submissions
| The Kinks – Here Come The People In Grey Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Government bureaucrats leading this poor guy away by the wrist to 'lord knows only where'. Why? Remember a really dumb idea called Urban Renewal? Big idea in the early 1970's where they'd go into a city and bulldoze huge sections of old (old=bad) buildings to make room for new (new=good) buildings. Ray is one who reveres the old ways, and the song defiantly declares he's going to beat those people in grey. Unfortunately, the last line of the chorus tells us who wins the struggle... 'But here come the people in grey... to take me away'. Never, ever trust any government to do what you can do for yourself. |
submissions
| The Kinks – Australia Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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I took the song literally. England is great, but Australia would look pretty inviting without all the class nonsense. In the US, we don't consider class, but in the UK, especially at the time this song was written, class distinctions made it unnecissarily difficult for an individual to advance up the economic ladder to a better life. Not sure what the taxes were like between Australia and UK then (or now), but the line 'You get what you work for' implies an unfair tax burden in the UK. Add 'Sunny Christmas Day' to the picture, and you can imagine Australia as the chance of a lifetime. At the end of the album, Arthur's children are sailing off 'to a new horizon where there's plenty for everyone'. Sounds like Australia represents all the opportunity that was lacking in England. |
submissions
| The Kinks – Sitting By the Riverside Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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First off - What a great little gem from this incredible band! I've been listening to the Kinks for the last 35 years, and just stumbled on this one. Nice surprise! I picture Ray Davies settling down to what he expects to be an idyllic, serene lazy afternoon communing with nature's beauty by the riverside. Then, in comes a pleasant, but slightly off-key (aren't they all?) accordion playing it's three note riff until it's just about worn out it's welcome. Back to another verse, then along comes that accorion again, only this time it's longer, louder and more intrusive than ever! And, is that a foghorn I hear at the same time? The picture I get is his hoped-for peaceful relaxation by the riverside is being ruined by obnoxious barges and party boats jamming up what he thought would be a peaceful river view. Laughed my ass off the first few times thinking of this. Is it what Ray had in mind? I sure don't know, but considering his sense of humor, it's what I thought about. If Leon Redbone sang this song, I'd just think his accordion player was trying to show off. Forgetting all that, IslandMyk nailed it. It is a lovely song for sure. |
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