* Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals),
* John O'Neill (guitar),
* Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals),
* Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and
* Billy Doherty (drums).
John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.
Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song (Teenage Kicks) his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards), American group The Raconteurs, Swedish band [aritst]Sahara Hotnights and French band Nouvelle Vague.
The original band released four studio albums:
* The Undertones (1979)
* Hypnotised (1980)
* Positive Touch (1981)
* The Sin Of Pride (1983).
Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) (2004) exist.
The O'Neill brothers went on to form That Petrol Emotion. The Undertones reconvened in 1999, initially to play a few shows in their hometown of Londonderry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with a similarly warbling new recruit, Paul McLoone. Since this time, the band has continued to play a small number of gigs each year in various places around the world.
The band have also released two further studio albums:
* Get What You Need (2003)
* Dig Yourself Deep (2007)
NOTE: There is another band with this name - The Undertones, a subset of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club who sing a capella arrangements of popular songs. For more information on these guys, check out www.nd.edu/~utones.
Kiss In The Dark
The Undertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone speaks
Its a start
Starts to cry
Cries to stop
Can't be nice for the time that we've got
There's a kiss in the dark
Turn away
Start love and celebrate
Tell me how
What's wrong
Happy times come down the phone
There's a kiss in the dark ...
Dreamsong
Somewhere
Listening in
Up there
Tell me how ...
There's a kiss in the dark ...
Happy now
I'm there
Take the wind its off again
have you the heart
to see Anymore you want of me
There's a kiss in the dark
The Undertones’ song “Kiss In The Dark” possesses an elusive and dreamy quality that complements the romantic theme of the lyrics. The song begins with the line “There’s a kiss in the dark.” The singer describes how even in darkness, a kiss can be felt, and someone starts to cry. Perhaps it is the intensity of the feeling that causes the tears to fall. The singer says, “Can't be nice for the time that we’ve got,” which could suggest that the moment is fleeting, and they are conscious of the precious nature of time.
The verses of the song are quite cryptic, and the lyrics seem to be about two people trying to connect emotionally, but they are struggling to articulate their emotions. The lines “Tell me how/What's wrong” may suggest that the couple is having a communication breakdown, and they are struggling to understand each other. The opening line is repeated throughout the song, adding to the song’s dreamy quality. The song’s final words are “Have you the heart/To see/Anymore you want of me.” This could suggest that the singer is unsure of the other person’s commitment and may hint at the relationship’s fragility.
Overall, “Kiss In The Dark” is a mysterious and romantic song that explores the power of touch and the importance of connection. The song’s lyrics interweave a sense of joy with a hint of melancholy and speak to the experience of trying to understand oneself and one's partner in a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a kiss in the dark
There's a romantic encounter happening in the darkness
Someone speaks
Someone breaks the silence with their voice
It's a start
This moment marks the beginning of something new
Starts to cry
The emotions of the moment overwhelm someone and they begin to cry
Cries to stop
The person tries to hold back their tears
Can't be nice for the time that we've got
They can't pretend to be happy for the short time they have together
Turn on
Get excited
Turn away
Be indifferent
Start love and celebrate
Begin a relationship and enjoy it
Tell me how
Share your feelings with me
What's wrong
What's troubling you?
Happy times come down the phone
Talking on the phone can make you feel happy and connected
Dreamsong
A song that makes you feel like you're in a dream state
Somewhere
A place that is undefined or unknown
Listening in
Paying close attention
Up there
In a higher place, maybe spiritually or metaphorically
Happy now
Feeling content and satisfied
I'm there
I'm present and with you
Take the wind, it's off again
Take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts
Have you the heart to see anymore you want of me
Are you brave enough to continue exploring a relationship with me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN JOSEPH O'NEILL, MICHAEL BRADLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind