This song is the reason behind my blog’s name (wait, does that make it sound like a person? Anyway, it is the reason I chose this title for my blog.)
As I’ve said before, people like to sing it to me when they find out my name which, you know, can be quite nice (if they’re a good singer, or at least so bad it’s good), but it depends on several things, like how many times that’s already happened in one day for example. Or if they know any more than “Come on Eileen.. erm uhm…. OH Come on Eileen”. But I still love the song and always have – I totally cheer up from hearing even the opening bars- , and even if you always do that too (sing the chorus over and over and over because you don’t know any of the actual words) I’ll forgive and enlighten you (besides, it’s not as if I know them all myself, but I know some at least!).
‘Come on Eileen’ was written in the eighties by Billy Adams, Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson and performed by the band ‘Dexys Midnight Runners’ as part of their album ‘Too-Rye-Ay’. It was also later performed by the ska band ‘Save Ferris’. Apparently there’s a big debate between fans as to who sings it better so to speak. I prefer the original, but either is fine by me.
It’s quite funny the way people manage to completely mishear the lyrics sometimes (I’m guilty of that myself. I once heard a song on the radio when I was younger and was convinced for years that it was called “Moon Cheddar”.) There are even websites dedicated to misheard lyrics which are pretty entertaining, for example ‘Kiss This Guy‘, ‘Am I Right‘ and ‘I used to believe‘. There’s also an amusing list of top 23 misheard lyrics on ‘TheSmokingJacket’.
There’s a funny clip of an old TV series called ‘Carpoolers’ where they manage to get some very strange lyrics for it but they do solve the argument in an imaginative way!
I wasn’t completely sure of the words myself until I had to do a class talk titled “My Favourite Song” when I was ten. Suffice to say I googled the lyrics and changed my mind, it really ruined the song for me for a while knowing that it basically involved the phrase ‘take off your dress’. But then, I was ten and this is now, so to speak, plus most people don’t even know that bit.
Anyway, here they are (using Google and my ears a bit because half the ones online are wrong):
Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
Moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried, sang along and who’d blame them
You’re grown, so grown, now I must say more than ever
Toora loora toora loo rye aye
And we can sing just like our fathers
Come on Eileen, oh I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
(With) you in that dress my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
These people round here wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces
They’re so resigned to what their fate is
But not us, no not us
We are far too young and clever
Toora loora toora loo rye aye
I’ll hum this tune forever
Come on Eileen oh I swear (well he means)
Ah come on, let’s take off everything
That pretty red dress Eileen (tell him yes) Ah come on let’s, Ah come on Eileen
Come on, Eileen To loo rye aye, Come on, Eileen, To loo rye
Now you have grown, now you have shown, Eileen
Eileeeen, come on Eileeen (etc.)
Now I must say more than ever (Eileen To loo rye aye…)
Things round here have changed
I say Toora loora toora loo rye aye
Come on Eileen, oh I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
(With) you in that dress my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
etc.
The original music video is a bit bizarre, but in a good way I guess. Definitely involves some very strange dancing anyway. This video seems to be the best sound, though the picture isn’t amazing, but it should give you some idea of it anyhow!