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)
Arthur
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a plain simple working class position
Though the world was hard and its ways were set
He was young and he had so much ambition
All the way he was overtaken
By the people who make the big decisions
But he tried and he tried for a better life
And a way to improve his own condition
Things would be more equal and be plenty for everyone
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Don't you know it, don't you know it
You can cry, cry all night but it won't make it right
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur we know and we sympathize
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur we like you and want to help you
Somebody loves you don't you know it
How is your life and your Shangri-la
And your long lost land of Hallelujah
And your hope and glory has passed you by
Can't you see what the world is doing to ya
And now we see your children
Sailing off in the setting sun
To a new horizon
Where there's plenty for everyone
Arthur, could be
That the world was wrong
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur, could be
You were right all along
Don't ya know it, I hope ya know it
Now we know and we sympathize
We'd like to help you and understand you
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Somebody loves you, don't ya know it
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
You can cry, cry all night
But it won't make it right
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur we read you and understand you
Arthur we like
The Kinks' "Arthur" is a powerful song that tells the story of a man who starts off with great ambition but ends up being left behind by the world around him. The lyrics describe Arthur as a plain and simple man from a working-class background who had dreams of making it big. However, his efforts were thwarted by the people who make the big decisions, leaving him struggling to improve his life.
The lyrics also convey a sense of empathy and understanding for Arthur's situation. The singer acknowledges that he and others sympathize with Arthur and want to help him. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics suggest that maybe the world was wrong about Arthur, and that he was right all along. There is a hint of hope that Arthur can still succeed and find his place in the world.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the struggles faced by working-class people and the ways in which society can hold individuals back from reaching their full potential. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt like they were being left behind, and it encourages them to keep fighting for their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Arthur was born just a plain simple man
Arthur was born into a modest family
In a plain simple working class position
He had a working-class job
Though the world was hard and its ways were set
The world was tough and unforgiving
He was young and he had so much ambition
He was full of energy and had big dreams
All the way he was overtaken
He was constantly overshadowed
By the people who make the big decisions
By those in power
But he tried and he tried for a better life
He constantly worked hard to improve his situation
And a way to improve his own condition
He wanted to better himself
If only life were easy it would be such fun
Life is not easy
Things would be more equal and be plenty for everyone
Equality and opportunity for all are idealistic goals
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Arthur feels left behind by the world
Don't you know it, don't you know it
This is a sad truth
You can cry, cry all night but it won't make it right
Crying won't change the situation
Arthur we know and we sympathize
We understand Arthur's struggles
Arthur we like you and want to help you
We care for Arthur and want to lift him up
Somebody loves you don't you know it
Arthur is not alone
How is your life and your Shangri-la
How are you doing and is your life good?
And your long lost land of Hallelujah
Do you still yearn for your lost dreams?
And your hope and glory has passed you by
Your ambition has not come into fruition
Can't you see what the world is doing to ya
The harsh reality of the world has affected Arthur
And now we see your children
Arthur's legacy is continued through his children
Sailing off in the setting sun
His children are moving on to a new chapter in their lives
To a new horizon
A new future and opportunities await
Where there's plenty for everyone
There is enough for everyone to thrive
Arthur, could be
There's a possibility that
That the world was wrong
The world may have made a mistake
Arthur, could be
There's a chance that
You were right all along
Arthur's ideas and beliefs could have been correct
Now we know and we sympathize
We now understand Arthur better
We'd like to help you and understand you
We want to support and comprehend Arthur
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
We hope Arthur realizes this
Somebody loves you, don't ya know it
Arthur is cared for and appreciated
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Arthur feels left behind by the world
You can cry, cry all night
It's okay to express emotions
But it won't make it right
But it won't fix the problems
Arthur we read you and understand you
We comprehend Arthur's story
Arthur we like
We admire Arthur
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE FAULKNER, RODNEY RADALJ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GwynnOak1
Arthur and Village Green are the most under rated albums of the 60's! Mine been proudly played to death. God save the Kinks!
@paulocornejo3423
This is a great, great song! Thanks for all the music, Kinks :')
@user-ou4iq2to5k
how great song it is！❤
@user-ou4iq2to5k
how great song it is！
@garrettdavis6500
"JUDGE," ARTHUR F. ENGORON. ENJOY !!!!