The Undertones - It's Going to Happen! (Official HD Video)

You are watching the official video for "It's Going To Happen!" by the Undertones.

A typically energetic performance from Derry's finest on this top 20 single from 1981. The ambitious video recreates a silent movie filming set complete with the kind of bad puns that showcase the band's childlike sense of humour. The song though is a dark tale of friends `too slow to notice what's wrong'.

The video has been remastered to HD to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its original release on 21st April 1981.

Follow The Undertones:

Lyrics:

Happens all the time
Its going to happen - happen - till your change your mind
Its going to happen - happen - happens all the time
Its going to happen - happen - till your change your mind
Best story I ever heard
The truth about fat Mr X and the young girl
See how far he'll let you go
Before he persuades you when you're walking home
Happens all the time ...
Watching your friends passing by
Going to sleep without blinking a blue eye
Too slow to notice what's wrong
Two faced to you when you're taking them on
Happens all the time ...
Everything goes when you're dead
Everything empties from what was in your head
No point in waiting today
Stupid revenge is what's making you stay
Its going to happen - happen - till your change your mind

Songwriters: Damian Stephen O'neill / Michael Bradley
It’s Going to Happen lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

#TheUndertones #ItsGoingToHappen #40thAnniversary

[frankiebob]

Bought this in 84 .. Unreal 40 years old. Still love it . Great

[pdebra]

Possibly the pinnacle of a fantastic career. Love 'em to bits

[ky]

The utterly wonderful and distinctive voice of Feargal Sharkey. Great song

[RaymondoLeeTravel]

This song has once again been in my head all week. Such a great song

[robredheadmusician]

The influence of the undertones on future bands is more than people realise..you can see and hear britpops Pulp and the Smiths here.

[bakerlouis]

Great tune still, in 2024. Refreshing!

[thefaceman]

How can you not like the Undertones, 80's music at its best

[scottwaldon]

One of my favorite songs ever. That distinctive Sharkey vocal and such a catchy beat.

[nervo]

Great single...still love this song 40+ years on.

[leandrogallagher]

Awesome bloody band, greetings from argentina

[andyhoops.]

Brilliant band, hugely underrated. Great times.

[xSheldonCooperx]

The original song was written about the Hunger Strikes but one of the band members re-wrote it and watered it down. The Undertones weren't about protesting or singing about the troubles but the problems of being a teenager and being in love. People in NI were able to forget about what was going around them for a short time.

[drewcampbell]

First band I ever saw live. Glasgow Apollo 1981. Blew me away.

[feargal]

I've always loved Feargal Sharkey's so special voice (was well as his solo disks !) miss him so much ....

[andymeighan]

Most underatted band ever. The distinct voice of Feargal Sharkey.

[degunter]

Unique voice, great band, so underrated :-( Love the 80's!

[martinearl]

This is the very first record I bought with my own money. I was 18. So much great stuff in the 70's and 80's. I was into the rock of Queen and the progressive beauty of Yes. Then I enjoyed the punk, new wave and new romantic pop eras. Finally I was seduced by the indie scene, fell in love with REM and even explored the majesty of Bob Dylan. I could name loads of bands who were good or great back then. And now its like a dream. I never thought it would end. I watched some of Glastonbury a couple of weeks ago. Dreadful is not the word. Tragic it most certainly was. Apart from the occasional track and the occasional band that are merely good, music has died. You never appreciate what you had until its gone I guess. The amusing thing is that these so called artists are introduced to us as if they are great and music has never been better. How. Fucking. Sad.

[jaivkoltun]

Such a brilliant song with a delightful video to match. . . Pure joy. . .

[nickforrest]

Brilliant rawness to the Undertones and so underrated just class

[montpelierd]

John O'Neill, the band's lyricist, wrote the song in protest against the death of the Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger-striker.No one seemed to notice, even though John wore a black armband when the 'Undertones' appeared on 'Top of the Pops' a few days after Sands' death.