1. A rock musician fr… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists which use this name
1. A rock musician from England
2. A trumpet player
1. Sir Ray Davies (born June 21, 1944 at Fortis Green, London, full name Raymond Douglas Davies) is an influential English rock musician, best known as lead singer-songwriter for The Kinks - one of the most influential, prolific and long-lived British Invasion bands - which he led with his younger brother, Dave Davies. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theater and television.
In 1985, he released his first solo album Return to Waterloo, which accompanied a television film he wrote and directed. Since the demise of The Kinks in the mid-90s Ray Davies has embarked on a critically successful solo career. In 1998, he released The Storyteller. His 2006 release Other People's Lives was his first top 30 hit in the UK since 1980s, when he worked with The Kinks. He released his fourth solo release Working Man's Café in 2007. Ten years later in 2017, he was knighted for services to the arts. In the same year, he released his next solo album Americana, which peaked at No. 15 in the UK. Its sequel, Our Country: Americana Act 2, was released in 2018.
2. Ray Davies is a trumpeter and film composer.
Victoria
Ray Davies Lyrics
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Sex was bad and obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
I was born, lucky me
Though I am poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let her sun never set
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, toria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Ray Davies's song Victoria is a celebration of the British Empire and its queen, Victoria. The lyrics evoke a bygone era of English society, when life was "clean" but sex was "obscene," and the rich were "mean." The song paints a picture of stately homes for the Lords, croquet lawns, and village greens, all of which were symbols of the privileged lifestyle enjoyed by the upper classes at the time. Victoria herself is presented as a figurehead, a queen who presided over a vast empire that spanned the globe, from Canada to India, Australia to Cornwall, and Singapore to Hong Kong.
But beneath the song's celebratory tone, there is a sense of ambivalence. The singer of the song is "lucky," but he is also "poor." He loves his land but acknowledges that he may have to fight and die for it. Victoria is portrayed as a unifying force, loved by people from all walks of life, but her reign was also marked by social and political upheaval. The song is a complex mix of nostalgia, patriotism, and critique, reflecting the contradictions and complexities of British history.
Overall, Victoria is a powerful tribute to a queen and an empire that once held the world in its grip. But it is also a reflection on the darker aspects of that history, and a call to remember the struggles and triumphs of the people who lived through it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago life was clean
Time has passed and things were simpler back then
Sex was bad and obscene
Sexuality was taboo and considered inappropriate
And the rich were so mean
Wealthy people were unkind and snobbish towards others
Stately homes for the Lords
Important people lived in grand houses
Croquet lawns, village greens
Leisurely activities such as croquet were commonplace in small towns
Victoria was my queen
Queen Victoria was a significant figure and a symbol of the country
I was born, lucky me
I feel fortunate to have been born in this country
In a land that I love
I have a deep affection for this country
Though I am poor, I am free
Despite not being wealthy, I am proud to be free in this nation
When I grow I shall fight
When I am able, I will defend this nation
For this land I shall die
I am willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for my country
Let her sun never set
May this empire always be prosperous and dominant, no matter where the sun shines
Land of hope and gloria
This country represents hope and glory
Land of my Victoria
This country is so closely associated with Queen Victoria that it feels like her possession
Canada to India
This empire stretches from Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
This empire spans from Australia to Cornwall, UK
Singapore to Hong Kong
This empire extends to Singapore and Hong Kong, important trading ports
From the West to the East
This empire has influence from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere
From the rich to the poor
Regardless of social status or wealth, all people are embraced by this country's spirit
Victoria loved them all
Queen Victoria cared for and had empathy for all her people
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurie JH
this is such a great, joyous version of this song. Wow.
Life’s Too Short
You can see that this song means so much to the band and being on stage with Ray means the world to them.
Life’s Too Short
His voice is better now than in the 60s
Birgitta Sjödahl
Gustaf Noren is so incredibly compassionate. You can se he loves to sing with Ray Davis
Birgitta Sjödahl
Happy music
curiosity121
Brill! Love Mando Diao! And singing Ray... WOW! THX
Birgitta Sjödahl
Inta konstigt att man blandar ihop namnen på Björn och Gustaf, när Gustaf ropat Björn hela tiden.
Mark Morris
Ray Davies is the musician's musician............................enough said
Birgitta Sjödahl
So is even Gustaf Noren!
marushkaSR
Awesome!!