Peaking at No 81 in the UK charts on the first week of its release in November 1984, The Boomtown Rats’ penultimate single (before they reformed of course!) was simply called Dave.
Described by Pete Townshend as the best single of the year, this incredible song completely by-passed the world’s music lovers. It’s possible that all the activity around Band Aid meant the record got overlooked, but that only seems to be part of the story. By this stage in their career, The Rats’ had had an amazing ten years, but it seems that by the time Dave was released, the musical tastes of the record-buying public had moved on.
Like many of Bob Geldof’s best lyrics, this song is based on a true story – a bloke Bob had known during his school days in Ireland, who’s paths had crossed again much later in life. Dave became a saxophone player with the band, until one night he returned home after a gig and found his girlfriend dead – she’d OD’d on drugs she’d bought for a fiver – hence the line in the song “So what's a fiver? Why so mean?”
Dave had rung Bob at 3am – his world totally destroyed – and the song contains the words that Geldof wished he’d been able to say over the phone….how many of us have been in that position? Wanting to say something to help but only finding the right words when we fear it’s too late?
The song is beautifully written, with lines like “The view from on your knees deceives” and “Time heals, believe”.
Terribly sad.
In the US, the music execs couldn’t stomach a bloke singing an emotional song about another bloke and it seems, couldn’t be arsed to try to understand the message behind the words. So, it was remixed and changed around for the US and Canada markets as Rain. The revised words were equally emotional “The rain keeps falling in steady streams, of holy water in times of grief, the flooded moments the sea of peace, that cools the pain and wipes you clean.”
This song should have been another global hit for The Boomtown Rats and although I’ve said it before, I wish they’d include it in their live set.
Superb song and video.I remember the “see through vinyl” edition which had a free gig ticket in it being one of the main reasons the record did not make it.Something about it being illegal promotion or something like that.
The time around the release of the singles and release of ITLG will always remain with me.The Boomtown Rats got me through some crap times and after I saw them live in 85 I got out.A Hold Of Me was a fitting end to it back then.
There are different mixes of Dave too. My vinyl copy of ITLG has my favourite mix, but I've seen this elsewhere referred to as the "Single version". I think later copies of ITLG had the different mix. Anyway, you could play that song on a cheese grater and it would still be brilliant. One of Bob's very best lyrics.
Great song. Shot have gotten them back on top. Also great B side. Love hard times
Like Drag Me Down, this song should have been a huge hit. One of 3 great single from the ITLG album. And in answer to MRorSS’s point below, it was a staple part of the ITLG tour and featured in the dvd released following the tour. A great bass line in it as well!
One of my favourites. When Bob was doing a solo tour and offered out requests, I asked for it. He said it was his favourite too.
Brilliant song...probably my 2nd favourite rats song , after "joey" but time doesn't "heal" it "accommodates" Bob's words , not mine...but he's right.
Nicely summarised Col. My, like the wider music buying public, musical tastes had also moved on by this stage so, while I did buy the single I wasn’t a massive fan of this song until much later. Now I love it and it’s by far and away my fave song off ITLG. I bought Bob’s lyric book a few years back and the back story of Dave was one of the most interesting. I did see the band live on the final ITLG tour so probably did hear Dave live although that wasnt my memory from the one and only time I got to see the Rats live…