Dexys Midnight Runners

Songwriter: Kevin Rowland Steve Wynne Helen O’Hara

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

I've often thought about
The men where I came from
And times ago
Their sons, these days, are found
In US and Britannia care
And as I think about
In my mother's eyes I look and see the story there
It's a knowledge of beauty in these days rare
Go west, go west young man
West of hollow words and all that lies there
Go west, I'II sing an air
For all the previous
Wild black curly hair
For what use is anything
If I don't have the wisdom and warmth
Of my past generations
If I need strength
To take bad on
I just look back to
Where I came from
I look back where I came from
I've had respect, money and love
I've denied my beautiful heritage
Gone away from my roots and come back home again
I gave away my individuality
And listened to the "now" generation
When really I'm not one of those
But love has brought me closer to the truth and right now
I couldn't be any closer
To love your father is a fulfilling thing
My national pride is a personal pride

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

My National PrideDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners

Don’t Stand Me Down