I’d been mulling over this song for awhile, but when the opening violin intro came on at a wedding reception I attended recently caused a rush to the dance floor I accepted it as a sign, and immediately headed for YouTube. Dexys Midnight Runners are considered a one-hit wonder and even Homer Simpson joked in an episode, “You haven’t heard the last of them!”

He was right – because “Come on Eileen” may have been the Kevin Rowland-fronted band’s only international hit, but what a song! It topped the charts in 1982 and went on to sustain Rowland to this day, even if he has had to enlist fully 50 band members along the way to keep Dexy (as the band was renamed in 2011) going.

That colourful history is detailed (and explained) in this video of Rowland’s 2022 remix of the song. From singing in the street in their signature denim overalls (that iconic video was filmed in Kennington, UK, near Oxford), to today’s nightclubs (and weddings!), there’s little doubt we’ll continue to ‘hum this tune forever.’

Toora loora toora loo rye ay.

Lyrics

Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
Moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried
Sang along, who’d blame them?

You’re grown (you’re grown up)
So grown (so grown up)
Now I must say more than ever
(Come on Eileen)
Toora loora toora loo rye ay
And we can sing just like our fathers

Come on Eileen, oh I swear what he means
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty, ah, come on Eileen

Come on Eileen

These people round here
Wear beatdown eyes sunk in smoke dried face
So resigned to what their fate is

But not us (no never)
No not us (no never)
We are far too young and clever

(Remember)
Toora loora, toora loo rye ay
Eileen, I’ll hum this tune forever

Come on Eileen, oh I swear (what he means)
Ah come on let’s, take off everything
Pretty red dress, Eileen, tell him yes
Ah come on let’s, ah, come on Eileen
That pretty red dress, Eileen, tell him yes
Ah, come on let’s, ah come on Eileen, please

Come on Eileen, too loo rye ay
Come on Eileen, too loo rye ay
Now you have grown, and now you have shown
Oh, Eileen

Said
Come on Eileen, too loo rye ay
Come on Eileen, too loo rye ay
Now I must say more than ever
Things round here change
I said, toora loora, toora loo rye ay

Come on Eileen, oh I swear what he means
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty, ah come on Eileen

Come on Eileen, oh I swear what he means
At this moment, you mean everything
In that dress, oh my thoughts, I confess
Well, they’re dirty, come on Eileen
Come on Eileen