Dexys Midnight Runners

Songwriter: Frederick Crouch Mrs. Crawford

Producer: Arun Chakraverty

[Verse 1]
Kathleen Mavourneen, the grey dawn is breaking
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill
The lark from her light wing
The bright dew is shaking
Oh Kathleen Mavourneen
Why slumber you still?

[Chorus 1]
Oh hast thou forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh hast thou forgotten the day we must part?
It may be for years
And it may be forever
Then why art thou silent
Voice of my heart?
It may be for years
It may be forever
Then why art thou silent
Kathleen Mavourneen?

[Verse 2]
Kathleen Mavourneen, awake from thy slumbers
The blue mountains glow, in the sun's golden light
Ah, where is the spell
That once hung on my numbers?
Arise in thy beauty
The star of my night

[Chorus 2]
Mavourneen, Mavourneen
My sad tears are falling
To think that from Erin
And thee I must part
It may be for years and it may be forever
Then why art thou silent
Voice of my heart
Oh, it may be for years
It may be forever
Ah, then why art thou silent
Kathleen Mavourneen?

Dexys Midnight Runners (currently officially Dexys, their common nickname; sometimes styled with and sometimes without an apostrophe) are an English pop band with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid-1980s. They are best known in the UK for their songs “Come On Eileen” and “Geno”, both of which peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as six other top-20 singles.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dexys went through numerous personnel changes over the course of three albums and thirteen singles, with only singer/songwriter/co-founder Kevin Rowland remaining in the band through all of the transitions and only Rowland and “Big” Jim Paterson (trombone) appearing on all of the albums. By 1985, the band consisted only of Rowland and long-standing members Helen O'Hara (violin) and Billy Adams (guitar). The band broke up in 1987, with Rowland becoming a solo artist. After two failed restart attempts, Dexys was reformed by Rowland in 2003 with new members, as well as a few returning members from the band’s original lineup (known as Dexys Mark I). Dexys released their fourth album in 2012 and a fifth followed in 2016.

more tracks from the album

Because of You [single]

From the album

Because of You [single] (1986)

Dexys Midnight Runners popular songs

Kathleen MavourneenDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners

Because of You [single]