The Dublin-based band’s first release was a live EP, I Know Ray Harman, in 1988. Later that year, their debut album Been There, Seen That, Done That was released on Virgin Records. One of the singles from this album, "Forget Georgia," was later covered by Canadian singer Emm Gryner on her 2005 album Songs of Love and Death.
Their second album, 1990’s Stuck Together With God’s Glue was recorded in Los Angeles, and contains their best known songs, "Parachute" and "Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello (Petrol)". The album received critical acclaim, and the band received a reasonable amount of publicity in the music press and on television. Although they were a very popular band in Ireland, international success eluded them and they were dropped by Virgin. This led to t-shirts bearing the legend “Something Happens are no longer Virgins." The year 1992 saw the release of Bedlam-A-Go-Go on Charisma Records. The record label folded, and their final album, 1994’s Planet Fabulous, was released on the Wild Bikini label. The following year, a greatest hits album The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves was released. In 2004, this album was re-released with the less clumsy title of The Best Of Something Happens.
Today, the band play occasional gigs but they're no longer recording new material. Lead singer Tom Dunne is now a radio presenter. He had a successful music show on Today FM for nine years, before moving to Newstalk 106 in 2008 to present a mid-morning show. Guitarist Ray Harman works in television.
I Feel Good
Something Happens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some sort of systems man says I'm doing alright (I feel good)
There's hell to pay inside him
There's hell to pay alright
Loose pretty woman and a bottle tonight (I feel good)
The sweetest dreams I've ever had in my life (I feel good)
There's hell to pay, for the angel in your arms tonight
There's hell to pay for each step taken
And there's hell to pay alright (alright)
Alright (Alright)
Alright (Alright)
Alright (Alright)
Hey pretty baby, I don't feel right on my own (I feel good)
Hey pretty mama go outside all alone (I feel good)
Is it any wonder, that I"m coming on song that I'm coming on in song
Is it any wonder, that I"m coming on strong that I'm coming on too strong
Is it any wonder that there's no one in your arms tonight
Is it any wonder alight (alright)
Alright (Alright)
Alright (Alright)
Alright (Alright)
Tonight
I feel
I feel
I feel it
I feel it
I feel good
I feel good
The lyrics of the Something Happens' song 'I Feel Good' describe a man who only goes out on Saturday nights, seeking the company of a pretty woman and a bottle of whiskey. The singer seems to feel trapped in his mundane life, seeking an escape through these means. The 'systems man' he refers to is likely his boss or someone who monitors his work performance, who he feels is satisfied with him. However, there is a sense of unease and inevitability in the lines 'There's hell to pay inside him/There's hell to pay alright,' conveying the idea that he is aware of the consequences of his actions but continues regardless.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be addressing a woman, asking her to join him in his escapades. He acknowledges that he doesn't feel right on his own, and urges her to go outside. The repeated phrase 'Is it any wonder' implies that he believes his actions are justified, and there is an underlying sense of desperation in his tone.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase 'I feel good,' takes on a different meaning when contrasted with the darker, more melancholic verses. It could be interpreted as a cry for help or an attempt to convince himself that he really does feel good, despite his troubles. Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of a man trapped in a cycle of hedonism, seeking an escape from the mundane but ultimately paying a heavy price for his actions.
Line by Line Meaning
He only hits the town on Saturday night (I feel good)
The person being described only goes out on Saturday night and feels good about it
Some sort of systems man says I'm doing alright (I feel good)
According to some type of authority figure, the person being described is doing okay and feels good about it
There's hell to pay inside him
The person being described is emotionally troubled and will have to deal with the consequences of it
There's hell to pay alright
There will be consequences for the person being described, and they acknowledge it
Loose pretty woman and a bottle tonight (I feel good)
The person being described plans to indulge in women and alcohol tonight and feels good about it
The sweetest dreams I've ever had in my life (I feel good)
The person being described has pleasant dreams and feels good about it
There's hell to pay, for the angel in your arms tonight
The person being described will face consequences for being with someone who is like an angel; they acknowledge it
There's hell to pay to the whiskey man for the whiskey, stand up
The person being described will have to pay for the whiskey they consume and acknowledge this
There's hell to pay for each step taken
The person being described will face consequences for everything they do and acknowledge it
And there's hell to pay alright (alright)
The person being described acknowledges that they will face consequences for their actions
Hey pretty baby, I don't feel right on my own (I feel good)
The person being described feels good with someone else and not alone
Hey pretty mama go outside all alone (I feel good)
The person being described feels good being alone and not with someone else
Is it any wonder, that I'm coming on song that I'm coming on in song
The person being described wonders if it's surprising they are trying to woo someone with a song
Is it any wonder, that I'm coming on strong that I'm coming on too strong
The person being described wonders if it's surprising they are being too aggressive while trying to pursue someone
Is it any wonder that there's no one in your arms tonight
The person being described wonders if it's surprising someone is alone tonight
Is it any wonder alight (alright)
The person being described wonders if it's surprising and acknowledges it
Tonight
Referring to the current evening
I feel
The person being described has a feeling
I feel
The person reiterates that they have a feeling
I feel it
The person confirms that they have a specific feeling
I feel it
The person repeats that they have a specific feeling
I feel good
The person is feeling good
I feel good
The person reiterates that they are feeling good
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.