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)
Guilty
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While living for today
I know you, you are a faker, don't try me I will take you
While living for today
Don't stand in the light for the truth it will blind you
Secure in your offices of self-gratification
Deaf to the cries of the innocent strangers you buried
Or wriggle and squirm for your soul has forgotten
Controlling the man that through greed has brought misery to the world
Guilty until you're proven innocent
I'm sorry, but you've sealed your own fate
Guilty until you're proven innocent
Guilty because you looked turned away
Power manipulators, conspirators, dictators
Drive the people underground
But we'll rise up through the ashes,
To stand where light can find us
In every nation, every land
You buy and you sell with no thought for the future
Controlling the masses in true business like fashion
TV, the media, lies and deception blinding us
The Kinks’s song Guilty presents a powerful critique of those in positions of power who exploit and oppress others. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song: “Stand before your maker, it will make or break you/While living for today/I know you, you are a faker, don't try me I will take you/While living for today.” The singer is warning those in power that their time will come when they will have to face the consequences of their actions.
The next lines capture the essence of the critique: “Don't stand in the light for the truth it will blind you/Secure in your offices of self-gratification/Deaf to the cries of the innocent strangers you buried/Don't look over your shoulder for the past is still burning/Or wriggle and squirm for your soul has forgotten/Controlling the man that through greed has brought misery to the world.” The people in power are portrayed as being blind to the truth and deaf to the cries of those they oppress. Their greed has brought misery to the world, and they have forgotten their souls.
The chorus, which repeats “Guilty until you're proven innocent,” suggests that those in power are already condemned and that they will have to work hard to earn redemption. The final lines suggest that the people will rise up against their oppressors: “Power manipulators, conspirators, dictators/Drive the people underground/But we'll rise up through the ashes,/To stand where light can find us/In every nation, every land.”
Line by Line Meaning
Stand before your maker, it will make or break you
You will face judgment before your creator, and your life will either succeed or fail based on your actions.
While living for today
In the present moment, focusing on immediate pleasure or gain.
I know you, you are a faker, don't try me I will take you
I am aware of your deceitful nature, do not attempt to deceive me as I will not tolerate it.
Don't stand in the light for the truth it will blind you
Do not expose yourself to the full truth, as it may be too much to handle.
Secure in your offices of self-gratification
You are content in your position of power and benefit, without concern for others.
Deaf to the cries of the innocent strangers you buried
You ignore the pleas of those victimized by your actions.
Don't look over your shoulder for the past is still burning
Do not dwell on the past, as its consequences still linger.
Or wriggle and squirm for your soul has forgotten
Do not try to escape the consequences of your actions, as your conscience has been desensitized.
Controlling the man that through greed has brought misery to the world
You manipulate those whose greed has caused suffering for many.
Guilty until you're proven innocent
Assuming guilt until innocence is proven.
I'm sorry, but you've sealed your own fate
Regrettably, your actions have determined your outcome.
Guilty until you're proven innocent
Assuming guilt until innocence is proven.
Guilty because you looked turned away
You are at fault for not facing the consequences of your actions.
Power manipulators, conspirators, dictators
Those in positions of authority who abuse their power and manipulate others for their own gain.
Drive the people underground
Forcing those who oppose them to hide or suffer.
But we'll rise up through the ashes,
We will overcome the destruction and chaos caused by those in power.
To stand where light can find us
To emerge from the darkness and be seen by those seeking truth.
In every nation, every land
Regardless of geography or culture.
You buy and you sell with no thought for the future
You make transactions with no consideration for the long-term consequences.
Controlling the masses in true business like fashion
Manipulating and exploiting the general population in a manner typical of corporate operations.
TV, the media, lies and deception blinding us
False information propagated through media outlets obscures the truth and prevents insight.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: DAVID RUSSEL GORDON DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chedgey
on Do It Again
Great song but also a memorable music video. Why is it unavailable?