The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came … Read Full Bio ↴The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came out of the British R&B scene of the early 1960s. Formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies in 1964 and categorised in the United States as a "British Invasion" band, the Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock groups of the era. In 1990, their first year of eligibility, the original four members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Later, in November 2005, they were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Among numerous other honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music" in 2006. The Kinks reunited in June 2018, with the Davies brothers and drummer Mick Avory.

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)

Bald Headed Woman
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean

Well I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no sugar in my coffee

Gonna make me mean, oh, make me mean

Well I've been driving on bald headed mountain
I've done my time, done my time
I've been driving on a bald headed mountain
I've done my time, oh, done my time
Done my time, done my time, done my time

Well I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, oh, make me mean

I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean

Overall Meaning

The Kinks' "Bald Headed Woman" is a bluesy rock and roll tune that speaks of the singer's preference for a certain type of woman and a certain type of coffee. The repetitive nature of the song, with its four-line verses and constant refrain of "gonna make me mean," expresses a growing frustration with the things and people who bring the singer down.

The first verse expresses the singer's distaste for bald headed women, claiming that they make him mean or unpleasant. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for women who are too strong-willed or independent, causing the singer to feel insecure or emasculated. The second verse similarly speaks of the singer's dislike of sugar in his coffee, which could also symbolize an aversion to anything that is too sweet or easy – he wants things to be a little rough around the edges to keep him on his toes.

The third section of the song refers to the singer's experiences on a bald headed mountain, which could be a literal reference to a region with no trees or a metaphor for a difficult time in his life. The repetition of the phrase "done my time" suggests that whatever challenge he faced on this mountain was a trial that made him stronger. The song concludes with a final refrain of the singer's preference for women without bald heads and coffee without sugar.

Overall, "Bald Headed Woman" is a song about the singer's desire for things that are challenging and uncertain. He doesn't want a woman or a drink that will make things too easy for him, but instead seeks out experiences that will test him and make him stronger.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I don't want no bald headed woman
The singer does not desire a woman who is bald because it will lead to his meanness.

Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
The bald-headed woman's presence will cause the singer to feel hostile and resentful.

I don't want no sugar in my coffee
The singer prefers their coffee plain and dislikes any added sweetness.

Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
The addition of sugar to the artist's coffee would cause them to feel irritable and unpleasant.

I've been driving on bald headed mountain
The artist has been on a barren and rocky mountain with no vegetation.

I've done my time, done my time
The singer has spent a significant amount of time on the mountain and has endured hardship.

Done my time, done my time, done my time
The singer has completed their task or journey.

Gonna make me mean, oh, make me mean
The addition of sugar to the artist's coffee will undoubtedly cause him to become unpleasant and ill-tempered.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SHEL TALMY, TRADITIONAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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