The Village Green Preservation Society

Pretty much everything mentioned in this song is something that the Kinks were not. Its all about irony.

Like a lot of The Kinks work their is an element of story telling, irony, humour and genius. The narrative is set as a group (society) telling everyone their mission statement while the undercurrent makes you think that the writer holds these values close to their heart too.

The Villiage Green he talks about is an actual place where they grew up by the way. I have seen him revisit it on TV and describe the influence it had on the album.

And another point on the lyrics. I've been listening to this song for years and a few weeks back we noticed another of his clever tricks in his writting.....

'God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties' immediately followed by 'Preserving the old ways from being abused'

Maybe I should have noticed it earlier but 'stawberry jam' then 'preserving' GENIUS!!!

The song is pretty much just saying that we shouldn't lose our national identity and everything that's British. It was written during their American ban so they're writing a British song for the British people without outside influence - I suppose it could be a subtle knock to American commercialization of both everyday life and even music. This song is quintessentially British and it solidified The Kinks as a band who stuck to their roots when many bands were going to America and writing songs that had no link to where they came from. The lyrics are incredible and this should be shown as one of Ray's best pieces - great rhythm too!

Its about Britishness, as are a lot of kinks songs. Very middle class middle england attitudes.. particularly the dislike of change.

In order for this song to be ironic the Kinks would have to be opposed to things which it would be appalling to be opposed to. Do you honestly think any Englishman, inhabitant of a small island ever on the brink of foreign occupation, would write a song ironically smearing George Cross winners. It is a shame that mediocrities like Stewart and Colbert have so poisoned the second-hand minds of college students that they are no longer capable of distinguishing irony from light-heartedness.

So...any ideas, anyone? I love this song...

"God Save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety" An excellent song, but really still working on what exactly it's saying.

It's just kind of about not wanting the olds things to change. He doesn't seem to mind new things coming along (Protecting the new ways, for me and for you) but he seems mainly concerned with keeping the things he knows the way they are.

Great song, about saving old values.

always took this to be both a positive and negative song about those things on which he singing...yes he likes the past but needs the future and wants development, i dont think hes agreeing with those who care only for the past.

Mrs Mopp is a character from a popular wartime radio comedy show...old mother riley is a character from a popular set of films from the early 50s (old mother riley was played by a man)