Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

Album: Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Before forming Dexys Midnight Runners, Kevin Rowland was in a punk band called The Killjoys with fellow Dexy, Kevin "Al" Archer, and Ghislaine 'Gil' Weston who would go on to join Girlschool. Rowland wrote this soulful number when he was still a Killjoy member. He recalled to The Guardian: "I already had an idea to form a big soul band with a brass section. When Kevin Archer joined the Killjoys in Spring 1978, I played him a few songs and when it came to this one he just went, "That's soul, that is." I said, "Ah, that's really good then, because this band isn't gonna go for ever and when it's over I'm gonna form this new band, doing soul."
  • The defiant lyrics reflect the anger Rowland felt as a 23-year-old punk. "Growing up in Birmingham as the son of Irish immigrants, I must have felt really frustrated when I wrote that," he said. "Like most of the lyrics, I'm in it when I write. I write these things because I have to."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.