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largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara).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."
Until I Believe in My Soul
Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Think what to do.
I'll take some strength to banish hollow sorrow.
Hollow sorrow's nothing new.
Just enough strength to last until tomorrow
Until I believe in my soul.
Tonight I lost sight of all purpose
Despite all this trickery you told me was right.
So kind, so nice, where's my prize?
(That's all there ever is) Oh yeah yeah yeah?
(That's all there ever was) Ah you must be fucking joking.
(The same for everyone) Oh yes. Yes yes.
Would you repeat that. Break it to me gently,
Stand over there.
Oh I know I was an arrogant boy but I let you hold the door
Oh I was kind. I was nice, where's the prize?
And I'm on the train from New Street
To Euston. I'm going out to Harrow again
And I'm trying to get the feeling
That I had in nineteen seventy two.
Oh but you're going too fast for me here,
I'm saying, wait a minute there, wait a minute there
Hold it, stop! Let me get this clear
(That's all there ever is) oh yeah yeah yeah?
(That's all there ever was) yes, yes. ha ha ha.
(The same for everyone) Oh yes. yes. yes.
You see I know what this is, I know
What's going on here, this is just the difference between
It's the battle between the body and the soul. The spirit
And what's needed here
What I intend to do now is I'm going to punish my body.
I'll punish the body to believe in the soul, I will punish
my body, until I believe in my soul
The lyrics of Dexy's Midnight Runners' song "Until I Believe In My Soul" is a reflection of the inward struggle that the singer is going through. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the fact that he needs some time to think about what has been happening around him and to decide on what to do. He expresses the desire to find the strength to overcome his sorrow, which is nothing new to him. He wants to find the strength to believe in his soul and to carry on until tomorrow. The song then moves on to the singer expressing his feelings of disillusionment and disappointment with the world around him. He talks about how he tried to be a good boy and follow all the tricks and the lies that were told to him, but it has not led him anywhere. He feels like he has been fooled and that he has not received any reward for his goodness.
The second verse of the song talks about the singer being on a train from New Street to Euston, trying to relive the feeling that he had in 1972. He realizes that he is going too fast and wants everything to slow down. He wants to understand what is happening around him and takes a moment to reflect on his life. He recognizes that what is happening to him is a battle between the body and the soul. He decides to punish his body to believe in his soul and to carry on until he believes in himself.
Overall, the song is about finding the strength to believe in oneself and to carry on despite the challenges that come along the way. It reflects the inner turmoil and battles that people go through in their lives and emphasizes the importance of finding the strength to believe in one's own self.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll need tonight to sit and think about this
I require this solitary night to deeply contemplate the situation
Think what to do.
Mentally analyze and evaluate the best course of action
I'll take some strength to banish hollow sorrow.
I need some fortitude to eliminate this empty sadness
Hollow sorrow's nothing new.
This feeling of vacuous despair is a common occurrence
Just enough strength to last until tomorrow
Sufficient stamina to endure until the following day
Until I believe in my soul.
Waiting for the moment I'm convinced in my inner self
Tonight I lost sight of all purpose
This evening, I lost my sense of direction
Despite all this trickery you told me was right.
In spite of all the deception you claimed was the truth
I was such a good boy I let you hold the door
I was overly obedient to the point of allowing you to open the door
So kind, so nice, where's my prize?
I was considerate and courteous, yet no reward was given
(That's all there ever is) Oh yeah yeah yeah?
Is that truly the only outcome that exists?
(That's all there ever was) Ah you must be fucking joking.
That's the sole possibility? You have to be kidding me.
(The same for everyone) Oh yes. Yes yes.
It's similar for all individuals, precisely.
Would you repeat that. Break it to me gently,
Please reiterate that statement in a soft and delicate way
Stand over there.
Move to that location over yonder
Oh I know I was an arrogant boy but I let you hold the door
I am aware that I acted conceited, but I permitted you to open the door
Oh I was kind. I was nice, where's the prize?
I acted benevolently and respectfully, why wasn't I rewarded?
And I'm on the train from New Street
I'm currently riding the train from New Street
To Euston. I'm going out to Harrow again
En route to Euston, returning to Harrow
And I'm trying to get the feeling
Striving to recapture the sensation
That I had in nineteen seventy two.
The emotion I experienced in 1972
Oh but you're going too fast for me here,
You're proceeding too rapidly for my pace in this moment
I'm saying, wait a minute there, wait a minute there
Hold on just one second, pause for a moment
Hold it, stop! Let me get this clear
Stop right there! Allow me to clarify something
(That's all there ever is) oh yeah yeah yeah?
That's the entirety of existence, seriously?
(That's all there ever was) yes, yes. ha ha ha.
Indeed, that's all that ever occurred. Ha ha ha.
(The same for everyone) Oh yes. yes. yes.
Identical for every person, unquestionably.
You see I know what this is, I know
I realize what this represents, I comprehend
What's going on here, this is just the difference between
This is merely the disparity amidst
It's the battle between the body and the soul. The spirit
The conflict of the physical and spiritual elements
And what's needed here
Essentially required in this scenario
What I intend to do now is I'm going to punish my body.
My plan is to discipline my physical self
I'll punish the body to believe in the soul, I will punish
I shall discipline myself to have faith in the inner self
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES PATERSON, KEVIN ROWLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind