They intended to self-release the album but then they met two like-minded brothers, Shane O’Neill (from the epic Blue in Heaven) and his brother Brian who were setting up a new independent record label called Dirt Records and were lining up releases with some great acts the band were big fans of, including Sack, The Idiots, Tension, The Blue Angels, Jimmy Eadie’s Amusement & Supernaut featuring Shane O’Neill & Dave Long. The O’Neill’s father Seamus O’Neill also had a long history in the record business in Ireland with Mulligan Records & Gael Linn.
Revelino‘s eponymous debut was the first release on the label on Oct 6th 1994 with the immortal catalogue number Dirty 1! The band celebrated with a sold-out debut show in The Baggot Inn and the album received rave reviews. The lead single Happiness is Mine had an immediate impact on radio and became a regular feature on the wonderful No Disco music TV show on RTE. Hot Press critics voted it 3rd best single of the year, it featured in Dave Fanning’s Fab 50 and years later in 2004 the album was voted no 47 in the 100 Greatest Irish albums list.
In January 1995 they received 9 top five places in the Hot Press Readers Poll including No 1 best New Act. Then in April they released Don’t Lead Me Down which went on to feature in two film soundtracks – British gangster movie Hardmen and Irish cult comedy crime classic, I Went Down written by Conor McPherson, directed by Paddy Breathnach and featuring a great Irish cast including Brendan Gleeson and Peter McDonald. I Went Down also featured the song Hello from the debut album. Touring highlights of that year included a sold-out Tivoli show, festival spots including Feile and a support slot with Neil Young on his Mirrorball tour.
1996 kicked off with the band working on a new album, the release of a new in-between-albums single I Know What You Want and an epic Heineken Rollercoaster Tour of Ireland co-headlining with the incendiary Whipping Boy. While working on the follow-up album, the band signed an international licensing deal with French / UK label Musidisc and the debut album was released internationally in March 1996 to great reviews. They toured the UK and France and appeared live on French cultural TV chat show Nulle Part Ailleurs, introduced by football legend Michel Platini! They secured two spots at The Phoenix Festival that summer and, more impressively, the band also reached the final of the celebrity 5-a-side football tournament at the festival, hammering Massive Attack (and Banksy?) 4-1 and Dodgy 3-0 along the way. They were pipped for the trophy by the Guardian newspaper team featuring Mick Talbot from Style Council and a bunch of professional ringers including players from Chelsea and two of the Stein brothers!
The second album Broadcaster was recorded at The Music Warehouse studio built by Dirt Records and produced by Ciaran Byrne and Ronan McHugh. It was mixed by Pat Collier who had worked with The Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream and The Wonder Stuff. The album release was preceded by the first single Step On High in August 1996 which the late great John Peel highlighted as one of favourite singles of the year. It also featured on the soundtrack for the film Blowdry (directed by Paddy Breathnach and starring Alan Rickman and Natasha Richardson). Years later in 2005 on the first anniversary of Peel’s death, NME wrote a feature about Peel’s box of favourite 120 singles in which Revelino’s Step On High was the only Irish single included other than The Undertones’ Teenage Kicks! The following month Channel 4 broadcasted the documentary Peel’s Record Box, which is really worth checking out online. Broadcaster was released in Oct 1996 with the New York Times describing it as “Beautiful, harmony-laden confections with buzzing guitars.” The band celebrated the release with a sold-out show at Whelan’s and then closed out the year with another Irish tour and their biggest headline show to date at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre.
1997 began with the release of the second single from the album, Radio Speaks, which was described as “The Byrd’s with Balls!” The video for the song was shot by Robbie Ryan who has gone on to an incredible career including working with Ken Loach and shooting the award-winning film The Favourite. Following a show together in The Savoy in Limerick, the brilliant A House invited the band to be their special guests for their emotional final show in The Olympia in Feb 1997. UK and European dates followed and in May 1997 the band recorded a GLR radio session with Gary Crowley.
Following a series of shows in the US that summer, the band returned to Ireland disillusioned and cracks started to set in. Drummer Shane Rafferty sadly decided to leave the band and a bunch of other great drummers sat in over the remaining years including Ian Melady, Norman Hunt, Steve Hogan, Andy Brocklebank and Tim McGrath who played drums and percussion for Revelino’s final album, To The End.
The band started work during what proved to be a long drawn out process during which Monty also decided to call it a day. The three remaining members – Brendan Tallon, Ciaran Tallon & Bren Berry – decided to sign off with one more album and the final press release written by Leagues O’Toole captured the mood as they intended… “To The End is written and performed in sadness and tenderness. The orchestration, lovingly painted, spins a yearning subtext… The pace, down-beat but driven, facilitates the mood… but there is another dimension to To The End, a delirious affinity for analogue mavericks, space-age soundtrackers and vintage oddities. An album rich in memories and pictures.”
The album was released in May 2001 and was marked by the band’s final headline show in The Shelter. Good friend Karl McDermott from The Receipts had contributed backing vocals on the album and stood in on bass & BVs for live shows. Around that time Donovan was playing Vicar St and the band gave him a copy of the record and he responded with a wonderful note… “the sounds are mysterious and so mid euro atmosphere through the landscape you create – like Cohen the words are theatrical mini movies of the mind.” They played a few final gigs supporting Bob Dylan in Kilkenny that summer and then with Television and Echo & The Bunnymen at Vicar Street later that year. Both bands were big influences and the Bunnymen’s Ocean Rain was a big reference point for the European sound of To The End that Donavan had referred to – it was a great moment for the band when Ian McCullough praised them after the show saying “Great gig lads, very European sound!” And that was it. Revelino – To The End.
Don't Lead Me Down
Revelino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know you're gonna change me
Don't lead me down
Don't lead me down
And I love the way you groove me
Though I know you're gonna use it
Don't bring me down
You don't know how you cause me pain
You're gonna break me open again
Leave me the peace that I've found
Don't lead me down
And you got me if you want me
Though I know you're gonna haunt me
Don't lead me down
Don't lead me down
You don't know how you cause me pain
You're gonna break me open again
Leave me the peace that I've found
Please don't bring me down
Maybe you're gonna tease me
Maybe you're gonna please me
Don't bring me down
Don't lead me down
The lyrics to Revelino's song "Don't Lead Me Down" depict someone who is dancing with danger by getting involved with another person who they know will hurt them. The lyrics describe the allure of the person who is drawing them in, but also the fear of being hurt again. It's a plea to not be led down a path that will ultimately cause pain.
The opening lines of "I like the way you move me, and I know you're gonna change me" suggest that the singer is aware that their relationship and attachment to this person is an unhealthy one. They are aware that they will be changed by this person, but they don't want to be led down that path. This is reiterated later in the song when the singer says "Maybe you're gonna tease me, maybe you're gonna please me. Don't bring me down, don't lead me down."
The repetitive nature of the chorus highlights the singer's desperation to not be led down this path of self-destruction. They know that while they may enjoy the time they spend with this person, ultimately, their relationship will cause harm. The line "Leave me the peace that I've found" shows that the singer is perhaps in a good place in their life and doesn't want to be dragged down by this destructive relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Don't Lead Me Down" depict the classic struggle of someone who knows they should stay away from a destructive relationship but can't resist the allure of the person. It's a plea to not be led down the wrong path, to not lose the peace they have found.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the way you move me
I enjoy the effect that you have on me
And I know you're gonna change me
I am aware that you will have an impact on me that changes me somehow
Don't lead me down
Please do not guide me to a negative place or situation
Don't lead me down
I repeat, please do not lead me to a negative place or situation
And I love the way you groove me
I adore how you make me feel within myself
Though I know you're gonna use it
Despite my understanding that you will take advantage of me in some way
Don't bring me down
Please do not cause me to feel sadness or negativity
Don't lead me down
Once again, I implore you not to lead me to a negative place or situation
You don't know how you cause me pain
You are unaware of how much hurt you are causing me
You're gonna break me open again
You will cause me to feel vulnerable and exposed once more
Leave me the peace that I've found
Please allow me to maintain the calmness and contentment that I have discovered
Don't lead me down
Once again, I ask that you do not lead me to a place of negativity
And you got me if you want me
You possess control over me if you desire it
Though I know you're gonna haunt me
Despite my knowledge that being with you will cause distress and trouble for me
Don't lead me down
I kindly ask that you do not lead me to an undesirable situation
Don't lead me down
Once again, I repeat my hope that you do not guide me to a negative place or situation
You don't know how you cause me pain
Again, I wish to emphasize that I am experiencing pain because of your actions
You're gonna break me open again
You will once more cause me to be vulnerable and exposed
Leave me the peace that I've found
I desire to keep the sense of serenity and contentment that I have discovered
Please don't bring me down
Please refrain from causing me to feel sad or negative
Maybe you're gonna tease me
Perhaps you will playfully torment me
Maybe you're gonna please me
Possibly you will bring me satisfaction and happiness
Don't bring me down
Regardless, I request that you do not cause me to feel sadness or negativity
Don't lead me down
Once again, I plead that you do not lead me to an adverse situation or place
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Brendan Tallon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stpetebeach63
Love the song/Love the movie/Thanks
@banksradioaustralia2051
One of the highlights of 2020 on Banks Radio Australia, infectious tune with amazing vocals, sensational track.
@tearitloosetearitloose4670
Saw this band in Dublin back in the 90's .... Good stuff..
@kiermurph
Love it👏👏
@rodolfotovar6232
Hello, where can I get your records!!?? Greetings from Mexico!!!
@revelino-music
Hi! Thanks for reaching out. Check out our website Revelino.ie & also Revelino.bandcamp.com