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)

Mindless Child Of Motherhood
The Kinks Lyrics

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I've been traveling a long time,
To be just where you are.
In dreams I have seen you,
But you are so very far.

How long must I travel on,
To be just where you are?
How long must I travel on,

To be just where you are?

I was your friend,
I was a fool,
I feel for you, though we're far apart.
I see your face,
Lost without trace,
I see your mind, just an empty space.

Mindless child of motherhood,
You have lost the thing that's good.
Mindless child of motherhood,
You have lost the thing that's good.

I know that it's not fair,
To bare a bastard son,
But why do you hide there,
When we could have shared a love?

How long must I travel on,
To be just where you are?
How long must I travel on,
To be just where you are?

I was your friend,
I was a fool,
I feel for you, though we're far apart.
I see your face,
Lost without trace,
I see your mind, just an empty space.

Mindless child of motherhood,
You have lost the thing that's good.
Mindless child of motherhood,
You have lost the thing that's good.

To me.

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song "Mindless Child of Motherhood" is a melancholic and introspective track that deals with the themes of distance, unrequited love, and the loss of innocence. The singer is addressing someone they love and have been looking for; however, they cannot seem to find them. They have been dreaming of this person, but they are still so far away, and the singer is beginning to feel tired and disillusioned. The lyrics repeat the line, "How long must I travel on, to be just where you are?" which signifies the feeling of being stuck in a journey that might never end.

The second part of the song shifts the focus towards the person the singer is looking for. They address them as a "mindless child of motherhood" who has lost the "thing that's good." Here, the lyrics imply that the person has lost touch with their own feelings and emotional depth. They have given up their innocence and the goodness that comes with it, and have become emotionally empty. The singer acknowledges that they know it's not fair to accuse them of the actions of their parents, but they cannot help feeling hurt and frustrated at the lack of response from this person.

Overall, "Mindless Child of Motherhood" is a song that captures the pain of being in love with someone who is emotionally distant and numb. The lyrics showcase the loneliness and desperation of the singer and the sadness of a love that might never be fulfilled.

Mindless Child Of MotherhoodThe Kinks Lyrics

David Chedgey

on Do It Again

Mindless Child Of Motherhood
The Kinks Lyrics