Founded in 1978 by former singer of the Killjoys, Kevin Rowland, and guitarist Kevin "Al" Archer, in Birmingham (United Kingdom), the band was unique in that musically, they seemed best suited to the budding Mod/Skinhead Revival scene in the United Kingdom, but in many ways, especially fashion, they came off as rather hard to 'sell' to any particular scene. Musically, they've always been a sort of "soul-fusion."
An early single, "Geno" (written as an ode to American Northern Soul singer, Geno Washington), was immensely popular, despite being repeatedly bad-mouthed by the NME. In fact, "Geno" remains their biggest-selling single in the UK, thanks in part to at least one re-issue.
The following album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980), was an interesting punk and soul fusion, and despite (or perhaps because of) decidedly mixed reviews by the press, it was extremely well-received by the public.
Their second album, Too Rye Aye (1982), had a decidedly different sound, thanks largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara). The sound was still obviously soul influenced, at the very least, but this time it was Celtic soul. The album's first UK single was even titled "Celtic Soul Brothers."
Too-Rye-Aye was the most popular Dexys album Stateside, in fact it was the only one to break US charts, (though the album itself was only a modest to intermediate success in the US). This is largely because the US a-side single for "Come On Eileen" was debatably too popular (the single has been re-issued at least once in the UK; despite this, "Geno" was still their biggest-selling UK single). Undoubtedly the most "pop radio"-oriented song of the entire Dexys Midnight Runners catalogue.
A third album, Don't Stand Me Down was released in 1985 ending a three year silence from the band. It featured a noticeably different line-up. The ever-experimental Rowland abandoned the Too-Rye-Ay Celtic Soul/New Wave formula in favor of a more laidback Van Morrison conversational album. The previous album was a "Big Band" sound when compared to the new one (though, amusingly, the number of guest musicians featured on Don't Stand Me Down, plus the credited band members, seemed to outnumber all previous members of Dexys combined, including ex-Dexys who had recorded only song before leaving).
Don't Stand Me Down was well-received by critics though universally ignored by the music-buying public due in large part to Rowland stubbornly refusing to release any song from the album as a single, until considerably "late" after its release, as well as confusing listeners who may have been expecting a sequel to Too-Rye-Ay's Dance Pop. Sales of the album were sparse and it was considered a failure by the label. In the 20-plus years since it's original release it has come to be viewed by many as Rowland's magnum opus.
After Rowland's first solo endeavor in 1988, Dexys was briefly reformed in 1993, by Rowland with Big Jim Patterson, though this endeavor resulted in little, if anything more than a television performance.
In 2003, the career retrospective album ('don't call it a "greatest hits" collection'), Let's Make This Precious was released, featuring two new tracks, "Manhood" and "My Life In England, Part One." The new tracks were touted as singles and received regular radio play in the UK, though never commercially released outside the album.
Rowland officially announced in June 2005 that Dexys were back in the studio, recording and seeking a new contract. The current line-up includes Rowland Mick Talbot (former member of Merton Parkas and Hammond player for Paul Weller).
In the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, notably, Dexys Midnight Runners are the only band to have all of their albums listed, and with a full page review for each album (understandably, most albums only get a half-page review). All three albums received glowing reviews, save Too-Rye-Aye, wherein it was noted "[[i]Too-Rye-Aye] is the worst of the three Dexys albums; but if this is the worst album in your collection, pat yourself on the back."
I'm Just Looking
Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uppers give heart impotence but dont tell you anything.
People are saying, youre losing your feel
Pretend you dont hear
Holed up in white Harlem, your conscience and you
You might need sympathy but thats not what Id tell you
Your winning day was long ago
Dont let it show.
Penthouse celebrity, yes
But watch what you eat.
People are saying youre losing your feel
Pretend you dont hear.
Dont come any closer.
The song "I'm Just Looking" by Dexys Midnight Runners is a commentary on the ephemeral nature of fame and success. The opening lines suggest that the singer is focused on winning, but isn't really experiencing the present moment. The reference to "uppers" creating heart impotence underscores the idea that chasing success through drugs or other artificial means ultimately leads to emptiness.
The second verse mentions being "holed up in white Harlem," which could either refer to a literal location or a state of mind. Either way, it establishes a sense of isolation and a struggle with one's conscience. The line "you might need sympathy but that's not what I'd tell you" suggests that the singer is perhaps seeking pity or validation, but the singer is offering a different perspective.
The refrain "people are saying you're losing your feel, pretend you don't hear" underscores the idea that the singer is not really in touch with himself. He's so focused on winning and success that he's deaf to any criticism or feedback. The final lines "don't come any closer" suggest that the singer is aware of his own limitations and doesn't want anyone to get too close or see the truth about how he's struggling to maintain his facade.
Line by Line Meaning
You're looking to win it, but not taking it in
You're focused on winning but not fully experiencing the journey to get there
Uppers give heart impotence but don't tell you anything
Taking drugs may enhance performance, but they mask the true issues and can lead to negative side effects
People are saying, you're losing your feel
There are rumors that you're losing your touch or skills
Pretend you don't hear
Ignore what others are saying or implying about you
Holed up in white Harlem, your conscience and you
You're isolated with your thoughts in a new and unfamiliar environment
You might need sympathy but that's not what I'd tell you
You may want pity or compassion, but I believe you need tough love and honesty
Your winning day was long ago
You had success and victories in the past, but it's been a while
Don't let it show
Don't let others see or know that you're struggling or not as confident as you used to be
You're walking on marble, it's scorching your feet
You're in an uncomfortable and possibly painful situation or environment
Penthouse celebrity, yes
You may be wealthy and famous, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're happy or fulfilled
But watch what you eat
Be mindful of the choices you make and their potential consequences on your health and well-being
Dont come any closer
Stay away from me or don't try to get too involved with my problems or personal life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEOFFREY BLYTHE, KEVIN ROWLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind