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)
Close To The Wire
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got missionary ways
Could start in the jungle
Feel this way
Search for an answer
Over land and over sea
All the mountains
Of promised opportunities
I cried out but you were lost
In a corporate position
So money's the solution
Curing all that ails the nation
But what about the hearts of man
The spiritual needs
I'm staring at the starlight
And I just can't quite believe
That I'm
Lost in the fire
So close to the wire
Got to survive
So close to the wire
The soul needs attention
Like the body needs to breath
But banks want investment
So who are we
Cultures are dying
But gold reserves are safe
Can't live in this jungle
But can't escape
Whatever happened
To the dreams we shared together
A taste of wine
A moonlight song that lasts forever
Lost in the fire
So close to the wire
Got to survive
So close to the wire
Feel the expectation
Written in the ways
Each move of a man give away
You look good to me
Sat in your ministry position
An image for the masses
Making serious decisions
Talk about, sham about
For all the world to see
Your rhetoric's a quiz game
And a mystery to me
Lost in the fire
So close to the wire
Got to survive
So close to the wire
So close to the wire
The Kinks's song Close To The Wire is about the singer's reaction to the world's greedy and selfish nature. He describes a journey filled with hope that takes him to different parts of the world, searching for answers and opportunities. He encounters the negative effects of capitalism, as people prioritize money over human needs. The soul, like the body, needs attention, but money is seen as the solution to all of society's problems. Despite the singer's disappointment in the way the world works, he still tries to hold on to hope.
The chorus, "Lost in the fire, so close to the wire, got to survive, so close to the wire" suggests that the singer is barely clinging to life, struggling to survive in a world where commercialism reigns supreme. The phrase "close to the wire" means being in a vulnerable position, on the verge of disaster. In this song, the wire represents the boundary between hope and despair, between survival and collapse.
Line by Line Meaning
A hopeful adventure
Starting a new journey with positive expectations
Got missionary ways
Having a strong desire to spread certain beliefs or values
Could start in the jungle
The adventure could begin in an unknown, challenging place
Feel this way
Feeling optimistic about the possibilities ahead
Search for an answer
Looking for a solution or resolution
Over land and over sea
Exploring every possible location or option
All the mountains
All the obstacles or challenges that lie ahead
Of promised opportunities
That promise great possibilities or rewards
I cried out but you were lost
Asking for help, but receiving no response
In a corporate position
Being too focused on money and power, rather than helping others
So money's the solution
Believing that money can solve all problems
Curing all that ails the nation
Fixing all the problems that affect society
But what about the hearts of man
What about the emotional and spiritual needs of people?
The spiritual needs
The need for inner peace, purpose, and fulfillment
I'm staring at the starlight
Contemplating the universe and life's mysteries
And I just can't quite believe
Feeling uncertain or doubtful about what's happening
Lost in the fire
Being overwhelmed and struggling to find a way out
So close to the wire
Being at the edge of danger or failure
Got to survive
Needing to keep going, persist and overcome obstacles
The soul needs attention
The emotional and spiritual self requires care and nurturing
Like the body needs to breathe
To survive, both the physical and emotional self require care and attention
But banks want investment
Financial institutions prioritize money over human needs
So who are we
Questioning our identity and values in a world that prioritizes money
Cultures are dying
The richness and diversity of cultures are being lost
But gold reserves are safe
While human needs are neglected, material possessions remain protected
Can't live in this jungle
Unable to cope with the harsh reality and unfairness of the world
But can't escape
Stuck in a system that values profit over people
Whatever happened
Questioning what went wrong and why things are the way they are
To the dreams we shared together
Wondering what happened to our collective hopes and aspirations
A taste of wine
A fleeting moment of joy or pleasure
A moonlight song that lasts forever
A beautiful memory or experience that lingers on
Feel the expectation
Feeling pressure or anticipation of what's to come
Written in the ways
Reflected in how people act or behave
Each move of a man give away
Each action taken by a person reveals their true intentions or motives
You look good to me
Appearing favorable or impressive to others
Sat in your ministry position
Being in a position of authority or leadership
An image for the masses
Being perceived positively by the general public
Making serious decisions
Having the power to make important choices and impact people's lives
Talk about, sham about
Talking a lot, but not really doing anything of substance
For all the world to see
For everyone to witness and judge
Your rhetoric's a quiz game
Words used deliberately to confuse or deceive people
And a mystery to me
Being unsure or baffled about what's really going on
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID RUSSEL GORDON DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chedgey
on Do It Again
Great song but also a memorable music video. Why is it unavailable?