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largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara).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."
Show Me
Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those wild little boys
The ones that spelled trouble
And stole all their toys
Young boys with contempt
Dreams and schemes in their eyes
Strong, rich in spirit
With milk stains on their ties
A little while later
The first ones to smoke
Oh, I just stood there in awe
Laughing loud at their jokes
Tinny transistors Honk Kong made
And this week?s Parade
Ah, if they?d accept me
I?d have given anything
Show me them now
Let me look and see
How they?ve grown up now
Stolen wristwatches
And big studded rings
Tall tales of girls
And all that kind of thing
Ah, they just had something precious
You know what I mean
Such wisdom and style
Like I?d never seen
They helped me get older
Pulled me through each bad phase
Show me them now
Those boys from those days
Show me them now
Let me look and see
How they?ve grown up now
In "Show Me," Dexys Midnight Runners celebrates the wild little boys who spelled trouble and stole their toys when they were young. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of young boys with dreams and schemes in their eyes, strong and rich in spirit but with milk stains on their ties. The singer admires their contemptuous attitudes and longs to be accepted by them, to the point of giving anything to be a part of their group.
As the song progresses, the singer witnesses the boys grow up and do even more daring things, like stealing wristwatches and wearing big studded rings, and telling tall tales of girls and all kinds of things. Despite their wild ways, the boys had something precious, a wisdom and style that the singer had never seen before. They helped the singer get older and pulled him through each bad phase. The song ends with the singer wishing he could see these boys from those days to see how they've grown up now.
Overall, "Show Me" is a nostalgic look back at the wild kids who didn't follow the rules but had a certain precious quality to their rebelliousness. The singer longs for those days and the camaraderie he felt with those boys.
Line by Line Meaning
Show me them now
The singer wants to see those wild boys from his past again.
Those wild little boys
The singer is referring to young boys who were prone to trouble.
The ones that spelled trouble
The boys were known for making mischief.
And stole all their toys
The boys were not afraid to take what they wanted.
Young boys with contempt
The boys were angry and rebellious.
Dreams and schemes in their eyes
Despite their rebellious outlook, the boys had aspirations and plans for the future.
Strong, rich in spirit
The boys were tough, full of energy, and possessed great character.
With milk stains on their ties
The boys were still young and carefree, not yet bound by the constraints of adulthood.
A little while later
The artist is recounting a time that occurred after he first met the boys.
The first ones to smoke
The boys were the first ones to experiment with cigarettes.
Oh, I just stood there in awe
The singer was impressed by the boys' actions.
Laughing loud at their jokes
The artist found the boys' humor amusing.
Tinny transistors Honk Kong made
The boys had cheap radios made in Hong Kong.
And this week?s Parade
The singer is referencing a publication or news article from the week.
Ah, if they?d accept me
The singer wishes that the boys would have included him in their group.
I?d have given anything
The artist was willing to make great sacrifices to be included in the group.
Let me look and see
The artist wants to observe how the boys have matured over time.
Stolen wristwatches
The boys had stolen timepieces in the past.
And big studded rings
The boys also had gaudy jewelry.
Tall tales of girls
The boys had exaggerated stories about their romantic conquests.
And all that kind of thing
The boys had indulged in various forms of youthful excess and recklessness.
Ah, they just had something precious
The boys had a quality that was special and valuable.
You know what I mean
The singer believes that the listener understands what he is trying to convey.
Such wisdom and style
The boys possessed a combination of maturity and flair that was unusual for their age.
Like I?d never seen
The singer was impressed by the boys' unique qualities.
They helped me get older
The boys taught the singer valuable lessons and helped him learn to navigate challenging situations.
Pulled me through each bad phase
The boys were a source of support for the singer when he was struggling.
Those boys from those days
The artist is still reflecting on the influence that the boys had on him.
Let me look and see
The artist wants to observe how the boys have matured over time.
How they?ve grown up now
The singer is curious to see how the boys have developed into adults.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: C KELDAY, J CAREY, M ROWLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Deebemc
This is their best song. IMHO.......how can you sit still? You can't. Great one, Kevin!
@philbowles3240
relentless brass...brilliant love the way they slide - in unison - down to the note
@amaraamara100
They just had something you know what I mean A wisdom and style like I'd never seen They helped me get older, pulled me through each bad phase Show me them now,the boys from the days . Show me them now let me look see how they've grown up now.
@GriefTourist
under rated track
@trickymicky3108
God, so many memories and a superb tune 🙏
@justinberumen7789
if only people made this kind of music today
@garylawless2236
I collected Dexys Midnight Runners 45s. It took me forever to find my copy of this. I just remember my delight. Got it at a big record fayre at Glasgow SECC, Feb. '96.
@unohoncho7727
Life before the internet eh? Lol. I imagine collecting is far easier these days, less exciting though than physically finding something you want though?
@katastrophenschutzwa
Get yourself on #saturdaysingles and #singlessunday on Twitter. Loads of dexys 45 chat. 👍
@jimtheskim
Some will know, some won't but the band are named after a popular pill that kept kids buzzing all night Dexelamine or suchlike.
Loved hearing this again, been too long!