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largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara).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."
Jackie Wilson Said
Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I kind of love you
Yes it knocks me off my feet
Let it all come down
Oh let it all come down
And you know I'm so wired up
I don't need any more tea in my cup
Let it all come down
Now watch this
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
I'm in heaven
I'm In heaven
I'm In heaven when you smile
And when you walk across the street
It makes my heart go boom boom boom,
Let It all come down
And every time I stop to think about It
Well little child you simply make my day
Let It all come down
Oh let It all come down
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
I'm In heaven
I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven when you smile
The lyrics to "Jackie Wilson Said" by Dexys Midnight Runners are about the overwhelming feeling of love and admiration for someone. The opening lines, "Jackie Wilson said it was reet petite, I kind of love you, Yes it knocks me off my feet," display the singer's infatuation with someone, comparing it to the way Jackie Wilson's music makes him feel. The repeated phrase "Let it all come down" could be interpreted as the singer's desire to let their emotions run free and be with the person they love.
The lyrics also feature the phrase "Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang," which is likely a nonsense phrase meant to convey the joy and excitement the singer feels. The repeated line "I'm in heaven" emphasizes the uplifting and euphoric nature of the singer's love.
Line by Line Meaning
Jackie Wilson said it was reet petite
Jackie Wilson said that his love was small and perfect
I kind of love you
I have some amount of love for you
Yes it knocks me off my feet
Yes, my love for you is so strong it troubles me
Let it all come down
Let everything come to a head
Oh let it all come down
Oh let everything come to a head
And you know I'm so wired up
You know I'm so excited and energetic
I don't need any more tea in my cup
I don't need anything more to get excited
Now watch this
Now observe this
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Nonsense lyric intended to be catchy
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Nonsense lyric intended to be catchy
I'm in heaven
I'm in a state of bliss
I'm In heaven
I'm in a state of bliss
I'm In heaven when you smile
I'm in a state of bliss when you smile
And when you walk across the street
And when you walk, my heart is moved
It makes my heart go boom boom boom,
It excites me so greatly that my heart pounds
And every time I stop to think about It
And every time I think about it
Well little child you simply make my day
Well, dear, you simply make my day
Oh let It all come down
Oh let everything come to a head
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Nonsense lyric intended to be catchy
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Nonsense lyric intended to be catchy
I'm In heaven
I'm in a state of bliss
I'm in heaven
I'm in a state of bliss
I'm in heaven when you smile
I'm in a state of bliss when you smile
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dimashadiwardani
Jackie Wilson said it was 'Reet Petite'
I kind of love you
Yes it knocks me off my feet
Let it all come down
Oh let it all come down
And you know I'm so wired up
I don't need any more tea in my cup
Let it all come down
Oh let it all come down
Now watch this
Toodle langa langa toodle langa fang
Toodle langa langa toodle langa fang
I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven when you smile
And when you walk across the street
It makes my heart go boom boom boom
Let it all come down
And every time I stop to think about it
Well little child you simply make my day
Let it all come down
Oh let it all come down
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
Toodle langa langa Toodle langa fang
I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven when you smile
@carlhartwell7978
Just so good...I'm in heaven...Re-watching The Young Ones brought me here, but this was and still is, pure music. Thanks for the upload Franky-baby!
@MadFranko008
You're welcome Carly-warly, glad you enjoyed it and you clearly have great taste in comedy as well as music... 😀
@alisonwilliams4862
What a diverse array of musical instruments! And that bassline is great.
@tomdawson9254
Still sounds fresh today
@arthurwhittle7106
Love this rendition! Wow. Same key, tempo, and overall M.O. But with DMR's instrumentation and vocals, it really comes out... special.
@cizia69
I love this so much, makes my heart sing!
@MegaTurkeylips
FRIGGIN MAGNIFICENT! After listening to the original then Van's later version (Hat and shades) about three times each, I love the shit out of this one. This is why I love Youtube. You can listen to your most loved tunes then hear all the different covers and like those too. Plus the tube puts recommendations to the right so you can sail for hours. Great for generating major Alpha Waves .
@annieward2715
One of the greatest ever cover versions....fact!!
@christopherjameslee3341
Kevin Rowland; a true musical maverick.
@hayleyt-uh6ng
These lyrics came streaming through this morning when I woke up .. Deep joy.. It's my spirit guides . Thank you I'm blessed. ❤