The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night?
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright

But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine (Waterloo sunset's fine)

Terry meets Julie
Waterloo station
Every Friday night
But I am so lazy, don't want to wander
I stay at home at night

But I don't feel afraid
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine (Waterloo sunset's fine)

Millions of people swarming like flies 'round
Waterloo underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don't need no friends
As long as they gaze on
Waterloo Sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset's fine (Waterloo sunset's fine)
Waterloo sunset's fine


Lyrics submitted by butterfingersbeck, edited by arin3

"Waterloo Sunset" as written by Raymond Douglas Davies

Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Waterloo Sunset song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • +8
    General CommentTo me this song has always been bittersweet... something like a celebration of loneliness. Watching the world alone from his window, the narrator tries to convince himself that the beauty of the sunset is all he needs to be happy.
    almanacrdron August 01, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General CommentAmazing song, one of the greats. Ray (the greatest ever songwriter) wrote this in a hospital bed looking out of his window. Very English song.
    TheSulphurManon April 01, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General CommentThe best song ever written. Musically and lyrically. Just perfect from start to finish.
    LolaBaton October 19, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General CommentThis is a very nice song, with great atmosphere - of a foggy London town, which is always busy and may seem grey and very fast, where a young person may seem to get lost, but if u have1soul mate - and u are with him/her then every place every dark corner has it's special meaning to you.
    Tammion March 10, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General CommentThe song was actually written about Liverpool and was originally called 'Liverpool Sunset' because Ray Davies loved Livepool and wanted to do a Merseybeat song. He changed it because Penny Lane was released around the same time and it would have seemed like it was copying. There is of course a Waterloo in Liverpool.
    Elliebooon October 28, 2012   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • +2
    General CommentI read somewhere years ago that the line Terry meets Julie refers to the actors Terrance Stamp and Julie Christie. Excellent song
    essexlandyon August 17, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment[*]

    Dirty old river
    must you keep rolling
    flowing into the night?
    People so busy
    make me feel dizzy
    Taxi lights shine so bright

    But I don't
    need no friends.
    As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset
    I am paradise.

    Everyday I look at the world from my window
    but chilly, chilly is the evenin' time
    Waterloo sunset's fine
    (Waterloo sunset's fine..)

    Terry meets Julie
    Waterloo Station
    every Friday night
    but I am so lazy
    don't want to wander
    I stay at home at night

    But I don't feel afraid.
    As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
    I am in paradise.

    Everyday I look at the world from my window
    but chilly, chilly is the evenin' time
    Waterloo sunset's fine
    (Waterloo sunset's fine..)

    Millions of people
    swarming like flies 'round
    Waterloo Underground
    but Terry and Julie
    cross over the river
    where they feel safe and sound.

    And they don't
    need no friends
    As long as they gaze on
    Waterloo sunset
    they are in pardise

    Waterloo sunset's fine (x3)
    dy;sphoriaon May 26, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General CommentWaterloo Sunset is a great, great Kinks song, and one of the all-time masterpieces of music.
    Being lonely and sad and being conformed is the topic, I guess. ("And I don't need no friends. As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise").
    The narrator knows about Terry and Julie, which I think are people he doesn't know, but he wishes he did, because he's lonely.
    Well, there are many interpretations, of course, though.
    ligeirinhoon October 19, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment" dunno if hes talkin about a certain place"

    there's an underground (subway) station in London called Waterloo, right next to the Thames. Ray Davies grew up in London.........this song is said to be about his feelings for the place.

    The song can work with anywhere, it just sounds so familiar from the first time you hear it, i guess it just naturally conjures up images of wherever you call home.
    nomishoodon February 15, 2005   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General CommentNot nearly enough British songs written about British places. I'm British :)
    rustlerthehustleron September 04, 2005   Link

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