Formed in 1991 by working class music manager Jimmy Rabitte, The Commitments performes a unique blend of soul music, described by trumpeter Joey "The Lips" Fagan as "Dublin soul." Featuring Deco Cuffe on lead vocals, Imelda Quirke, Natalie Murphy and Bernie McGloughlin as female backing vocalists, Outspan Foster on lead guitar, Dean Fay on bass, Steven Clifford on keys, Derek Scully and Joey "The Lips" Fagan on trumpet and Billy Mooney on drums, The Commitments were successful in local venues in North Dublin. During the final months of their original run, Mooney left the band and was replaced by former security guard Micko Wallace. The group disbanded in late 1991 after a hectic club show – at which the band were to be joined by Wilson Pickett – and due to internal affairs, just minutes before the band were offered a record deal.
In 2010, the band reformed and are set to perform a number of dates.
The movie was also the breakthrough for singer Andrew Strong.
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
The Commitments Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
I keep singin′ them sad sad song y'all,
Sad song is of all I know.
I keep singin′ them sad sad song y'all,
Sad song is all I know.
Anybody can sing it, any all time
It got to your heart, put you in a groove,
And when you sing this song, it will make your whole body move
It goes
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
Your turn
I'll turn
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa (fa)
Your turn now
All my life I′ve been singin′ them sad song
Trying to get my message to you.
But you see, only song y'all, I can sing
And when I can you singing, my message will be to you
It goes
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
Your turn now
It′s a lovely song y'all,
Sweet music honey,
It feels to life over,
It tells a story over,
You got to get your message
A stone message honey
A lovely line baby
I′ve been wanting a line.watch it
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
Your turn
Everybody it's good
Everybody
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
One more time
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
Throw me the line y′all
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
The Commitments' song "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa" is an upbeat and catchy tune with a message about the power of music. The lyrics speak to the singer's experience of always singing sad songs and struggling to communicate his message, but finding hope and inspiration in the ability of music to move people. The repetition of "fa fa fa" creates a rhythmic and infectious chant that invites everyone to join in and sing along.
The singer acknowledges that their songs may be sad, but there is something irresistible about the melody that makes it easy for anyone to sing along. The song invites listeners to join in the universal language of music, regardless of their background or situation. The repetition of the "fa fa fa" chorus emphasizes the accessibility and universality of music, as it provides a simple and immediate way to connect with others and lift one's spirits.
In essence, the song is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and overcome sadness or hardship. It highlights the importance of finding joy and community in the midst of difficult circumstances, and the way that music can provide a source of comfort, inspiration, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa
The repeating of this line is a reflection of the simplicity and catchiness of the song's melody.
I keep singin′ them sad sad song y'all,
The singer has always had a tendency to write and perform melancholy music.
Sad song is of all I know.
For the singer, creating and performing music that expresses sadness is the only way they know how to communicate their emotions.
It has a sweet melody, tonight,
The song has a catchy and pleasant tune that is particularly enjoyable in the present moment.
Anybody can sing it, any all time
The song is simple enough to be sung by anyone at any point in time.
It got to your heart, put you in a groove,
The song has a capacity to touch the listener emotionally and create a sense of rhythm or 'groove'.
And when you sing this song, it will make your whole body move
The song has the ability to physically affect the body of those who perform or listen to it.
All my life I′ve been singin′ them sad song
The singer has been composing and performing sad music for their entire life.
Trying to get my message to you.
The motivation for creating music is to communicate a message to the listener.
But you see, only song y'all, I can sing
For the singer, composing music is the only way that they can effectively express their emotions and communicate their message.
And when I can you singing, my message will be to you
The singer hopes that when listeners sing their songs, they will feel the emotional impact and understand the intended message.
It′s a lovely song y'all,
The singer considers their music to be enjoyable and pleasant.
Sweet music honey,
The music has a delightful and appealing quality to it.
It feels to life over,
The song has an uplifting and rejuvenating effect on the listener.
It tells a story over,
The music is a narrative and shares a particular story or message.
You got to get your message
The purpose of the music is to communicate a message to the listener.
A stone message honey
This message is important and valuable to the singer, and they hope that it will resonate with their listeners as well.
A lovely line baby
The music has a delightful and appealing quality to it, and the singer is proud of the message that it conveys.
Everybody it's good
The singer believes that their music is enjoyable and accessible to everyone, regardless of background or experience.
One more time
The song is simple enough that it can be performed multiple times without becoming tiresome or repetitive.
Throw me the line y′all
The singer implores the audience to engage with the music and participate in the performance.
Writer(s): Otis Redding, Stephen Lee Cropper
Contributed by Bella R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.