Dexys Midnight Runners

Songwriter: Jim Paterson Kevin Rowland

Pure, this must be, it has to be
Pure, let's make this pure
(Do you mean it?) Yes I do
(Then let's sing it) Certainly, but
First bare your hearts and cleanse your souls
(And then?) Let's try and make this precious, like this
Let's make this precious
We're striving over here
(Ever nearer?) I think so
(Visions clearer) of course, of course
But still we must forsake all to win
(All temptation?) everything (for salvation?) now you're talking
Then let this apply to all we do
(And then?) Our striving will guide us
And somehow I think that we'll win
Let's make this precious
First let's hear somebody sing me a record
That cries pure and true
No not those guitars. They're too noisy and crude
The kind that convinces refuses to leave
There's no need to turn it up
If it's pure I'll feel it from here
Let's make this precious, (I think we probably will)
Let's make this precious, (I think we probably will)

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

Too-Rye-Ay

From the album

Too-Rye-Ay (1982)

Dexys Midnight Runners popular songs

Let’s Make This PreciousDexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners

Too-Rye-Ay