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)

Dreams
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A kiss to build a dream on

Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part

A kiss to build a dream on

And when I'm alone with my fancies, I'll be with you
Weaving romances, making believe they're true

Oh, give me your lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live
Give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on

When I'm alone with my fancies, I'll be with you
Weaving romances, making believe they're true

Oh, give me lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live

Oh, give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song Dreams is about the power of our imagination and the endless possibilities it brings. The singer is daydreaming about all the things he could be if he lived inside his dreams. In his dreams, he could be a king or a football star, a racing driver, a great politician, or even an astronaut. He could have all the money he desires and go anywhere in the world.

The lyrics convey a sense of longing and desire to escape the mundane reality of everyday life. The singer yearns for a life that is filled with excitement, adventure, and success. He wants to explore his full potential, and for him, the only way to do that is through his dreams. The song seems to suggest that our dreams represent our untapped potential and that we should never stop dreaming no matter how old we get.

Overall, Dreams is a beautiful and inspiring song that encourages us to dream big and chase after our ambitions. It reminds us that anything is possible if we have the courage to pursue our dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

When I look so far away
When I daydream and think about the possibilities of my life

Please don't wake me from my dreams
I am enjoying my imagination and do not want to be brought back to reality

I'm just wondering who I could be
I am contemplating my potential and what I am capable of achieving

If I lived inside my dreams
If I could make my imagination a reality

I could be a king or a football star
I have the ability to picture myself as someone with great power, wealth, or influence

Drive around in a big sports car
I could imagine myself living a life of luxury and extravagance

An astronaut or a millionaire
I could see myself as an achiever of great feats, exploring new frontiers and reaping the benefits

I could do anything or go anywhere
I have the potential to accomplish any goal or explore any part of the world

Racing driver or a great politician
I could envision myself as someone with exceptional talents, skills, and charisma

A man of power or a man of religion
I have the ability to imagine myself as someone with great spiritual or societal influence

I could be almost anything
There are limitless possibilities for what I could achieve in my dreams

Please don't wake me from my daze
I am lost in thought and imagination and do not want to be disrupted

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Oscar Hammerstein

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS