80s Music Video Sunday #25

Over the years, there's one thing Israelis have done that always makes me laugh. They aren't bashful about singing out loud, singing along with the radio, or basically about doing (or wearing!) anything in public that would make the average American cringe. The funniest, though, is definitely the singing, especially when the songs are in a language other than Hebrew. I've lost track of the number of times I've had to exert tremendous self-control in order not to laugh over badly mangled lyrics belted out in horribly accented English, often in a way that suggests the person is rehearsing for their "A Star is Born" (Israel's answer to "American Idol") audition. And of course, you know that if this were indeed the case, your acquaintance would wind up being one of those poor souls whose audition was shown on television purely for public enjoyment.

Sometimes, though, word-mangling is simply inevitable, even for those of us who actually know the language of the song being sung. Often, the lyrics are utterly unintelligible, and as hard as you try, you simply cannot understand the words that the singer is singing. This seems especially true of songs from the 80s, where discovery of the actual lyrics shows you just how far off the mark you are. We all know this was the case for this song, as well as several other songs that have been featured for 80s Music Video Sunday. The scary part is, even though you've finally found out what the real lyrics are, you've got the incorrect words so deeply ingrained in your brain that you know chances are slim that you'll ever learn the song properly, and will continue to sing along using the wrong words, remembering that they are wrong only after you've actually sung them.

There is, however, one song from the 80s that stands out in my mind as a gem in the indecipherable lyrics genre. "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners was a huge hit. We all loved it and we all sang along, but in truth, I don't think anyone actually knew the words. If we had each been asked to sing the song alone, I can only imagine how different each person's take on the words would have been, and if we take that thought even further, I'm guessing that each person's distinct version of the song would be far, far away from the original. I've just looked up the lyrics now, and quite frankly, they don't even resemble any words that I'd have come up with on my own.

Everyone "knows" this song, but with regard to the actual lyrics, how close were you really? Hmmm?



Come on Eileen
Dexys Midnight Runners

(Come on Eileen!)
(Come on Eileen!)

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! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty ......
Ah, come on Eileen!

(Come on Eileen!)
(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
Go toora loora toora loo rye aye
Eileen, I'll sing this tune forever

Come on, Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
Ah come on, let's take off everything
That pretty red dress .... Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on! Come on Eileen!!!

Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything

Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye
Come on, Eileen, taloora aye

Go toora loora toora loo rye aye

Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
With you in that dress, my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty ......
Ah, come on Eileen!

Come on, Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
Ah come on, let's take off everything
That pretty red dress .... Eileen (tell him yes)
Ah, come on! Come on Eileen!!!

Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything

Come on Eileen! Well, I swear (what he means)
At this moment, you mean everything