Dexys Midnight Runners

Released: January 1, 2002

Songwriter: Kevin Rowland Helen O’Hara Billy Adams

Producer: Billy Adams Helen O’Hara Alan Winstanley Kevin Rowland

From a youth of waste
A life of mess
It's a prize to be able to
Express myself
But first:

My name is Kevin Rowland
I'm the leader of the band
Herein I wish to clarify
Relate and state my plans

Tales from near and foreign parts
B-but my friends before we start
I would like to call upon
PC Barrington

Well now
There's no point in punishing
The guilty with their crimes
I've been chastised so many times
I get bitter more every time

PC Barrington and me
We're inclined to disagree
He does not see things like I do

I was never very sure about anything until
I was never very sure
What won't go for me
Will not go for me

Y'see
I'm not pleading ignorance
Of fundamental things
Politics must be dealt with
But they should not be dwelt in

Well I'm a (?) of a different breed
I take what I want say what I need
I don't intend to follow suit
I got blood, veins, bones now here's my point

I was never very sure... NICK!
I was never very...
What don't go for me
Will not go for me
What don't go for me
Will not go for me

[Spoken]:
Yeah, well, I thought a little
Joke might be a good idea
Just to sorta, I dunno
Kick off the proceedings
As it were, y'know
Whattaya think, good idea?
[Voices agree]
Yeah, did you ever hear the one
About the, um, y'know, the
Middle-class idiots, who, who
Sorta, spend all their time
Analysing their own emotions
And writing bullshit poetry
Y'know, that we're supposed to read?
[Laughter begins]
I mean, as if we're fuckin' interested!
[Laughter]
(That's a good one!)
Y'like that one, eh?
(Where did ya hear that one?)
Um
(Did'ja make it up yourself)
No, no, it's a true story that one
Honestly, it's true, I didn't make it up

I was never very sure
I was never very...
It don't go for me
It won't go for me
What don't go for me
Will not go for me

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

Don’t Stand Me Down

From the album

Don’t Stand Me Down (1985)

Dexys Midnight Runners popular songs

Kevin Rowland’s 13th TimeDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners

Don’t Stand Me Down