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)
Mr. Big Man
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were the best friend i ever knew.
I tried to meet you when you had your success,
But you had better things to do.
Now i bet that you're losin' count
Of the people that you used.
But now we're gonna see the vicious side of you,
You've got the say and the power.
Your minions grovel and cower.
But i see you, and i see me.
But you're the big man now.
You got it, mister big.
Your followers kiss your hand,
And your slaves all at your feet.
Your minions serve your beck and call,
But they don't compensate at all,
'cause inside, mister big's very small.
When you were poor and knockin' at the door,
You were really lots of fun.
But now you're hot and you're sittin' on the top;
You've got no time for anyone.
You schemed and connived.
You pushed and you lied,
Till you at last became a star.
But now we're gonna see the way you really are,
Mister big.
Now your vict'ry is complete
And your battles are all won.
Your enemies and foes are all stacked up in rows,
Eliminated one by one.
You got it, mister big.
The Kinks’ song “Mr. Big Man” is a scathing critique of the arrogant behavior of those in power. The lyrics recount a friendship that was once pure and equal, but became tainted by the singer’s rise to fame and wealth. The singer recognizes the hypocrisy in his former friend’s behavior and call him out for his mistreatment of those beneath him. The chorus describes the titular character as “mister big,” a self-important figure who revels in his power and influence, but is empty on the inside. The singer sees through the façade and understands that true respect and admiration comes from kindness and humility, not from oppressing others. The verses contrast the singer’s past and present behavior, showing how his ambition has corrupted him.
The song’s message is universal, applicable to any situation where people abuse their power: business, politics, even personal relationships. The lyrics speak to a fundamental human desire for fairness and equality. The musical arrangement reflects the emotional intensity of the lyrics, with a driving beat and a strong vocal performance from Ray Davies. The song is an effective combination of anger and sadness, a powerful statement about how power changes people and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when you started out,
I recall when you were just starting your journey.
You were the best friend i ever knew.
At the beginning, you and I were the closest of friends.
I tried to meet you when you had your success,
When you became successful, I attempted to see you again.
But you had better things to do.
You disregarded my efforts because you were too busy.
Now i bet that you're losin' count
You're probably beginning to lose track of the individuals you've manipulated.
Of the people that you used.
You've manipulated and taken advantage of a lot of people.
But now we're gonna see the vicious side of you,
However, people will soon start to see your nasty side.
Mister big.
You, Mr. Big
You've got the say and the power.
You currently have a lot of authority and control.
Your minions grovel and cower.
Your subordinates fawn over you and are intimidated by you.
But I see you, and I see me.
But I see through your façade because we are not so different.
But you're the big man now.
You are the one in charge now.
You got it, mister big.
You have it all, Mr. Big.
Your followers kiss your hand,
Your supporters venerate you.
And your slaves all at your feet.
Your servants are all subservient to you.
Your minions serve your beck and call,
Your subordinates obey your every command.
But they don't compensate at all,
They do not receive any recognition or reward for their service.
'cause inside, mister big's very small.
Because on the inside, you are actually quite insecure and vulnerable.
When you were poor and knockin' at the door,
When you were struggling to make ends meet.
You were really lots of fun.
You were a lot more enjoyable to be around.
But now you're hot and you're sittin' on the top;
But now that you're successful and sitting in a place of power,
You've got no time for anyone.
You're too preoccupied to spend time with anyone.
You schemed and connived.
You planned and plotted to achieve your goals.
You pushed and you lied,
You used every unethical means necessary, including deception.
Till you at last became a star.
Until you finally became famous and successful.
But now we're gonna see the way you really are,
But soon, people will uncover your true intentions, and you cannot hide or deceive them any longer.
Mister big.
You, Mr. Big
Now your vict'ry is complete
With your success, you believe that you have won.
And your battles are all won.
You have triumphed over all your challenges.
Your enemies and foes are all stacked up in rows,
Your adversaries are all lined up and defeated.
Eliminated one by one.
They were all eradicated, one after the other.
You got it, mister big.
You have all you want, Mr. Big.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dimethaltryptamine1
I remember when you started out,
You were the best friend I ever knew.
I tried to meet you when you had your success,
But you had better things to do.
Now I bet that you're losin' count
Of the people that you used.
But now we're gonna see the vicious side of you,
Mister Big.
You've got the say and the power.
Your minions grovel and cower.
But I see you, and I see me.
But you're the big man now.
You got it, Mister Big.
Your followers kiss your hand,
And your slaves all at your feet.
Your minions serve your beck and call,
But they don't compensate at all,
'Cause inside, Mister Big's very small.When you were poor and knockin' at the door,
You were really lots of fun.
But now you're hot and you're sittin' on the top;
You've got no time for anyone.
You schemed and connived.
You pushed and you lied,
Till you at last became a star.
But now we're gonna see the way you really are,
Mister Big.
Now your vict'ry is complete
And your battles are all won.
Your enemies and foes are all stacked up in rows,
Eliminated one by one.
You got it, Mister Big.
Wrap Call
Ukraine 24/02/2022
I need someone,
It's dark and I could get lonely,
I am free.
Dave Davies 18yrs old
26 November, 1965
Kink Kontroversary
#19. Aggravation/New World
#20. Mr. Big Man
#21. Displaced Person - Dave Davies
dimethaltryptamine1
I love both Ray & Dave Davies & the KINKS are simply over the top!
Ritchie Cross
MOST UNDERRATED KINKS' SONG !!
Skod Bruger
True. The bass is amazingly groovy. Always loved this
aamember07
I had the pleasure of seeing them 3 times in concert.....best band ever!!!!
ledivo59
Still a great song ... did a performance to this one in the late 1970s, the audiences liked it...
Kelley
A Great Song from a vasly-under-rated LP...Thanks for this presentation, Best always, Ken
James Ross
Sounds Damn Good Love It 👍👍👍👍👍The Kinks
jgcaesar4
Love this song. Love this record. Wore it out in college.
greg person
kinks are underrated! i'd rather play kinks than beatles! ray davies writes songs we can identify with rather than wanting to hold your hand lol!
edvinlaine
I really like Kinks but l like my loved ones hands also.