Expectations
Ray Davies Lyrics


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Now all the lies are beginning to show
And you're not the country that I used to know
I loved you once from my head to my toe
But now my belief is shaken

And all your ways are so untrue
No one breaks promises the way that you do
You guided me, I trusted you
But now my illusion's shaken

Thought this empire would be here
At least a thousand years
But all the expectations and aspirations
Slowly disappear

Now all the lies have gone on too long
And a million apologies can't right the wrong
Soldiers die but the lies go on
But soon we will awaken

In our expectations for the future
We were not to know
We had expectations, now we've reached
As far as we can go

And all your manners are too, too polite
Just to prove that you're conscious is white and bright
You had your day so get ready for the night
For another dawn is breaking





We had expectations, now we've reached
As far as we can go

Overall Meaning

In Ray Davies's song "Expectations", the singer expresses his disillusionment and disappointment with the country he once loved. He sings about how the lies and false promises of those in power have eroded his trust and belief in the country's institutions. The singer acknowledges that he once had high expectations and aspirations for the country, but now he has reached the limit of what he can hope for. The chorus repeats the phrase "we had expectations, now we've reached as far as we can go", emphasizing the sense of finality and resignation in the song.


The lyrics also touch on themes of empire, war, and the passing of time. The singer laments that he once thought the empire would last for a thousand years, but now he realizes that it was built on a foundation of lies that cannot stand the test of time. He acknowledges the sacrifices made by soldiers who died in service to the country, but he also recognizes that the lies that led to their deaths continue to be perpetuated.


Line by Line Meaning

Now all the lies are beginning to show
The falsehoods have been exposed and the truth is becoming evident


And you're not the country that I used to know
The country has changed so drastically that it's unrecognizable to the singer


I loved you once from my head to my toe
The singer felt a deep love and strong connection to the country in the past


But now my belief is shaken
The singer's faith in the country has been severely tested and is now wavering


And all your ways are so untrue
The current state of the country is disappointing and full of deceptions


No one breaks promises the way that you do
The country is notorious for breaking promises


You guided me, I trusted you
The country was once a source of guidance and trust for the singer


But now my illusion's shaken
The singer's idealized vision of the country has been destroyed


Thought this empire would be here
The singer had hoped the country would last for a long time


At least a thousand years
The singer believed the country would endure for centuries


But all the expectations and aspirations
The singer's hopes and dreams for the country have been dashed


Slowly disappear
The disappearance of the country's potential is a gradual process


Now all the lies have gone on too long
The deceptions have continued for too much time


And a million apologies can't right the wrong
The apologies for the country's misdeeds are not adequate to repair the damage done


Soldiers die but the lies go on
The country's lies persist even when people sacrifice their lives for it


But soon we will awaken
The singer has hope that people will become aware of the truth and stand up against the lies


In our expectations for the future
The singer had idealistic dreams for the country's future


We were not to know
The reality of the country's fate was unknown to the singer


We had expectations, now we've reached
The singer had ambitions for the country, but they've been fully realized


As far as we can go
The country has reached its limits and can go no further


And all your manners are too, too polite
The singer sees the country's polite behavior as a facade for its true nature


Just to prove that you're conscious is white and bright
The country strives to show a positive image of itself for approval


You had your day so get ready for the night
The country had its moment in the sun, but now it's time for a change


For another dawn is breaking
The singer is optimistic for a new beginning and a new day




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

joseph lemko

Ray Davies is my favorite songwriter. The range of topics he has covered over the years is amazing.

iconoclast111111111

Now all the lies are beginning to show,
And you're not the country that I used to know.
I loved you once from my head to my toe,
But now my belief is shaken.

And all your ways are so untrue,
No one breaks promises the way that you do.
You guided me, I trusted you,
But now my illusion's shaken.

Thought this empire would be here
At least a thousand years.
But all the expectations and aspirations,
Slowly disappear.

Now all the lies have gone on too long,
And a million apologies can't right the wrong.
Soldiers die but the lies go on,
But soon we will awaken.

In our expectations for the future,
We were not to know.
We had expectations, now we've reached
As far as we can go.

And all your manners are too, too polite,
Just to prove that your conscious is white and bright.
You had your day so get ready for the night,
For another dawn is breaking.

We had expectations, now we've reached
As far as we can go.

chris robison

I everything about Ray and his music!

David T.

Yet another RD song years ahead of its time. Written during the Thatcher years , probably even more appropriate under Blair and Brown , Even now all the lies are beginning to show and we're not the country that we used to know..

Hathaway Alfred

It makes me think of nowadays Spain.

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