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)
Dancing In the Street
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They'll be dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
In New York City
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be records playing
Dancin', swayin'
Dancing in the street
Well, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, D.C. now
Can't forget the motor city
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be dancin', swayin'
Records playing
Dancing in the street
Well now, doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So every guy grab a girl
Every night around the world
There'll be dancing in the street
This is the invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin'
And music swingin'
Dancing in the street
The Kinks's song, "Dancing in the Street," is a call to people around the world to come together and dance. The song highlights the summer season as a time for celebration, and emphasizes the importance of music in bringing people together. The lyrics reference various cities in the United States, including Chicago, New Orleans, and New York City, suggesting that the intended audience is Americans. However, the song also mentions Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Detroit, indicating that it is meant to be inclusive of all people, regardless of where they live.
The song's message is one of unity and brotherhood, as it encourages people to put aside their differences and come together through music and dance. The lyrics suggest that dancing is a way to break down barriers and connect with one another on a deeper level. The repeated refrain, "There'll be dancing in the street," reinforces the idea that this is a universal call to come together in celebration, and suggests that the act of dancing is a powerful manifestation of human connection.
Overall, "Dancing in the Street" is a joyful, upbeat song that celebrates the power of music and dance to bring people from all walks of life together in a shared experience of joy and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Calling out around the world
Announcing to everyone worldwide
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Are you prepared for a new style of music?
Summer's here and the time is right
It's summertime, and it's the appropriate time
For dancing in the street
To dance outdoors in public
They'll be dancing in Chicago
Chicago will have dancers
Down in New Orleans
New Orleans will have dancers too
In New York City
New York City will also have dancers
All we need is music, sweet music
All that is required is enjoyable music
There'll be music everywhere
Music will be played in every place
There'll be records playing
Vinyl records will be played as well
Dancin', swayin'
People will be dancing and moving
Dancing in the street
Outdoor dancing and merry-making
Well, doesn't matter what you wear
It's not significant what clothes you wear
Just as long as you are there
As long as you attend the event
So every guy grab a girl
Every man should take a lady as his dance partner
Every night around the world
Every evening, in different parts of the world
This is an invitation across the nation
This is an open call to the entire nation
A chance for folks to meet
An opportunity for people to come together
There'll be laughin', singin'
People will be laughing and singing
And music swingin'
The music will be lively
Philadelphia, PA
People in Philadelphia will also partake
Baltimore, D.C. now
Also, Baltimore and Washington D.C.
Can't forget the motor city
We shouldn't overlook the motor city (Detroit)
All we need is music, sweet music
Pleasurable music is all we need
There'll be music everywhere
Music will be heard in every place
There'll be dancin', swayin'
People will continue to dance and move
Records playing
Music being played from vinyl records
Dancing in the street
Outdoor dancing and celebrating
Well now, doesn't matter what you wear
What you wear is irrelevant
Just as long as you are there
Being present is all that matters
So every guy grab a girl
Every man should take a lady as his dance partner
Every night around the world
Every evening, in different parts of the world
This is the invitation across the nation
This is the open call to everyone throughout the land
A chance for folks to meet
An opportunity for people to connect
There'll be laughin', singin'
People will laugh and sing
And music swingin'
The music will be energetic
Dancing in the street
Outdoor dancing and partying
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, Ivy Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Angel Torres
Way ahead of its time, this sounds more like modern music than 60's music. Up The Kinks!
Genez
You should hear this on a great stereo system! I had this record and listened to it with tubes. jaw dropping good!
SOS Racismo Araba
Primer ep. de cuatro temas, adquirido en Castelltersol, Barcelona en 1967. Aún está en uso. Un vinilo excepcional. Este tema, una versión muy elegante por parte de los KINKS, está grabado en el subsconsciente más profundo de una generación, que apreciaba lo excepcional en una época oscura y casi ajena a una música, que aún hoy, 2016, sigue siendo casi eterna. FEDE
MeloLand
Me encanta esta versión.
Ben Williams
I used to play guitar in a group in the late 1960’s. I had this LP (still have), and we used to play it like this. Always went down well with the kids. The Who used a much slower version.
Michael Platter
Another nice tune from the boys from Muswell Hill
nogrouchy
I like this version, not to say I even love this slightly sloppy edgy style.
Glenn Scannell
nogrouchy edgy is good☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
tosleepanddream
Play this at a slightly faster speed, it sounds much better that way. I tried 1.15 speed.
Rob F
It sounds like they were being forced at gunpoint to record this.