The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came … Read Full Bio ↴The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came out of the British R&B scene of the early 1960s. Formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies in 1964 and categorised in the United States as a "British Invasion" band, the Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock groups of the era. In 1990, their first year of eligibility, the original four members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Later, in November 2005, they were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Among numerous other honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music" in 2006. The Kinks reunited in June 2018, with the Davies brothers and drummer Mick Avory.

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)

Interview: Ray Davies talks about Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Out in the country far from all the soot and noise of the city
There's a village Green, it's been a long time
Since I last set eyes on the church with the steeple
Down by the village Green

'Twas there I met a girl called Daisy
And kissed her by the old oak tree
Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame

And so I left the village Green

I miss the village Green and all the simple people
I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

And now all the houses are rare antiquities
American tourists flock to see the village Green
They snap their photographs and say
"Gawd darn it, isn't it a pretty scene?"
And Daisy's married Tom the grocer boy
And now he owns a grocery

I miss the village Green and all the simple people
I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

And I will return there and I'll and Daisy
And we'll sip tea, laugh

And talk about the village Green
We will laugh and talk about the village Green

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's "Interview" is a nostalgic song about the longing for the simplicity and innocence of country life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The song is specifically about the Village Green, a symbol of this idealized rural existence. The singer reminisces about his past experiences in the Village Green, including meeting a girl named Daisy, and expresses his longing to return to that way of life.

The song can be interpreted as a critique of modern life and the loss of traditional values. The singer misses the rituals and traditions of small-town life such as Sunday school and the church with the steeple. He also mourns the loss of the Village Green's authenticity, which has become a tourist attraction rather than a living community. The song expresses a desire to return to a simpler time when life was more authentic and meaningful.

Line by Line Meaning

Out in the country far from all the soot and noise of the city
The Village Green is located far away from the pollution and disturbances of urban city areas.

There's a village Green, it's been a long time
The Village Green has been around for a considerable time, enduring through the years.

Since I last set eyes on the church with the steeple
It's been a while since I have seen the church on the Village Green with its tall tower.

Down by the village Green
The church is located in close proximity to the Village Green.

'Twas there I met a girl called Daisy
The Village Green is where I first encountered a girl named Daisy.

And kissed her by the old oak tree
By the old oak tree on the Village Green, Daisy and I shared a romantic moment.

Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame
Despite my feelings for Daisy, I desired personal success and recognition.

And so I left the village Green
As a result, I departed from the Village Green in pursuit of my aspirations.

I miss the village Green and all the simple people
I yearn for the Village Green and its modest inhabitants.

The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the presence of the church's tower, which holds a clock and steeple.

I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school
I long for the fresh air and morning tranquility, as well as the experience of Sunday school on the Village Green.

Interview: Ray Davies talks about Village Green Preservation SocietyThe Kinks Lyrics

David Chedgey

on Do It Again

Interview: Ray Davies talks about Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks Lyrics