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 โ vocals, rhythm guitar (1963โ1996)
Dave Davies โ lead guitar, vocals (1963โ1996)
Pete Quaife โ bass guitar (1963โ1969)
John Dalton โ bass guitar (1969โ1976)
Andy Pyle โ bass guitar (1976โ1978)
Jim Rodford โ bass guitar (1978โ1996)
Mick Avory โ drums (1963โ1984)
Bob Henrit โ drums (1984โ1996)
John Gosling โ keyboards, piano (1970โ1978)
Gordon Edwards โ keyboards, piano (1978โ1979)
Ian Gibbons โ keyboards, piano (1979โ1989, 1993โ1996)
Mark Haley โ keyboards, piano (1989โ1993)
Autumn Almanac
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (come on home)
Hear it calling me (come on home)
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom (whoa!)
Yes, yes
, yes, it's my autumn almanac is a celebration of autumn and the singer's love for his hometown, his daily routine, and his community. The beginning of the song provides a vivid description of autumn, with dew still on the hedges and leaves changing colors. The singer takes part in this natural transformation, sweeping the musty-colored yellow leaves into his sack.
The second verse describes how people in the town come together on Friday evenings, seeking comfort from the cold weather. They enjoy tea and toasted, buttered currant buns, but still miss the sun from the summertime. The following lines reveal the singer's simple pleasures in life, such as enjoying football, eating roast beef on Sundays, and going to Blackpool for holidays. He loves his street, where he feels a sense of belonging and connection to his community.
Line by Line Meaning
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
The fall season is here as shown by the presence of dew and crawling caterpillars in the early morning.
When the dawn begins to crack
As the sun rises and light starts to peek out.
It's all part of my autumn almanac
All of these little signs remind me of the season, and feel familiar.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
The wind is starting to pick up and is causing the yellow leaves to rustle.
So I sweep them in my sack
Picking up these leaves is something people do to keep their surroundings clean.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
All of these fall elements together confirm the arrival of the fall season.
Friday evenings, people get together
As the colder days come in people start to socialize to escape the weather.
Hiding from the weather
The lack of warmth and sunshine makes people depend on each other to keep spirits up.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
These festive foods are a traditional snack taken during fall gatherings.
Can't compensate for lack of sun
As the sun sets earlier and the days get shorter, the dark and cold become overwhelming, and a warm refreshment may not be enough to cure that.
Because the summer's all gone
The theme of the song is the transition from summer to fall.
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
A restatement of the theme.
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Autumn increases the pain in his back, maybe due to the tension of the season.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
The repetition of the title emphasizes the theme that's running through the song.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
A reference to a British sandy beach.
Sit in the open sunlight
Ruing the loss of consistent sunshine throughout the year.
This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it
He is content with his surroundings and doesn't want to change it.
If I live to be ninety-nine
He will stay in his neighborhood forever.
'Cause all the people I meet
His neighbors and other locals never leave either.
Seem to come from my street
Everyone around here feel familiar and close.
And I can't get away
No matter where he wanders, this place is always home.
Because it's calling me (come on home)
He feels an inexplicable attraction to this small corner of the world.
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
A reference to an alcoholic beverage.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
The repeating of the refrain is reassuring of the feelings of comfort and belonging which come with the season.
Bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom-bop-bop-boom (whoa!)
A random, celebratory interjection.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maysoun A.
Lyrics :
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack, it's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow
So I sweep them in my sack, yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather, tea and toasted
Buttered currant buns, can't compensate
For lack of sun because the summer's all gone
La la la la, oh my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street and I'm never gonna to leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here if I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet, seem to come from my street
And I can't get away because it's calling me, come on home
Hear it calling me, come on home
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa
Dennis Wood
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone
La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (Come on home)
Hear it calling me (Come on home)
La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Source:ย Musixmatch
Patrick Stocks
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar ๐
When the Dawn begins to crack
Itโs all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes ๐ itโs my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea & toasted, buttered currant buns
Canโt compensate for lack of sun ๐
Because the summers all gone
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes ๐ itโs my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes ๐ itโs my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street and Iโm never gonna leave it
And Iโm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be 99
โCause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I canโt get away ๐โโ๏ธ
Because itโs calling me (come on home ๐ก)
La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes ๐ itโs my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes ๐
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Voodu Huber
0:01 From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone
La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street and I'm never gonna leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me (Come on home)
Hear it calling me (Come on home)
La-la-la la la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la la-la la-la la-la la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa! (Yes)
Bop-bop-bop-bop-bop, whoa!
Songwriter: Ray Davies
ScoriacTears
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar,
When the dawn begins to crack.
It's all part of my autumn almanac.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow,
So I sweep them in my sack.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
Friday evenings, people get together,
Hiding from the weather.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun,
Because the summer's all gone.
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
I like my football on a Saturday,
Roast beef on Sundays, all right.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays,
Sit in the open sunlight.
This is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it,
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine,
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away,
Because it's calling me, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
Laa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Andrew Johnstone
The influence of Victorian and Edwardian music hall on the 60s is unfathomable
In the hands of The Kinks they turn melancholy into beauty
Genius and pathos of the most delicate of touches โคโคโค
Jam
The most British record ever produced. The kinks are a British Institution and I will forever love and cherish them. There will never be another Ray Davies.
This band told my life story through song years before my birth!
Billy the dog -
This is one of the most sophisticated pop songs l know. Most charting songs have just 3 or 4 chords whilst this has over 20. It goes through a number of interesting changes and, though it seems to return back to its starting point, in fact it finishes in a different key. Overall, l think it's a masterpiece, as are many of Ray Davies songs of this era.
Thomas McGorry
It is so joyous, a never-ending tapestry of brilliance. I love the ending.
fractuss
Astute observation.
bangers n mash
I'm learning this now, a great song to learn. I love it
total stranger
Both the Davies brothers are life-long Arsenal Football Club fans. I've recently listened to the newest Arsenal anthem, @GunnersDaily, which had been extracted from Louis Dunford's "The Angel" (link with lyrics) https://youtu.be/wjCJv4W4kvw.
Can you imagine if the choral parts of "Autumn Almanac" became Arsenal's anthem, instead? Can you imagine different tiers of the crowd singing different parts - just like the record - and ending with that final, affirmative, ascending "Yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, yes!, YES!" - in unison? I can.
Both Ray and Dave were born about 3ยฝ miles from the original Arsenal stadium at Highbury, and their father, Fred, took them to matches "on a Saturday".
John P
i dont think Ray even realised what he had at his fingertips , you could write a thesis based on this one song , the song structure and the cultural relevance
Marvin B Naylor
It's so brilliant, only Ray Davies could have written it and only The Kinks could have recorded it.
Dylan Jan Pierre
Que genio R. Davis para componer una canciรณn tan compleja, completa y con acordes y cambios tan geniales
Para mi the kinks es de las mejores bandas de inglaterra y del rock
De los 60s