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Denmark Street Lyrics
Down the way from the tottenham court road
Just round the corner from old soho
There’s a place where the publishers go
If you don’t know which way to go
Just open your ears and follow your nose
Cause the street is shaking from the tapping of toes
You can hear that music play anytime on any day
Every rhythm, every way
You got to a publisher and play him your song
He says ’i hate your music and you hair is too long
But I’ll sign you up because I’d hate to be wrong
You’ve got a tune it’s in your head you want to get it placed
So you take it up to a music man just to see what he will say
He says ’i hate the tune, I hate the words but I’ll tell you what I’ll do
I’ll sign you up and take it round the street and see if it makes the grade
And you might even hear it played on the rock `n’ roll hit parade
Daytime, night time, every week you can hear that heavy beat
Now the walls are shaking from the tapping of feet
Daytime, night time, every day you can hear that music play
Every rhythm, every way
Just round the corner from old soho
There’s a place where the publishers go
If you don’t know which way to go
Just open your ears and follow your nose
Cause the street is shaking from the tapping of toes
You can hear that music play anytime on any day
Every rhythm, every way
You got to a publisher and play him your song
He says ’i hate your music and you hair is too long
But I’ll sign you up because I’d hate to be wrong
You’ve got a tune it’s in your head you want to get it placed
So you take it up to a music man just to see what he will say
He says ’i hate the tune, I hate the words but I’ll tell you what I’ll do
I’ll sign you up and take it round the street and see if it makes the grade
And you might even hear it played on the rock `n’ roll hit parade
Daytime, night time, every week you can hear that heavy beat
Now the walls are shaking from the tapping of feet
Daytime, night time, every day you can hear that music play
Every rhythm, every way
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Like much of the Lola album, this is about the music business. This seems to be about being a hungry young band looking for fame, and might be somewhat autobiographical for Ray Davies and the Kinks--the suits in the music biz don't like their style or treat them well ("you go to a publisher and play him your song, he says 'I hate your music and your hair is too long..."), but they're more than willing to exploit the artists ("...but I'll sign you up because I'd hate to be wrong!'").
According to Wikipedia, Denmark Street is a street in London with a big connection to pop music--many musicians, from the Beatles and Donovan to Jimi Hendrix, made their first recordings there, Bob Marley bought his first guitar there, and Elton John worked as a musician there. It is sometimes referred to as the "British Tin Pan Alley".
Denmark street was in London the same as Tin Pan Alley in NY, the street where the publishers was. In the 60's the music business didn't like pop bands lika Kinks - but they loved their money. Nuff said.
A brilliant song by a brilliant writer.