The Commitments (1991) - Quotes

Unlikely Encounters Among Friends and Family

Jimmy Rabbitte: Hi Imelda, You're Looking Deadly.

Imelda: What are you doing here Jimmy Rabbitte?

Jimmy Rabbite: Friend in the band.

Imelda: You sure not a friend of my sister's?

Jimmy Rabbitte: From what i heard, the fella she's marrying hardly knows her.

Imelda: Cheeky Bastard.

Jimmy Rabbitte: I suppose you'll be next?

Imelda: Why me, I'm not bleedin pregnant.

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Confrontation Over Insults in a Band Rehearsal

Billy: And you... George Michael... you ever call me a fuckin eejit again, you'll go home with the drumsticks stuck up your hole... the one you don't sing out of.

Deco: That'll be the day.

Billy: I'm tellin ya it's coming, so keep your Vaseline handy.

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Tension in a Taxi Offer

Natalie: You all right, Jimmy?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Sure. They just get on my arse at times.

Natalie: Wanna share a taxi home?

Jimmy Rabbitte: For fuck's sake, Natalie. How could you ask me that after what I just said in there?

Natalie: Well if you weren't the manager, would you?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Would I what?

Natalie: ...take me home?

Jimmy Rabbitte: But I am the manager.

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A Humorous Exchange About Singing Talent

Imelda: [about Deco] He eats like a pig.

Bernie: He's such a prick.

Natalie: Hasn't got the voice of a pig though. Joey says it belongs to God.

Billy: God should ask for it back.

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A Humorous Exchange on a Frustrating Moment

Steve: Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Natalie: That's three Hail Marys for you tomorrow.

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Divine Inspiration in Unexpected Conversations

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: [referring to Joey] What did Evel Knievel want?

Jimmy Rabbitte: God sent him.

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: What?

Jimmy Rabbitte: God sent him.

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: On a fucking Suzuki?

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Meeting the Band's Aspirations

Jimmy Rabbitte: Who're you, then?

Joey: Are you the one startin the band?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Yeah.

Joey: The name's Joseph Fagin. Joey "The Lips" Fagin.

Jimmy Rabbitte: [sarcastically] And I'm Jimmy "The Bollocks" Rabbitte

Joey: I get mine from my horn playing. How'd you get yours?

Jimmy Rabbitte: Don't get snotty with me.

Joey: I get snotty with no man.

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Band Name Debate in The Commitments

Deco: If I'm gonna front this band, I like the sound of "Deco.

Billy: Deco the bus conductor." Is that "top-Deco" or bottom-Deco"?

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A Humorous Exchange About Fish and Music

Rock Salmon Man: Excuse me, would you have any Rock Salmon?

Dean Fay: No, I'm sorry - we only have "Soul"!

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Understanding the Article "The

Billy: Commitments?

Jimmy Rabbitte: It's a "the".

Deco: How do you spell it?

Jimmy Rabbitte: T-H-E.

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Facing the Reality of Solo Careers

Jimmy Rabbitte: [talking about kicking Ray out of the band] How did Ray take the news?

Derek: Not too bad. Said he was goin solo.

Jimmy Rabbitte: He doesn't have much of a choice, does he?

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Naming a Band: The Northsiders

Outspan Foster: There's a band around called "Free Beer". Always draws a big crowd.

Derek: I like "A Flock of Budgies".

Jimmy Rabbitte: We have to be "the" something. All the great sixties bands were "The Somethings".

Outspan Foster: We could be... The Northsiders.

Derek: Or The Liffy Lads.

Outspan Foster: How about... The Fucking Eejits?

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Band Name Ideas and Poster Design

Jimmy Rabbitte: What do you call yourselves?

Derek: And And And.

Jimmy Rabbitte: And And fuckin And?

Derek: Well, Ray's thinking of putting an exclamation mark after the second "and." Says it'd look deadly on the posters.

Jimmy Rabbitte: Psshh...

Outspan Foster: You don't like it? You think it should go at the end?

Jimmy Rabbitte: I think it should go up his arse.

Outspan Foster: Well, we're not married to it.

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Debating Elvis's Soulful Identity

Jimmy Rabbitte: Elvis is not soul.

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: [defensively] Elvis is God.

Jimmy Rabbitte: I never pictured God with a fat gut and corset singing "My Way" at Caesar's Palace.

Misery Amidst Temporary Happiness

Smiths Song Singer: [singing, auditioning for Jimmy] I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour, but heaven knows I'm miserable now...

Jimmy Rabbitte: Yeah, I know how you feel.

Conversation About Musical Skills

Jimmy Rabbitte: What do you play?

Failed Drug Buyer: I used to play football in school.

Jimmy Rabbitte: I mean what instrument.

Failed Drug Buyer: I don't.

Jimmy Rabbitte: Then what are you doing here?

Failed Drug Buyer: Well, I saw everyone else lining up, so, uh.... I thought you were sellin drugs.

Job Struggles in a Challenging Economy

Unemployment Official: Mr. Rabbitte, you've been collecting unemployment benefit for two years. Are you trying to tell me you can't get a job?

Jimmy Rabbitte: We're a third world country - what can you do?

Band Dynamics and Personal Desires Explored

Steve Clifford: [In the confessional] And there's these three girls with the band, I've had lustful thoughts about all of them.

Natalie Murphy: What do you think, Jimmy, they'll be eatin chips out of our knickers?

Joey The Lips Fagan: [to Dean] Are you doing what I told you? Are you thinking of that reed as a woman's nipple?

Elvis and Cultural Identity in Music

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: That's fuckin blasphemy. Elvis wasn't a Cajun.

A Band's Ambition Sparks Humor and Confidence

Jimmy Rabbitte, Sr.: Is this the band then? Betcha U2 are shittin themselves.

Introducing The Commitments Band Members

Jimmy Rabbitte: I'd like to introduce you to the hardest-workin band in the world. On bass, Derek "Meatman" Scully. On piano, Steven "Soul Surgeon" Clifford. Dean "Mr Nipple" Fay on sax. Joey "The Lips" Fagan on trumpet. Our gorgeous chanteuses are Bernie, Imelda, and Natalie. Deco "Deep Throat" Cuffe on vocals. On lead guitar, Outspan "Fender bender" Foster. Finally, on drums, Mickah "Don't Fuck With Me" Wallace. Ladies and gentlemen, The Commitments.

The Essence of Soul Music

Jimmy Rabbitte: Soul is the music people understand. Sure it's basic and it's simple. But it's something else cause, cause, cause it's honest, that's it. Its honest. There's no fuckin bullshit. It sticks its neck out and says it straight from the heart. Sure there's a lot of different music you can get off on but soul is more than that. It takes you somewhere else. It grabs you by the balls and lifts you above the shite.

Identity and Pride in The Commitments

Jimmy Rabbitte: The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once and say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud.