Dexys Midnight Runners – Once A Man, Twice A Child

Dexys Midnight Runners have released their new single, “Once A Man, Twice A Child,” the latest track to be taken from their forthcoming new album, LOVE, out on Friday, September 4 via Heavenly Recordings.

“Once A Man, Twice A Child” is a love song about a relationship that almost never happened between Kevin Rowland and his father. The third single from LOVE, following “My Life In England Pt. 1” and “You’ve Got The Love,” tells the story of days spent loving one of the people Kevin never thought he could get closer to. A soulful classic and cornerstone of the new album, it was produced by David Holmes.

Talking about the track, Kevin Rowland shares: 

”I had a really tough relationship with my dad, my old man. I was resigned to the fact that we were never going to be close. He was close to other relatives, some of my siblings, but we just always clashed. I still loved him. He then had a stroke, and he completely softened up, and I found I could hug him and be loving. Which I never could before. It was incredible. Before he had that stroke, he was a tough man, one of the toughest of his generation. Occasionally he would come and stay a couple of nights with me after his stroke, and I’d put him to bed and all of that. ‘I helped you button up your shirt, I kissed your head before you slept.’ That wouldn’t have happened earlier. None of that. It was lovely, really, I would hold his hand, we’d go for walks. A friend came around and I said, ‘It’s amazing, you have this incredible relationship with your dad now, and I know it’s an awful thing when somebody has a stroke, but I’m glad I got that time with him.’ As they say, once a man, twice a child.”

New album LOVE is a deeply personal and emotionally rich album that may mark the final chapter in Dexys Midnight Runners extraordinary musical journey. Their first release under the Dexys Midnight Runners name since 1985’s Don’t Stand Me Down, LOVE gathers stories spanning Kevin Rowland’s life – from his 2nd generation Irish childhood and family relationships to late-life romance, loss and reconciliation.

Built around themes of love in all its forms, the album moves beyond traditional romance to explore ageing, memory and emotional connection. The album was produced by Belfast musician / DJ David Holmes, aided and abetted by Peter Schweir with additional contributions from long-time collaborators Sean Read, Mike Timothy, Jim Paterson and string arranger Brian Irving.

Dexys Midnight Runners are: Kevin Rowland (vocals), Sean Read (keyboards and backing vocals), Mike Timothy (keyboards and backing vocals), Lucy Morgan (violin), Timothy Weller (drums), Janelle Martin (backing vocals), Olli Martin (trombone).

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