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)
Do It Again
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wondering how to begin
Lost between tomorrow and yesterday
Between now and then
And now we're back where we started
Here we go round again
Day after day I get up and I say
Where are all the people going
Round and round till we reach the end
One day leading to another
Get up go out do it again
Then it's back where you started
Here we go round again
Back where you started
Come on do it again
And you think today is going to be better
Change the world and do it again
Give it all up and start all over
You say you will but you don't know when
Then it's back where you started
Here we go round again
Day after day I get up and I say
Come on better do it again
The days go by and you wish you were a different guy
Different friends and a new set of clothes
You make alterations and [a fact in you knows]
A new house a new car a new job a new nose
But it's superficial and it's only skin deep
Cause the voices in your head keep shouting in your sleep
Get back, get back
Back where you started, here we go round again
Back where you started, come on do it again
Back where you started, here we go round again
Day after day I get up and I say, do it agaiiinnn
Do it again
Day after day I get up and I say, do it again
The Kinks's song "Do It Again" is a representation of the vicious cycle of life, where one is lost between yesterday and tomorrow, between now and then, and always questioning life, and where all the people go round and round until they reach the end. The lyrics capture the feeling of being trapped in a maze-like life, where there is no end to the routine. The chorus "Here we go round again" encapsulates this feeling of being trapped in the same situation repeatedly.
The verses shift between the feeling of wanting to change, to start over, to make alterations, and to be a different version of oneself, but ultimately realizing that all these changes are only superficial and only skin deep. The voice in the singer's head is a personification of his self-doubt, which keeps shouting in his sleep, "Get back, get back". The song's core message is that the person should keep doing what he is doing, no matter how mundane or repetitive it is, and that change is only fleeting.
Overall, "Do it Again" is a poignant representation of the modern-day idea of being lost in life's routine, the mundane cycle of work, and the desire to escape it. The lyrics speak to anyone who's felt trapped in their lives' rigmaroles, unable to comprehend the purpose and the direction of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the middle of nowhere
Feeling lost and confused, unsure of where to go next.
Wondering how to begin
Feeling a sense of confusion and uncertainty, not knowing how to start over.
Lost between tomorrow and yesterday
Feeling stuck between the past and the future, unsure of how to move forward.
Between now and then
Caught in a state of indecision, unsure of which path to take.
And now we're back where we started
Despite all of our efforts to move forward, we end up back at square one.
Here we go round again
Continuously repeating the same patterns, without making any real progress.
Day after day I get up and I say
Expressing a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the monotony of life.
I better do it again
Despite feeling dissatisfied, there's no other choice but to continue repeating the same routines.
Where are all the people going
Questioning the purpose and direction of society as a whole.
Round and round till we reach the end
Feeling like life is just a continuous cycle, with no real purpose or end point.
One day leading to another
Feeling like each day is the same as the last, without any real progress being made.
Get up go out do it again
Despite the lack of progress, there's no other choice but to continue with the same routine.
And you think today is going to be better
Holding onto the hope that things will eventually improve.
Change the world and do it again
Feeling like we have the power to make meaningful change, but ultimately falling back into the same patterns.
Give it all up and start all over
Feeling like the only way to break free from the cycle is to start over completely.
You say you will but you don't know when
Expressing a sense of uncertainty and doubt about our ability to make real change.
The days go by and you wish you were a different guy
Feeling dissatisfied with our current situation, and wanting to be someone else entirely.
Different friends and a new set of clothes
Hoping that changing superficial things in our life will lead to deeper satisfaction.
You make alterations and [a fact in you knows]
Despite knowing deep down that changing superficial things won't bring true satisfaction, we continue to try anyway.
A new house a new car a new job a new nose
Believing that material possessions and external changes will lead to internal fulfillment.
But it's superficial and it's only skin deep
Realizing that deep satisfaction and happiness can't be found through superficial changes in our life.
Cause the voices in your head keep shouting in your sleep
Feeling like our own thoughts and doubts are constantly holding us back from real change.
Back where you started, here we go round again
Despite our efforts to change, we are stuck in the same cycle once again.
Day after day I get up and I say, do it agaiiinnn
Feeling a sense of frustration and hopelessness, but being unable to break free from the cycle.
Do it again
Continuously repeating the same patterns, even though we know it's not bringing true fulfillment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW HARR, JERMAINE JACKSON, ALEXANDER JOSEPH DELICATA, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, AMBER STREETER, MITCH COHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chedgey
Great song but also a memorable music video. Why is it unavailable?
Robert Tompkins
As you reach middle age you know the truism of these brillant lyrics that had little meaning for me when it came out. The Kinks-probably the most underrated band in history.
Greg Felice
agree
Lee Brandzel
Agree
Mike Kane
I've always thought the Kinks were legendary. But over time they don't play their music as much. I think they are true rock n roll 🤩 stars
Jim Ott
Agreed. Ray could write ✍.
Bands don't rock like this nowadays. The roots of rock have been pulled up and dried out!
Mike Kane
@Jim Ott rock never dies
Kenny Rudolph
Absolutely brilliant! Ray Davies is a musical genius !
peterson lafollette
Is the video concept Davies (?) he portrays a weary musician. What a comeback hit...
Elizabeth Hartman
This song always puts me in a good mood! This is my all-time favorite 80's song!