So you know where it was filmed, but you’re probably wondering: who is this mysterious Eileen? Well, the woman in the video isn’t named Eileen at all. Her real name is Lee James, and she was a waitress the band met. She wasn’t a professional actress—she was just a friend of a friend who showed up and absolutely nailed that shy, captivating look mixed with a wild dance move.
Kevin Rowland has said the song is about a real girl he knew when he was younger, but the video Eileen is pure serendipity. Imagine being a waitress one day, and the next you’re immortalized in a music video that will be played at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and office parties for over 40 years. She probably gets a free drink every time someone recognizes her.
Lando Breaks: Come On Eileen video locations
The Dungaree Conspiracy
Now, let’s talk about the outfits. Those overalls and bandanas weren’t a fashion statement—they were a desperate attempt to look like they were from the 1930s or 1940s. The band had recently fired their stylist (or maybe no one had the budget), so they raided a charity shop. The result? They looked like a gang of happy coal miners who accidentally wandered into a folk festival.
And Kevin Rowland’s look—the bandana, the mismatched socks, the jacket that looks two sizes too small—is a masterclass in “I woke up like this after a three-day party.” It’s so bad it’s brilliant, and it’s part of why the video is timeless. You can’t replicate that kind of chaotic energy. You can only envy it.
