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)
Fancy
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then we'll be the same, always.
Fancy, just look around thee
If you will fancy all the girls you see, always.
My love is like a ruby that no one can see,
Only my fancy, always.
No one can penetrate me,
The Kinks's song "Fancy" is a message about how love can be perceived and how it affects people's lives. The lyrics talk about the idea of shared beliefs and how that can bring people together. The line, "fancy, if you believe in what I believe in, then we'll be the same, always," suggests that having similar beliefs can lead to unity and understanding, and this can be seen as a positive thing in a relationship.
The second verse explores the idea of perception and how love is often something that can't be seen, but only felt. The line, "my love is like a ruby that no one can see, only my fancy always," suggests that love can be something that is hidden or elusive, but still very real to the person experiencing it. The final line, "they only see what's in their own fancy, always," expands on this idea of perception by suggesting that people can only understand love from their own perspective, and it can be difficult to truly understand someone else's experience.
Overall, "Fancy" speaks to the complexities of love and the importance of shared beliefs and understanding. It is a thoughtful exploration of how people can come together, but also how they can remain separate in their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Fancy, if you believe in what I believe in,
If you share my beliefs, we will be united and alike, indefinitely.
Then we'll be the same, always.
Our shared values will ensure a lifelong bond and similarity.
Fancy, just look around thee
Take a moment to observe the world around you, my dear.
If you will fancy all the girls you see, always.
If you find all the girls you lay eyes upon appealing, we may not have an exclusive relationship.
My love is like a ruby that no one can see,
My love for you is precious and valuable, and yet it is hidden from everyone else.
Only my fancy, always.
Only my imagination and romantic notions truly understand the depth of my love for you.
No one can penetrate me,
No one can fully comprehend my emotions and innermost feelings besides myself.
They only see what's in their own fancy, always.
Others can only see their own perception of me and my love, often failing to grasp the full extent of it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fra
❤💕❤
Fancy, if you believe in what I believe in
Then we'll be the same, always
Fancy, just look around thee
If you will fancy all the girls you see, always
My love is like a ruby that no one can see
Only my fancy, always
No one can penetrate me
They only see what's in their own fancy, always
rrrockfrog
The best Kinks song in my opinion !!! Absolutely beautiful !!!
who knows
Absolutely astonishing songwriter. Eternal thanks to The Kinks..
Nomis
This needs to be 10 minutes longer.
Nugsy Malone
This is another timeless song, ride it.
Shinybeast
Ray Davies, what a talent.
Lou Jacoby
"No one can penetrate me. They only see what's in their own fancy. Always"
The essence of Ray Davies
Spiro
This song rules. I first heard it on the great compilation "Kinks Kronikles". Essential stuff!
MsOscara
OMG I heard this song for the first time yesterday on Sirius XM. What a beautiful, haunting song.
Martín Java Oh7
I always listen to this song, always
Fra
❤💕❤
Fancy, if you believe in what I believe in
Then we'll be the same, always
Fancy, just look around thee
If you will fancy all the girls you see, always
My love is like a ruby that no one can see
Only my fancy, always
No one can penetrate me
They only see what's in their own fancy, always