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)

Schooldays
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If ever you think about the happiest days of your life
Cast back your mind for a while
And remember the time when you were a child.
Don't think of things that make you sad,
Just remember all the good times that you had.

Do you remember only happy days,
Full of flaming Junes and summer holidays?

Or do you remember those stormy Novembers
When we walked in the wind and the rain?
Schooldays were such happy days
Now they seem so far away,
I remember and I'll always treasure.
Schooldays were the happiest days of your life
But we never appreciate the good times we have
Until it's too late.

I miss all the acquaintances we made
And I'd go back if I could only find a way,
Schooldays were the happiest days
Though at the time they filled me with dismay.
We only remember what we choose to remember.
When I was a schoolboy I loathed regulations and rules
I hated my textbooks and my school uniform,
Cause it made me conform,
And teachers were always disobeyed,
But I'd go back if I could only find a way.

Schooldays were the happiest days,
Now they seem so far away.
I remember and I'll always treasure
Schooldays were the happiest days of your life
But we never appreciate the good times we have
Until it's too late.
Now I wish I hadn't strayed,

And I'd go back if I could only find a way.
Schooldays.

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song Schooldays is a reflection on the nostalgia and bittersweet memories of childhood. The song encourages the listener to remember the good times they had in school, and to cherish those memories because they were the happiest days of their life. The song describes the happy days of summer vacations and the difficulties of enduring stormy weather in November. The melody of the song creates a melancholic and nostalgic mood that makes the listener reminisce about their own past.

The lyrics emphasize the idea that people often take their good memories for granted, and only appreciate them later in life. The singer wishes they could go back in time to their school days and relive the time with all their former acquaintances. The song's lyrics also highlight the struggles of conforming to rules and regulations and the strain of wearing a school uniform. The singer acknowledges that they didn't appreciate the good times when they were actually happening and now regrets not having held onto those memories.

Overall, Schooldays is a timeless testament to the power of nostalgia and reflection. It reminds listeners to appreciate the happy times when they are experiencing them, and to cherish memories because time passes and those experiences and relationships may never come back again.

Line by Line Meaning

If ever you think about the happiest days of your life
Reflect on your past and recollect the moments that brought you the most joy.

Cast back your mind for a while
Travel back in time and reminisce on fond memories.

And remember the time when you were a child.
Recall the moments of your youth when life was simpler and carefree.

Don't think of things that make you sad,
Only focus on the positive memories and avoid dwelling on negative experiences or emotions.

Just remember all the good times that you had.
Focus on the happy memories and cherish them forever.

Do you remember only happy days,
Do your memories consist only of positive experiences?

Full of flaming Junes and summer holidays?
Did your happy memories involve summer months or vacations?

Or do you remember those stormy Novembers
Did you also recall difficult or challenging times?

When we walked in the wind and the rain?
During moments when you faced adversity, did you ever find strength to push through?

Schooldays were such happy days
For many people, school was a happy and carefree time.

Now they seem so far away,
As time passes, these happy memories can feel distant or disconnected from present reality.

I remember and I'll always treasure.
Despite distance or time, these happy memories remain precious to us.

But we never appreciate the good times we have
Often, people take happy times for granted and only realize their worth in hindsight.

Until it's too late.
Sadly, we may only come to appreciate these happy memories after they have passed us by.

I miss all the acquaintances we made
Many people treasure the friendships they made during their school years.

And I'd go back if I could only find a way,
For some, there is a strong desire to go back and relive these happy memories.

Though at the time they filled me with dismay.
Despite being happy memories now, some experiences may have been stressful or upsetting at the time they occurred.

We only remember what we choose to remember.
Our memories are selective and often influenced by our subjective experiences and emotions.

When I was a schoolboy I loathed regulations and rules
Some memories may bring up negative associations, such as being stifled by too many rules or restrictions.

I hated my textbooks and my school uniform,
Other negative associations may include disliking certain aspects of school, such as the required uniforms or tedious homework assignments.

Cause it made me conform,
Feeling forced to conform to certain standards or norms can lead to negative emotions and memories.

And teachers were always disobeyed,
For some, authority figures such as teachers were not always respected or followed.

But I'd go back if I could only find a way.
Despite negative associations, the desire to relive happy memories can be strong.

Now I wish I hadn't strayed,
Looking back, some may regret not fully appreciating the happy memories they once had.

And I'd go back if I could only find a way.
The desire to relive happy memories persists, even after many years have passed.

Schooldays.
The song emphasizes the value and importance of happy memories, particularly those made in school.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVIES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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