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)

Long Distance
The Kinks Lyrics

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Spent last winter playing in the sand
With the prisoners of the motherland
Damn hotel is feeling like a cell

And even paradise can be so cruel
Sitting by the swimming pool
Trying to keep my head together
In that hot Australia weather

Three days to kill and my per diem's getting low
Cause I spent all my money calling long distance
Calling long distance, such a long way from home

Am I talking to long distance, can you put me through?
Twelve thousand miles but I've got not resistance,
Long distance, long distance, long distance, long distance

Now the Road Hog's face is turning red
Larry's still asleep in bed
Romeo he can't get no head at all
And the Doctor looks on so annoyed
You disappoint me, Mr. Boyd
And the Electric Dwarf wishes he was six foot tall

Now Romeo's patience is wearing thin
C'mon baby, let me in
It's five a.m. and I've been creeping 'round the hall
Got no resistance calling long distance
You sound so close but your such a long way from home

Am I talking to long distance, can you put me through?
Twelve thousand miles but I've got not resistance,
Long distance, long distance, long distance, long distance

Still no points for my merrymen,
Except Ricard, he just scored ten
Now Road Hog's getting drunk again
And I only get to hold my pen
Instead of what I love to hold the most.

I feel so lonesome I could cry
Count the hours as they roll by
It's day time now
I think I'll make a call

Hello long distance, calling long distance

You sound so close but you're such a long way from home
You're such a long way from home

Overall Meaning

The Kinks' "Long Distance" tells the story of a group of people, likely a band or traveling performers, spending time in Australia. The song has a mellow, laid-back vibe, but the lyrics reveal a sense of loneliness and isolation. The first verse describes how the singer spent the last winter playing in the sand with "prisoners of the motherland," suggesting that he is not from Australia and feels somewhat captive in his surroundings. The hotel room feels like a cell, and even though he is in paradise, the singer feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, trying to keep his head together in the hot weather.

The second verse introduces more characters, including the "Road Hog," "Larry" who is still asleep, "Romeo" who can't get any attention, "the Doctor," "Mr. Boyd," and "the Electric Dwarf." They all seem to be having their own problems, and the singer is feeling the weight of their disappointment and frustration. He feels so lonely he could cry, but he can't reach anyone from home without spending all his money on long-distance calls.

Overall, "Long Distance" captures the bittersweet feeling of being far away from home and struggling to connect with others in a strange place. The song's relaxed tempo and upbeat melody offer a contrast to the melancholy lyrics, suggesting that the singer is trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

Long DistanceThe Kinks Lyrics

David Chedgey

on Do It Again

Long Distance
The Kinks Lyrics