The song is a tribute to Geno Washington, who performed with the Ram Jam Band, a London-based soul band, in the mid 1960s – clearly a big inspiration to Dexys songwriter Kevin Rowlands.
Geno! Geno! Geno! Geno! Geno! ...
Back in '68 in a sweaty club
Oh, Geno
Before Jimmy's Machine and The Rocksteady Rub
Oh, Geno
On a night when flowers didn't suit my shoes
After a week of flunkin' and bunkin' school
With the lowest head in the crowd that night
Just practicin' steps and keepin' outta the fights
Academic inspiration, you gave me none
But you were Michael the lover, the fighter that won
But now just look at me as I'm looking down at you
No, I'm not bein' flash, it's what I'm built to do
That man took the stage, his towel was swingin' high
Oh, Geno
This man was my bombers, my Dexy's, my high
Oh, Geno
The crowd they all hailed you and chanted your name
But they never knew like we knew me and you were the same
And now you're all over, your song is so tame, brrrrr
You fed me, you bred me, I'll remember your name
Academic inspiration, you gave me none
But you were Michael the lover, the fighter that won
But now just look at me as I'm looking down at you
No, I'm not bein' flash, it's what I'm built to do
Oh Geno, woah Geno
Oh Geno, woah Geno
Geno was written by Kevin Rowland & Kevin Archer.
Geno was produced by Pete Wingfield.