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 β vocals, rhythm guitar (1963β1996)
Dave Davies β lead guitar, vocals (1963β1996)
Pete Quaife β bass guitar (1963β1969)
John Dalton β bass guitar (1969β1976)
Andy Pyle β bass guitar (1976β1978)
Jim Rodford β bass guitar (1978β1996)
Mick Avory β drums (1963β1984)
Bob Henrit β drums (1984β1996)
John Gosling β keyboards, piano (1970β1978)
Gordon Edwards β keyboards, piano (1978β1979)
Ian Gibbons β keyboards, piano (1979β1989, 1993β1996)
Mark Haley β keyboards, piano (1989β1993)
RATS
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Many people pushing me around
Hate spreads just like infection
Those rats jumping on and off my back
Fat black rats holding me down
I see rats in every direction
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me
Like snakes crawling through the grass
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
The Kinksβ song βRatsβ is a social commentary on the ugly side of society, with βratsβ being a metaphor for the corrupt, greedy, and immoral people who live among us. The opening lines set the scene of the singer wandering around downtown, feeling lost and being pushed around by the masses. The lines βHate spreads just like infectionβ and βThose rats jumping on and off my backβ suggest that the rats are a metaphor for the negativity and hate that people spread, and the singer feels constantly burdened by it. The βfat black ratsβ that are holding the singer down represent the deep-rooted effects of immorality and corruption.
The chorus suggests that society is lost in the chaos that these rats have created, with βmasses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heatβ implying that people have lost their sense of compassion. The lines βNever have done anything right for people like you and meβ offer a bleak view of society as a whole, with the rats breeding βangriness and spiteβ and representing those who are selfishly motivated to hurt others. In the second verse, the song further delves into the theme of greed, with the lines βWalk over all the people you can't see, if they die there's more bread for meβ indicating the depravity and callousness of those who are only interested in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I was lost just wandering round downtown
The singer is lost and aimless in a bustling, urban area.
Many people pushing me around
The singer is being jostled and pushed by the crowd of people in the city.
Hate spreads just like infection
Hate can easily be passed on and spread among people like a contagious disease.
Those rats jumping on and off my back
The artist feels burdened by the negative influences and pressures of society.
Fat black rats holding me down
Metaphorical rats - negative forces - are weighing the artist down and hindering their progress.
I see rats in every direction
The singer perceives negativity and malevolence all around them, and feels surrounded by it.
No time to catch your breath
The pace of life is relentless and unforgiving, with no break or respite.
Crazy people lost their heads
The artist encounters people who are irrational and volatile, perhaps due to the pressures of city life.
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
The artist is being literally and metaphorically crushed by the weight of the crowd, who are self-centered and unaware of others' struggles.
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Negative forces in society are causing people to be angry and vengeful towards one another.
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Those in power or positions of privilege have never really done anything to help or benefit the ordinary people of society.
Walk over all the people you can't see
Those in power or positions of privilege often use others as stepping stones with no regard for their suffering or wellbeing.
If they die there's more bread for me
Some people are so selfish and driven by greed that they see others' hardships as opportunities for their own gain.
Like snakes crawling through the grass
Some people are sneaky and deceptive, willing to manipulate or betray others for their own benefit.
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
The singer encounters a person who is oblivious to the struggles of others and only cares about their own success.
Once he was warm and was kind
This person used to be compassionate and empathetic towards others, but has since changed.
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
This person is now motivated purely by greed and materialism, and has lost their former sense of morality or kindness.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID RUSSEL GORDON DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roe Angel
Rats Lyrics
I was lost, just wandering 'round downtown
Many people were pushing me around
Hate spreads just like infection
Those rats jumping on and off my back
Fat black rats holding me down
I see rats in every direction
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet
Inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right
For people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me
Like snakes crawling through the grass
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet
Inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right
For people like you and me
See that face man look at me
Oh, he's too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he's got is a pinstripe mind
See that face man look at me
Oh, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now he's got is a pinstripe mind
Marvin Cohen
This song kicks ass! Ray's a genius, but Dave put the group in overdrive.
prettythings3
Amen; you get a perfectly syncopated rhythm from him, then he crushes it with his lead overdubbed
Robbie Clark
Literally every song on this album is my favorite while I'm listening to it
Dumbniele
For real,π³
Shelby Pawn
@Se Sa Big Sky looks down on all the people looking up at the big sky... π₯°
Avi Soncino
Exactly my thoughts π π
Se Sa
And when itβs not playing, Strangers, (or when anything else is playing). I have the same feeling about the village green album. βBig Skyβ makes me feel like everything (in this dark dark world) is gonna be...ok.
Se Sa
Amen.
Tony M
This has to be the Kinks at their rockiest - The drums, the bass and Dave's guitar are so raw.
James Chapman
Quite possibly the most underrated Kinks tracks around.