It's Going To Happen by The Undertones

Album: Positive Touch (1981)

Charted: 18

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This song is about the Irish Republican Army (IRA) hunger strikes of 1981. The message is to the British Government: "It's going to happen, happen, 'til you change your mind."
This song was performed on the British TV show Top Of The Pops on the day Bobby Sands died as a result of the hunger strike. The band wore black armbands for the recording of the program. >>
Suggestion credit:
Lewys - Mold, Wales, for above 2

Comments: 6

El Hombre Malo from GlasgowHere's the bloke who wrote the song talking about Bobby Sands - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edk3Gj-0w4c
Jd from New ZealandOutstanding song, and for many reasons I think the Tones best or peak. That brass! That guitar! The vocal...
No doubt inferential of Bobby Sands' death.
What a band. What days we lived through.
Mick T from ScotlandSpend a bit more time on youtube Robbo, you will see the songwriter himself tell you he wore black armband on totp, and song was about hunger strikes.
John from Derry, IrelandThe guitar player wore a black armband on his right arm when they performed on TOTP. The lyrics were originally about the hunger strikes but they were changed. Best undertones song ever.
Mike from Bristol, EnglandThere was a BBC documentary about the Undertones called 'Here Comes The Summer', and they confirmed this song was inspired by the Hunger Strikes. They were going to wear black armbands on the TOTP performance, but most of the band didn't in the end.
Robbo from Auckland, New ZealandThe Top of the Pops clip is on YOutube and no, they're not wearing armbands.

Never knew what this song was supposed to be about but the Bobby Sands thing, or anything to do with the IRA, always sounded a bit far fetched to me.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

Run Like HellPink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" was released as a single in America because it has a catchy beat, but the lyrics describe a reign of terror instigated by the despot Pink, the main character in the concept album The Wall.

Killer QueenQueen

The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.

Careless WhisperWham!

George Michael was 17 and on a bus to his job at the cinema when he came up with the idea for "Careless Whisper" and the lyrics, "Something in your eyes calls to mind a silver screen."

Blinded By The LightBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.