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)
End of the Season
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the sky is grey
Summer birds aren't singing
Since you went away
Since you've been gone, end of the season
Winter is here, close of play
I get no kicks walking down Saville Row
There's no more chicks left where the green grass grows and I know that
My reason's gone, close of play
I just can't mix in all the clubs I know
Now Labor's in, I have no place to go
You're on a yacht near an island in Greece
Though you are hot, forget me not
I will keep waiting until your return
Now you are gone, end of the season
Winter will come any day
Back in the scrum on a wet afternoon
Down in the mud, dreaming of flowers in June
End of the season
End of the season
The Kinks’ song “End of the Season” is a poignant reflection on the end of a relationship and the passing of time. The lyrics are filled with images of winter’s arrival, the absence of summer birdsong, and the loneliness that comes with being separated from one’s lover. Throughout the song, the singer laments the loss of his reason for living, his inability to find joy in his surroundings, and the bitterness he feels for being left behind.
The song captures a moment of transition - a moment when summer gives way to winter, when pleasure gives way to pain, and when one chapter of life comes to a close. The singer is left grappling with the emptiness of his existence, the meaninglessness of his pursuits, and the cold, unyielding reality of the world around him. The lyrics are infused with longing and regret, and the repetitive refrain of “end of the season” underscores the futility of holding on to something that has already passed.
Overall, “End of the Season” is a beautifully crafted song that captures the emotional complexity of a relationship’s end. It is a reminder that even in the midst of loss and change, there is beauty to be found in the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter time is coming
The season of cold and darkness is approaching
All the sky is grey
The atmosphere is dull and gloomy, lacking in brightness and color
Summer birds aren't singing
The birds of summer, symbolic of good times and joy, are no longer present
Since you went away
The absence of someone important has created a void
Since you've been gone, end of the season
The lack of this person signals the end of something important
Winter is here, close of play
The arrival of winter signals the end of a productive period
I get no kicks walking down Saville Row
I no longer derive pleasure from things that used to excite me
There's no more chicks left where the green grass grows and I know that
There are no more opportunities for enjoyment in familiar and comfortable places
Winter is here, end of the season
The arrival of winter marks the end of an era
My reason's gone, close of play
With the end of this period, there is nothing to motivate or inspire
I just can't mix in all the clubs I know
The social scene has changed and is no longer familiar or welcoming
Now Labor's in, I have no place to go
The political climate has changed and the future is uncertain
You're on a yacht near an island in Greece
The person who left is enjoying a life of luxury and escape
Though you are hot, forget me not
Despite the attractiveness of where you are, don't forget about me
I will keep waiting until your return
I am still holding onto hope for the return of this person
Now you are gone, end of the season
The absence of this person has brought an end to something important
Winter will come any day
The season of cold and darkness is imminent
Back in the scrum on a wet afternoon
Life has returned to a mundane and unremarkable state
Down in the mud, dreaming of flowers in June
Despite the unpleasantness of the present, there is hope for brighter days ahead
End of the season
This period of time has come to an end
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
georgeharrison70
Something Else is such a great album. The Kinks truly were a fine band.
Menthol-Bonbon
It's really something else!
K A
+georgeharrison70 Yes! My favourite album of their's.
Baltimore Art Party
I''m obsessed with the Kinks these days. Wow. They are so smart, something really missing in most music.
Michael Platter
this song is so atmospheric, incredible
odyshape
When the summer vanish and get ousted by the cold autumn, this is always the saddest moment of the year to me...
This melancholy song usually cheers me then up a bit..
(Pat, Switzerland; 8/31/2015)
lepo lepo
I feel exactly the same, just wating for a new summertime, now is October 1st....
cindy gutierrez
I totally agree, Pat. Only songs like that of The Kinks can make the colder seasons just a little bit happier.
(Cindy, America, 9/15/2019)
Santiago Toranzo
For me it's just the opposite, I LOVE Autumn, it's the perfect climate for me. I do love a good dose of melancholic kinks songs in that season though, they have lots of autumnish songs, being sunny afternoon their well deserved representative.
Argentina, 07/10/2015
Matthew Stetson
Perfect song to segue into Waterloo Sunset. This album is why I'm such a huge Kinks fan. End Of The Season and Waterloo Sunset specifically.