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)

Look for Me Baby
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Look for me baby)
Well you can search high and low if you want
But you won't find me
(Look for me baby)
Well, you search the mountains
Look in the sea
Look all around the world
But you won't find a love

A love like mine
You'll be low
And cry misery[?]
'Cause you got no love
(Look for me baby)

In your desperation
You're going to look for someone else
Well now, search the mountains
Search the sea
Look around the world
But you won't find me
(Look for me baby)
You'll be looking for me
(Look for me baby)

Well now, I've never felt so sad
I've never had it so bad
You'll search the oceans
But you won't find me no more
You'll be looking for me
(Look for me baby)

Well you can search high and low if you want
But you won't find me
(Look for me baby)
Well you can climb the mountains
And swim in the sea
Look all around the world
But you won't find a love
A love like mine
You'll be low
And cry misery
'Cause you got no love
(Look for me baby)

In your desperation
You're going to look for someone else
Well now, search the mountains
Search the sea
Look around the world
But you won't find me
(Look for me baby)
You'll be looking for me
(Look for me baby)
You'll be looking for me
(Look for me baby)

You'll be looking for me
(Look for me baby)

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's Look for Me Baby is a song about a person who is confident that their true love will never find someone else like them. The lyrics suggest that the individual being addressed is desperate to find someone new, but will eventually realize that no one can replace the love they've lost. The repetition of the line "look for me baby" serves as both a warning and a comfort - the person being addressed may search the world for someone new, but they will never find someone like the one they've lost. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is feeling a sense of loss and heartbreak, but is adamant that they will not be replaced in their former love's life.

The repetition of the line "look for me baby" is significant as it emphasizes both the singer's confidence and the other person's desperation. The fact that the other person is searching "high and low" and "all around the world" suggests that they are deeply invested in finding someone new. The imagery of searching in the mountains and sea also conveys the idea that the other person is willing to go to great lengths to find someone new, but will ultimately be unsuccessful. The use of the pronoun "you" emphasizes the sense of warning - the singer is telling the other person that they will not be replaced.

Line by Line Meaning

(Look for me baby)
I'm leaving and you won't find me

Well you can search high and low if you want
You can try as hard as you want to find me

But you won't find me
But you won't be able to find me

Well, you search the mountains
You'll even search the mountains

Look in the sea
And look in the sea

Look all around the world
Look everywhere in the world

But you won't find a love
But you won't find a love

A love like mine
A love like mine

You'll be low
You'll feel down

And cry misery[?]
And be miserable

'Cause you got no love
Because you don't have my love