* 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.
Romeo And Juliet
The Undertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a little something I want to do.
Gonna buy something I can ride in
Take my girl dating at the drive-in,
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
I'm gonna buy her pretty presents,
Gonna show her how much I lover her
Let her know that one way or the other,
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Right now I'm speculating,
Wonder what to morrow's gonna really bring.
If I don't find work tomorrow
It's gonna be heartaches and sorrow,
Our love's gonna be destroyed by a tragedy
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Talk about love and romance,
Just wait till I get myself straight.
I'm gonna put Romeo's fame right smack dab outta date.
Finding a job tomorrow morning,
Got a little something I want to do.
Gonna buy something I can ride in
Take my girl dating at the drive-in,
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
The Undertones's song "Romeo and Juliet" tells the story of a young man who is excited about his future plans with his girlfriend. He is finding a job so he can take his girlfriend to the drive-in and treat her with gifts. He believes that their love will be remembered and celebrated like Romeo and Juliet's. However, he is also worried about what will happen if he doesn't get the job. He fears that their love will end tragically, just like the beloved Shakespearean couple.
The lyrics of "Romeo and Juliet" are full of youthful optimism and hope for the future, which is harmonized perfectly with the upbeat and catchy melody of the song. However, there is also a hint of insecurity and vulnerability in the lyrics, as the singer is worried about losing his girlfriend if he fails to secure a job. The song encapsulates the excitement and uncertainties of young love and the determination to make it work against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Finding a job tomorrow morning,
I am planning to find a job tomorrow morning
Got a little something I want to do.
I have a plan that I want to execute
Gonna buy something I can ride in
I am going to buy a vehicle for us to go on rides
Take my girl dating at the drive-in,
I am going to take my girlfriend to a drive-in movie theater for a date
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Our love will become famous and be recorded in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Our love story will be similar to that of Romeo and Juliet
I'm gonna buy her pretty presents,
I have plans to buy beautiful gifts for my girlfriend
Just like the ones in the catalog.
The gifts I will buy will be as good as those in the catalog
Gonna show her how much I lover her
I want to express my love and affection to my girlfriend
Let her know that one way or the other,
I want to assure her about our relationship
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Our love story will be recorded in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Our love story will be similar to that of Romeo and Juliet
Right now I'm speculating,
At present, I am unsure and unpredictable
Wonder what to morrow's gonna really bring.
I am worried and curious about what tomorrow will bring
If I don't find work tomorrow
In case I don't get a job tomorrow
It's gonna be heartaches and sorrow,
I will be disappointed and unhappy
Our love's gonna be destroyed by a tragedy
Our relationship will come to an unhappy end
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Our love story might have a tragic end like that of Romeo and Juliet
Talk about love and romance,
I am discussing love and romantic ideas
Just wait till I get myself straight.
I am not yet fully prepared to talk about love and romance
I'm gonna put Romeo's fame right smack dab outta date.
I will make Romeo's fame look outdated and insignificant
Finding a job tomorrow morning,
I am planning to find a job tomorrow morning
Got a little something I want to do.
I have a plan that I want to execute
Gonna buy something I can ride in
I am going to buy a vehicle for us to go on rides
Take my girl dating at the drive-in,
I am going to take my girlfriend to a drive-in movie theater for a date
Our love's gonna be written down in history
Our love will become famous and be recorded in history
Just like Romeo and Juliet
Our love story will be similar to that of Romeo and Juliet
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Gorman, Bob Hamilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind