Formed in 1963 in Muswell Hill, North London, they first gained prominence on the heels of the well-received and highly influential single "You Really Got Me" (1964). The group originally consisted of lead singer/guitarist Ray Davies, his brother lead guitarist Dave Davies, drummer Mick Avory, and bassist Pete Quaife. Quaife left (twice) in the late 1960s, and Avory finally left in 1984 as the result of a long-running dispute with Dave Davies, leaving only the Davies brothers as the core of the original group.
With Ray Davies' songwriting skills and unabashedly English voices, Dave Davies' impressive guitar work, and Avory's tight and steady drumming, the band became one of the best and most influential groups of British pop and the "British Invasion" of the U.S.A., lasting longer than any of their competitors, apart from the Rolling Stones, as they broke up in 1996. Their catalogue of songs has been covered by Van Halen, The Pretenders, The Black Keys, The Stranglers, Queens of the Stone Age , and many more.
Members:
Ray Davies – vocals, rhythm guitar (1963–1996)
Dave Davies – lead guitar, vocals (1963–1996)
Pete Quaife – bass guitar (1963–1969)
John Dalton – bass guitar (1969–1976)
Andy Pyle – bass guitar (1976–1978)
Jim Rodford – bass guitar (1978–1996)
Mick Avory – drums (1963–1984)
Bob Henrit – drums (1984–1996)
John Gosling – keyboards, piano (1970–1978)
Gordon Edwards – keyboards, piano (1978–1979)
Ian Gibbons – keyboards, piano (1979–1989, 1993–1996)
Mark Haley – keyboards, piano (1989–1993)
A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello people we used to be
Isn't it strange, we never changed
We've been through it all, yet we're still the same
And I know, it's a miracle we still go
For all we know, we might still have a way to go
You say you want out, want to start anew
Throw in your hand, break up the band
Start a new life, be a new man
But for all we know, we might still have a way to go
Before you go, there's something you ought to know
There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down he puts some rock 'n' roll on
And it makes him feel alright
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
Look at me, look at you
You say we've got nothing left to prove
The King is dead, rock is done
You might be through, but I've just begun
I don't know, I feel free and I won't let go
Before you go, there's something you ought to know
Dan is a fan and he lives for our music
It's the only thing that gets him by
He's watched us grow and he's seen all our shows
He's seen us low and he's seen us high
Oh, but you and me keep thinking
That the world's just passing us by
Don't want to spend my life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
Don't want to spend my life living on the edge of reality
Don't want to waste my life hiding away any more
Don't want to spend my life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
The Kinks's song "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" provides a compelling commentary on the nature of fame and the ever-changing nature of the music industry. The song opens with the singer greeting his former bandmates and reflecting on the fact that despite their many trials and tribulations, they have remained the same people. It is a "miracle" that they are still together, still making music, despite the often-tumultuous existence of a rock and roll band.
However, the singer's former bandmates seem to be questioning their continued involvement in the music industry. They express a desire to "start anew" and break up the band, citing a need to "be a new man" and move on with their lives. The singer acknowledges that they might have a ways to go, but also implores them not to forget the effect their music has on people.
As an example, the song introduces a character named Dan, who is a die-hard fan of the band. His love of rock and roll is so intense that he "lives for our music" and uses it as a means of escaping the trials of everyday life. The singer seems to suggest that he does not want to give up on this sense of community and purpose that comes from being a rock and roll musician, even as he acknowledges the limitations of that lifestyle.
