singer remembers how they were the same. The song ends with the singer promising to remember Geno's name.


On the surface, "Geno" may seem like a simple tribute to an influential figure, but it also captures the essence of the Northern Soul movement. Northern Soul was a music and dance scene that emerged in Northern England in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement's ethos was all about having a good time, with music and dance acting as an escape from the drudgery of everyday life. The lyrics to "Geno" speak to this sentiment, with the singer describing how a night at the club changed his life.


Overall, "Geno" by Dexys Midnight Runners is a nostalgic tribute to the Northern Soul movement and its coterie of influential figures like Geno Washington. The song captures the essence of the movement's ethos, with music and dance serving as an escape from the mundanities of everyday life.


Line by Line Meaning

Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno!
The repetition of the name Geno creates a catchy chorus for the song.


Back in '68 in a sweaty club
The events of the song occurred in a club back in 1968.


(Oh, Geno)
The singer is calling out to Geno as he tells the story.


Before Jimmy's Machine and The Rocksteady Rub
This is a reference to other musical acts that were popular during this time.


On a night when flowers didn't suit my shoes
The artist didn't feel like he fit in with the crowd that night.


After a week of flunkin' and bunkin' school
The singer was not doing well in school.


The lowest head in the crowd that night
The singer felt like he was the least important person in the club that night.


Just practicin' steps and keepin' outta the fights
The artist was trying to improve his dancing skills and avoid getting into any conflicts.


Academic inspiration, you gave me none
Geno, the subject of the song, did not provide any academic inspiration to the artist.


But you were Michael the lover
Geno was known for being a ladies' man.


The fighter that won
Geno was also successful in other aspects of his life.


But now just look at me as I'm looking down at you
The artist is now successful and is reflecting on how much he has accomplished compared to Geno.


No, I'm not bein' flash, It's what I'm built to do
The singer is not bragging, but instead acknowledging that he is meant to be successful.


That man took the stage, his towel was swingin' high
Geno was known for his energetic performances and would often swing his towel around on stage.


(Oh Geno)
The singer is once again calling out to Geno.


This man was my bombers, my Dexy's, my high
Geno was a huge inspiration to the artist and his band.


How the crowd, they all hailed you, and chanted your name
Geno was incredibly popular and well-liked.


But they never knew like we knew
The singer and his band knew Geno on a deeper level.


Me and you were the same
The singer feels connected to Geno on a personal level.


And now you're all over, your song is so tame, brrr
Geno's popularity has faded and his music is now less exciting.


You fed me, you bred me, I'll remember your name
Despite Geno's decline in popularity, the artist will always remember the impact he had on his life and music.


Oh, Geno
The song ends with one more call to Geno.


(Oh, Geno)
The final call to Geno.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kevin Archer, Kevin Rowland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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