I'm really surprised that the complex nature of this song is not seen by these comments.. As with many great songs, there are multiple poetic meanings, and not just the obvious one. It may have started about teenage sex, but it sure didn't end up that way. This song is about promising your love to get them out of the hell of English poverty, and make a better life for themselves.
You know this from the first verse. The reason why they used Johnny Ray, out of all the 50's singer, is because was he was known as the blue caller crooner, who was beloved by working class English women, because of his extreme poverty to riches story. Hence the first verse, and why the song starts out like that.
Then there's the second verse, which makes it far more complex, that has nothing to with just trying to sleep with a young love. Some teenager just looking to "get a leg over" would never say this:
These people round here, wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces, 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
In the 80's to be poor in England was miserable. This song actually ends up being more about using love and a relationship to get out of poverty, than just sex. The sex part is just the hook to get you to listen and remember it.
@matt1111 Re Johnny Ray: he was the "blue-collar" crooner, which means that his appeal was to the working class (blue overalls rather than the bright white shirts/blouses of bankers and lawyers. Maybe 'caller' was a typo of yours, but it should be corrected anyway. Thanks for a good analysis!
@matt1111 Re Johnny Ray: he was the "blue-collar" crooner, which means that his appeal was to the working class (blue overalls rather than the bright white shirts/blouses of bankers and lawyers. Maybe 'caller' was a typo of yours, but it should be corrected anyway. Thanks for a good analysis!
I'm really surprised that the complex nature of this song is not seen by these comments.. As with many great songs, there are multiple poetic meanings, and not just the obvious one. It may have started about teenage sex, but it sure didn't end up that way. This song is about promising your love to get them out of the hell of English poverty, and make a better life for themselves.
You know this from the first verse. The reason why they used Johnny Ray, out of all the 50's singer, is because was he was known as the blue caller crooner, who was beloved by working class English women, because of his extreme poverty to riches story. Hence the first verse, and why the song starts out like that.
Then there's the second verse, which makes it far more complex, that has nothing to with just trying to sleep with a young love. Some teenager just looking to "get a leg over" would never say this:
These people round here, wear beaten down eyes Sunk in smoke dried faces, 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
In the 80's to be poor in England was miserable. This song actually ends up being more about using love and a relationship to get out of poverty, than just sex. The sex part is just the hook to get you to listen and remember it.
@matt1111 Re Johnny Ray: he was the "blue-collar" crooner, which means that his appeal was to the working class (blue overalls rather than the bright white shirts/blouses of bankers and lawyers. Maybe 'caller' was a typo of yours, but it should be corrected anyway. Thanks for a good analysis!
@matt1111 Re Johnny Ray: he was the "blue-collar" crooner, which means that his appeal was to the working class (blue overalls rather than the bright white shirts/blouses of bankers and lawyers. Maybe 'caller' was a typo of yours, but it should be corrected anyway. Thanks for a good analysis!