The song is a powerful rumination on the nature of fame and the music industry, showcasing the varied emotions that come with being a rock and roll musician. It is a poignant reminder that even when things get tough, the power of music can transcend difficult times and bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello you, hello me
Greeting to oneself and others who are a part of this rock 'n' roll journey
Hello people we used to be
Hello to the ones we've previously been and the moments we've shared throughout our rock history
Isn't it strange, we never changed
Despite all the shifting scenes and environments that we've encountered, we always remained true to ourselves
We've been through it all, yet we're still the same
Throughout all the struggles and obstacles, we've managed to hold onto our authentic rock 'n' roll selves
And I know, it's a miracle we still go
It's surprising that we're still able to stay committed to our music amidst all the challenges
For all we know, we might still have a way to go
There may still be more to come on this rock journey
You say you want out, want to start anew
You desire to leave the band and begin a new life adventure
Throw in your hand, break up the band
You want to give up on the band and dissolve everything you've built together
Start a new life, be a new man
You hope to discover a new identity for yourself and move on from the rock 'n' roll lifestyle
There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock
There's a rock fan in my neighborhood who is deeply invested in our music
He plays records day and night
He constantly listens to and enjoys our music
And when he feels down he puts some rock 'n' roll on
He turns to our music to lift his spirits when he's feeling low
And it makes him feel alright
Our music has the power to comfort and heal
And when he feels the world is closing in
When he's overwhelmed by the difficulties in life
He turns his stereo way up high
He cranks up the volume of our music to block out the noise and find solace
He just spends his life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
This fan's life revolves around the world of rock, and he's content to live it out in his own imagination
He just spends his life living on the edge of reality
This fan's rock 'n' roll lifestyle keeps him on the fringe of the real world
Look at me, look at you
Reflecting on themselves and each other
You say we've got nothing left to prove
You feel that you've accomplished all that you set out to do
The King is dead, rock is done
Rock 'n' roll is no longer significant or relevant, as if Elvis has left the building
You might be through, but I've just begun
You may have moved on from the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, but I'm still excited to keep going on this journey
I don't know, I feel free and I won't let go
Despite the perceived end of rock 'n' roll, there's a sense of liberation and a determination to keep going
Dan is a fan and he lives for our music
Dan is another passionate fan who finds his purpose and meaning in our music
It's the only thing that gets him by
Our music is the main source of comfort and escape for Dan
He's watched us grow and he's seen all our shows
Dan has been a dedicated follower of our band's journey and has seen us perform many times
He's seen us low and he's seen us high
Dan has witnessed our band's highs and lows, yet remains a committed fan
Oh, but you and me keep thinking
Despite the many struggles, both personal and professional, there is still hope to continue
That the world's just passing us by
The world may be moving on from rock 'n' roll, but we are still determined to keep our passion alive
Don't want to spend my life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
There's a desire to keep the passion alive, but not at the cost of being out of touch with reality
Don't want to spend my life living on the edge of reality
There's a desire to stay grounded in the real world while still pursuing one's rock 'n' roll dreams
Don't want to waste my life hiding away any more
There's a desire to live life openly and authentically, without hiding behind a rock 'n' roll persona
Don't want to spend my life living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
Reiterating the desire to stay true to oneself and avoid being lost in a world of imagination
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RAY DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johndennis6449
"There's a guy on my block, he lives for rock
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down, he puts some rock 'n' roll on
And it makes him feel all right
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high
He just spends his life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living on the edge of reality"
I am that guy on his block. This is such an anthem for all us music-obsessed oddballs, is it not?
@mikeferguson5935
This is in my humble opinion, the greatest song in rock history.
@davidbaldwin2750
how can this song only have 5 comments??... i know why because everyone knows Lola and not much else. The Kinks are so friggin great and diverse...listen to Muswell Hillbilies you want to hear diverse songs...love that album.
@lannydante9390
GSTK- 700 songs in their catalog- 100’s just as good as their hits!!!!
@kimmorris3966
one of my all time favorite classic rock songs by any band
@lannydante9390
David I had 2 cassette tapes on 1971-72 RAM by Wings and MUSWELL HILLBILLIES by the kinks aboard a U.S, aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam- my job was clerical and I was able to listen to these 2 tapes via a headset back to back 10 hours a day out at sea to pass the time - no one has listened to these albums more than me.
@tonylombardi4661
I saw The Kinks three different tours starting in June 1978. Today I searched for a Kinks setlist, and this song was included. I still have the original "Misfits" LP released May 1978. I forgot about this song. It is so great, as if I discovered a treasure.
Damn, this band was terrific.
@jerryhannon4181
I remember when this song first came out. My brother was Dan and I was in a rock n roll band. We first heard it on the home from work and fell in love
with it.
@Gamble661
Rock & Roll classic.
@mdeluco4675
This song is magic.
@ds440RB
What a great song, Ray really wrote this one from his heart, and they continued for almost another 20 years after this came out. A lot of us have been Dan in parts of our lives and bands like the Kinks were there to keep us going, I'll always be grateful for that. This song means even more now than it did then with all of the bands and musicians that have sold out and are just cashing in, especially someone like Springsteen, but Ray and Dave never sold out, they just couldn't get along. I sure wish they could one last time though, I'm sure they'd sound just as good.