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)
He's Evil
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he wants your body not your mind.
He's got style, personality,
But he's the devil in reality.
He'll make you laugh, make you smile,
And make you feel good for a while.
Wicked smile, decadent grin,
His skin is soft but his mind is hard,
He'll lead you on then he'll tear you apart.
He'll treat you rough and he will make you cry,
And you will kiss sweet innocence good-bye.
And once you're in there'll be no getting out,
So look out, look out, look out, look out.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
He's got wit he's got charm.
But when he gets rough he'll break your arm.
He's got taste, manners and grace,
But when he gets tough he'll slit your face.
He'll buy you jewels, expensive clothes,
Then his mind'll go and he'll bust your nose.
He's a joker and a clown
But he'll pervert you and drag you down.
He comes on smooth, cool and kind,
But he wants your body not your mind,
He is just the devil in disguise.
He will drag you down and he will make you cry,
And once you're in there will be no getting out.
So look out, look out, look out.
Look out, look out, look out.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
The Kinks’ “He’s Evil” is a warning song about a man who may appear to be cool, smooth, and charming, but in reality he is nothing more than the devil in disguise. The song talks about his ability to seduce women and his insatiable desire for their body, not their mind. He is described as having style, personality, wit, and charm, but beneath the surface, he is a sadistic and manipulative person, who preys on women's heartstrings.
The bridge of the song warns that once the women get involved with him, there is no way out. He will treat them rough, make them cry, and pervert them. The chorus is a haunting repetition of the title, "he's evil," it elevates the danger this man poses. The song ends with a pleading warning asking the listeners to look out and watch for the signs of the devil in disguise.
The lyrics of “He’s Evil” are straightforward, warning the female listeners to watch out for the ploy of seemingly good men who may have less than honorable intentions. The song fuses a classic rock vibe with a sinister melody that accentuates the dangers of the man described in the song. Ray Davies, The Kinks' frontman, created a powerful message of survival and awareness through the track.
Line by Line Meaning
He comes on smooth, cool and kind,
He appears charming and likable at first glance.
But he wants your body not your mind.
But his true intention is to use you for physical pleasure disregarding your thoughts and emotions.
He's got style, personality,
He possesses charm and charisma.
But he's the devil in reality.
However, he's an evil person inside.
He'll make you laugh, make you smile,
He lures you in by making you feel happy and joyful.
And make you feel good for a while.
But his goodness is only temporary and not genuine.
Wicked smile, decadent grin,
He masks his true nature behind a charming smile.
He likes school girls, nuns and virgins.
He preys on vulnerable and innocent young girls.
His skin is soft but his mind is hard,
He may appear gentle and harmless, but he has a cruel and ruthless personality.
He'll lead you on then he'll tear you apart.
He gains your trust and then uses it to hurt you emotionally or physically.
He'll treat you rough and he will make you cry,
He uses violence and harsh treatment to control and manipulate you.
And you will kiss sweet innocence good-bye.
You will lose your innocence and purity by being with him.
And once you're in there'll be no getting out,
Once you are under his control, it will be difficult to leave him.
He's got wit he's got charm.
He is charming and witty.
But when he gets rough he'll break your arm.
But he is also violent and dangerous.
He's got taste, manners and grace,
He is sophisticated and polite.
But when he gets tough he'll slit your face.
But he can turn brutal and hurt you severely.
He'll buy you jewels, expensive clothes,
He may use material possessions to buy your affection.
Then his mind'll go and he'll bust your nose.
But he is unstable and may turn violent unexpectedly.
He's a joker and a clown
He may appear humorous and playful.
But he'll pervert you and drag you down.
But he will lead you astray and corrupt you.
He is just the devil in disguise.
He is an evil and dangerous person hiding behind a charming persona.
He will drag you down and he will make you cry,
He will bring you down emotionally and make you suffer.
And once you're in there will be no getting out.
Once you are under his control, it will be difficult to escape.
So look out, look out, look out.
Beware and be cautious.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
He is an extremely wicked and dangerous person.
He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil. He's evil.
He is not someone to be trusted or taken lightly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chedgey
on Do It Again
Great song but also a memorable music video. Why is it unavailable?