Dead End Street
Ray Davies Lyrics


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There's a crack up in the ceiling
And the kitchen the
Other work ain't got no money
I song to join the bread and honey.

What are we livin' for?
Two room department on the second floor
No money coming in, and red collectors are try to get in.

We are straight the second class
And the door on the stairs (dead end)
Why we should be on dead end street
(Dead end) people are living on dead end street
(Dead end)don't wanna die on dead end street
Dead end street, dead end street
Dead end street, head to my feet.

All my frost morning
Wipe my eyes and stop me onion
And my feet are nearly frozen
And put some toast on.

What are we livin' for?
Two room department on the second floor
No chance to emigrate
And different..now it's much too late.

We both want to work so hard but we can't
Can't be changed.

(Dead end) people are living on dead end street
(Dead end)don't wanna die on dead end street
Dead end, people are dyin on dead end street
Dead end, I'm gonna die on dead end street
Dead end street, dead end street
Dead end street head to my feet.

Uh uh

We are second and we're on the

(Dead end) people are living on dead end street
(Dead end)don't wanna die on dead end street
Dead end, people are dyin on dead end street
Dead end, I'm gonna die on dead end street
Dead end street, dead end street
Dead end street head to my feet.

Dead end street, dead end street
Dead end street, dead end street
How do you feel?
I feel okay
Are you sure?
Absolutely.
Where do you live?
Nice working with you
The pleasure is all mine.
Tschus!
No problem.





Dead end street, dead end street
Dead end street head to my feet.

Overall Meaning

“Dead End Street” by Ray Davies is a song that paints a picture of poverty and hopelessness experienced by the working class living in a run-down area of the city. The lyrics describe a small two-room apartment on the second floor, with no money coming in, and the constant threat of debt collectors knocking on the door. The ceiling has a crack, the kitchen is in need of repair, and the singer can barely afford bread and honey. The repeated line “What are we living for?” highlights the desperation and hopelessness felt by those living in poverty. The song presents a bleak image of the struggles and stress that people living in poverty endure, and the feeling of being trapped in their circumstances.


As the song progresses, the singer laments the lack of opportunity for him and his partner, they both want to work hard but can’t seem to get ahead. The repeated use of the term “dead end street” emphasizes the hopelessness of their situation. The song is a call to recognize the pain and suffering of those living in poverty, and encourages the listener to empathize with their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a crack up in the ceiling
The singer notices a split on the roof of their house


And the kitchen the
Additionally, the kitchen is in poor condition


Other work ain't got no money
The singer is currently unemployed


I song to join the bread and honey.
The artist sings in order to lift their spirits and hope for a better future


What are we livin' for?
The artist questions the purpose of their life


Two room department on the second floor
The singer lives in a small two-room apartment on the upper floors


No money coming in, and red collectors are try to get in.
The singer has no income and is being harassed by creditors to repay outstanding debts


We are straight the second class
The artist and their family belong to the lower socioeconomic class


And the door on the stairs (dead end)
The stairway leading to their apartment lacks an exit and functions as a dead end


Why we should be on dead end street
The artist ponder why their family should be living on a dead-end street


(Dead end) people are living on dead end street
The singer observes other people living similarly hopeless lives on the same street


(Dead end)don't wanna die on dead end street
The artist wishes to avoid dying on the same poverty-stricken street


Dead end street, dead end street
The singer repeats the phrase 'dead end street' to emphasize the song's title


All my frost morning
The singer describes a cold winter morning


Wipe my eyes and stop me onion
The singer wipes away tears brought on by the cold


And my feet are nearly frozen
The artist's feet are numb from the cold


And put some toast on.
The artist makes a piece of toast for breakfast in spite of their financial troubles


No chance to emigrate
The singer has no hope of moving to a different country for better opportunities


And different..now it's much too late.
The singer reflects on missed opportunities in their past


We both want to work so hard but we can't
Both the artist and their partner desire to work hard but are unable to do so


(Dead end, people are dyin on dead end street
The artist observes people on their street who are impoverished to the point of death


Dead end, I'm gonna die on dead end street
The artist expresses fear and hopelessness in the face of poverty


How do you feel?
Another person asks how the singer is feeling


I feel okay
The artist replies that they are doing alright, despite their troubles




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

nogrouchy

A great version of a fantastic Kinks' song. The lyrics are now as appropriate as they were then. Really good job!

z Heading

It was wise of Ray to bring in other voices choirs etc, to show that his music is a tool for others long into the future...it doesn;'t take away from the Kinks versions at all, it only takes it all farther since we love it all

Bieke Everaert

Very nice... Love the song. Ray Davies is a singer as well. Amy make this song GREAT!!! WOW, I like this song... just download it and I have it! :D

Eliut Mora

OMG is amazing this woman!

Chris B

Love This Amy Cheers

Amy Macdonald Italia

Good ;) I'm happy that fans like this :P

Christian Sibbald

Great to meet Amy Macdonald, cause she is a very nice person Love Christian Sibbald The Saint of Sheryl Crow and The Rolling Stones 18-8-2018

Bieke Everaert

It's Amy, I mean, you can't dislike this...

Christian Sibbald

Glasgow is the answer of Amy Macdonald and I remember this from years ago because I know Ray Davies at the time in 1965 imagine this who the Saint is 12-8-2018

Bieke Everaert

Nice working with him...... ('Amy, well done' I want to say)

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