Dexy's Midnight Runners


Poor old Johnny Ray

Sounded sad upon the radio, he moved a million hearts in mono.

Our mothers cried and sang along and who'd blame them.

Now you're grown, so grown, now I must say more than ever.

Go Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye-Aye

and we can sing just like our fathers.



Come on Eileen,

I swear (well he means) At this moment you mean everything,

With you in that dress my thoughts I confess verge on dirty Ah come on Eileen.



These people round here wear beaten down eyes

Sunk in smoke dried faces they're so resigned to what their fate is,

But not us, no not us we are far too young and clever.

Remember Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye-Aye

Eileen I'll hum this tune forever.



Come on Eileen, I swear, well 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.



Dexys Midnight Runners are best known in America as one of new wave's ultimate one-hit wonders, thanks to their 1982 number one smash "Come on Eileen," a distinctive fusion of '80s pop, Celtic folk, and blue-eyed soul. In the U.K., however, they earned a fair amount of critical acclaim and made a greater impression on the public consciousness with their frequent changes in sound, wardrobe, and personnel. Dexys were formed in 1978 by singer/guitarist/songwriter Kevin Rowland and singer/guitarist Kevin "Al" ... Read More



Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners

-------------- --------------------------

Actually written by Rowland, Patterson and Adams (voice, trombone

and banjo). Transcribed by MH from the 1982 album "Too-Rye-Ay".



* the version released as a single in the UK was preceded

by a few bars(measures) of a fiddle playing a traditional tune,

"Oh Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms"

** round brackets () denote BV (backing vocals)

*** during instrumental sections, bar divisions are marked
and

the main instrument is indicated in square brackets.

First* 16 bars are instrumental:


F C
F Bb
Bb F
C
x2 [fiddle]***


C
Em
F
C G
x2 [fiddle and banjo]

C Em

Poor old Johnny Ray

F C G

Sounded sad upon the radio moved a million hearts in mono

C

Our mothers cried

F F C G

Sang along, who'd blame them

C Em

You're grown (you're grown up), so grown (so grown up)**

F C G

Now I must say more than ever (come on Eileen)

C Em F

Toora-loora-toora-loo-rye-aye

C G

and we can sing just like our fathers


G C G C
GGC G C
G GGGGGG
[brass section]

D F#m

Come on Eileen oh, I swear (well he means)

Em G A

at this moment you mean everything

D F#m

With you in that dress, my thoughts (I confess)

Em G A

verge on dirty, Ah come on Eileen


A
A
[banjo]


C
Em
F
C G
[fiddle and banjo]

C Em These people round here

F wear beaten-down eyes sunk in smoke-dried faces,

C G

so resigned to what their fate is

C Em

but not us (no never) no not us (no never)

F C G

we are far too young and clever remember

C Em F

Toora-loora-toora-loo-rye-aye

C G

Eileen I'll hum this tune for ever


G C G C
GGC G C
G GGGGGG
[brass section]

D F#m

Come on Eileen, oh I swear (well he means)

Em G A

Ah come on let's take off everything

D F#m

That pretty red dress, Eileen (tell him yes)

Em G A

Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen

D F#m

That pretty red dress, Eileen (tell him yes)

Em G A

Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen

D Please...

D F#m

(Come on Eileen too-loo rye-aye come on)

G D A

(Eileen too-loo rye-aye toora toora-too-loora)

Now you have grown, now you have shown, oh Eileen

D F#m



Come on Eileen, these things they are real and I know

G

how you feel Now I must say more than ever

D A

things round here have changed

D F#m G D A

Too-ra loo-ra too-ra loo-rye-aye

___________________________________________________________________

Malcolm Hannah (eermih@dct.ac.uk) Dundee, Scotland

Chorus

C Am

Why do you build me up (build me up) Buttercup, baby

F G

Just to let me down (let me down) and mess me around

C Am

And then worst of all (worst of all) you never call, baby

F G

When you say you will (say you will) but I love you still

C Am

I need you (I need you) more than anyone, darlin'

F

You know that I have from the start

C G

So build me up (build me up) Buttercup,

Am

Don't break my heart



Verse 1

C Am

"I'll be over at ten", you told me time and again

C F

But you're late, I wait around and then

C Am

I went to the door, I can't take any more

C F

It's not you, you let me down again

F

(Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find

G F

(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I'll make you mine



(Hey, hey, hey!) I'll be home

F#m G

I'll be beside the phone waiting for you

Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo



(Chorus)



F

You know that I have from the start

C

So build me up (build me up) Buttercup,

Am

Don't break my heart



Verse 2

C Am

You were my toy but I could be the boy you adore

C

If you'd just let me know

F

Although you're untrue,

C Am

I'm attracted to you all the more

C F

Why do I need you so

F (Hey, hey, hey!) Baby, baby, try to find

G F

(Hey, hey, hey!) A little time and I'll make you mine

(Hey, hey, hey!) I'll be home

F#m I'll be beside the phone waiting for you

Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-ooo



(Chorus)



F You know that I have from the start

C So build me up (build me up) Buttercup,

Am Don't break my heart



F You know that I have from the start

C So build me up (build me up) Buttercup,

Am Don't break my heart