This song is about a male high-school student who wants to convince his Catholic girlfriend to have sex with him.

In the world of “one-hit wonders,” Dexy’s Midnight Runners nearly always top the list. It’s not because the group was horrible and only got lucky with their one No. 1 smash hit. Rather, the group was completely dysfunctional because of the lead singer’s narcissistic behavior. According to guitarist Kevin Archer, Kevin Rowland treated everyone else in the band as if they were nothing. The group were reduced to having “we hate Kevin Rowland” meetings in a separate room. In an atmosphere like that, it’s a wonder that their most famous song ever got recorded in the first place.

Having Sex

Even Rowland admits that it was a tough time, and he also confirmed that the song was truly dirty in nature. Of course, they couldn’t come right out and say what they were all thinking. Parental-advisory labels were still three years distant with the explicit lyrics of 2 Live Crew’s “Move Somethin'” album. Still, the lyric, “You in that dress, My thoughts I confess, verge on dirty,” raised quite a few eyebrows in 1985. The gist of the title has a double meaning as well. “Come on, Eileen,” have sex with me is the first, and the second describes how Eileen would look in certain situations during the aftermath of the sex.

Stolen Ideas and Hidden Meanings

Archer maintains that Rowland stole the whole idea of the song from him, particularly the too-rah, loo-rah bit. Rowland eventually paid Archer royalties on the song, but the damage had been done to the group’s future long before that. They all imploded shortly after “Come on, Eileen” finished its run at No. 1. Despite the song’s unmistakable sexual references, there is a bit of counterculture rebellion in the lyrics. The bit about the old folks having smoke in their eyes while the two protagonists of the song are “far too clever” is especially telling. It’s a jab at both the Roman Catholic church and the older generation that wants to pigeonhole youngsters in their own image.

Other Media

The song’s appearances in soundtracks are limited to relatively little-known programs and films. These programs and films have great niche popularity, such as “Firefly,” “Ash vs. Evil Dead,” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” but they’re not mainstream.

Lyrics

Come on, Eileen
Come on, Eileen

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

You’ve grown (you’re grown up)
So grown (so grown up)
Now I must say more than ever
(Come on, Eileen)
Too-ra-loo-ra
Too-ra-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
Were beaten down, eyes sunk in smoke-dried face
They’re so resigned to what their fate is
But not us (no never)
But not us (not ever)
We are far too young and clever
(Remember)
Too-ra-loo-ra
Too-ra-loo-rye-ay
And you’ll hum this tune forever

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

Now you’re full grown (too-ra)
And now you have shown (too-ra, ta-loo-ra)
Oh, Eileen
Said, come on, Eileen (come on, Eileen) (you’ve grown)
These things they are real and I know (ta-loo-rye-ay) (so grown)
How you feel (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
Now I must say more than ever (too-ra, ta-loo-ra)
Things ’round here have changed
I said, too-ra-loo-ra (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
Too-ra-loo-rye-ay (come on, Eileen, ta-loo-rye-ay)
(Too-ra, ta-loo-ra)

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
Whoa (what he means)
Whoa
Ah, come on, Eileen

Oh, believe me
If all those endearing young chums
That I gaze on so fondly today
Were to suddenly leave you, oh fly in the night
Just like fairy gifts gone in the sky

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: James Paterson / Kevin Adams / Kevin Rowland

Come On Eileen lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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