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)
Hold My Hand
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be standing at the door, and I won't say any more.
I know that she's been there.
It's not the way I look at her, it's the way she looks at me.
Yes you can hold my hand any other night,
Hold my hand, it's gonna be all right.
Hold my hand any other night of the week,
Hold my hand any other night,
Hold my hand, it's gonna be all right.
Hold my hand any other night of the week,
It's all right.
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
When she lays on my bed,
It's not me she's thinking of, it's just me that really cares.
My time, I know is out,
And she'll be walking through that door,
And she'll lie again tomorrow night.
Yes you can hold my hand any other night,
Hold my hand, it's gonna be all right.
Hold my hand any other night of the week,
It's all right.
Hold my hand any other night,
Hold my hand, it's gonna be all right.
Hold my hand any other night of the week,
It's all right.
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
Hold my hand.
The Kinks's song Hold My Hand is a melancholic and bittersweet portrayal of a one-sided romance. The singer of the song is in love with a woman who clearly does not reciprocate his feelings. The song begins with the singer waiting for the woman to arrive without saying anything to her because he knows that she has been with someone else. The singer is not bothered by the fact that the woman is seeing other people, it is the way she looks at him that pains him. He knows that she does not see him in the same way that he sees her.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Hold my hand any other night, hold my hand it's gonna be all right" which seems to suggest that the singer is trying to comfort himself. He knows that he cannot have the woman of his dreams but he is resigned to the fact that they can still have a physical relationship. The lyrics "When she lays on my bed, it's not me she's thinking of, it's just me that really cares" reveal that the singer is fully aware that the woman does not have any emotional attachment towards him.
The song ends with the singer knowing that tomorrow night the woman will be with someone else but he chooses to ignore the reality and says "Hold my hand, hold my hand, hold my hand". The repetition of the line emphasizes the singer's desperation and his desire to hold on to something that he knows will eventually slip away from him.
Line by Line Meaning
Today, when she comes in, I'll be standing at the door, and I won't say any more.
The singer is waiting for someone special to arrive, but he knows that there is nothing more to say. His silence speaks volumes.
I know that she's been there. It's not the way I look at her, it's the way she looks at me.
He is aware of his partner's infidelity, and he can tell that something is different about the way she looks at him. He is hurt and confused.
Yes you can hold my hand any other night, Hold my hand, it's gonna be all right. Hold my hand any other night of the week, It's all right.
The singer is offering comfort to his partner. He knows that things are difficult, but he wants to be there for her.
When she lays on my bed, It's not me she's thinking of, it's just me that really cares. My time, I know is out, And she'll be walking through that door, And she'll lie again tomorrow night.
Their relationship is rocky, and the artist is aware that his partner is not fully invested in the relationship. He knows that their time together is nearing an end, and she will continue to lie to him.
Hold my hand.
The artist is repeating his offer of comfort to his partner. He wants her to know that he is there for her.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Chedgey
on Do It Again
Great song but also a memorable music video. Why is it unavailable?