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)

She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
To wear at all her social affairs
She wears it when she's cleaning the windows
She wears it when she's scrubbing the stairs
But you will never see her at Ascot
She can't afford the time or the fare
But she's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
So she don't care

He's bought a hat like Anthony Eden's
Because it makes him feel like a Lord
But he can't afford a Rolls or a Bentley
He has to buy a secondhand Ford
He tries to feed his wife and his family
And buy them clothes and shoes they can wear
But he's bought a hat like Anthony Eden's
So he don t care
Buddy can you spare me a dime
My wife is getting hungry
And the kids are crying
This poverty is hurting my pride
Buddy can you spare me, buddy can you spare me a dime
She's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
And her neighbors think it suits her a treat
But she hasn't any food in the larder
Nor has anybody else in the street
But to look at her you'd think she was wealthy
Cause she smiles just like a real millionaire

Cause she's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
So she don't care, she don't care, she don't care, she don't care

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina is a biting commentary on the effects of class aspirations and poverty. The song describes two characters who purchase expensive items, like a hat like Princess Marina's or a hat like Anthony Eden's, in order to feel like they belong to higher social classes. However, both characters are struggling to make ends meet and feed their families, as they sing "My wife is getting hungry / And the kids are crying / This poverty is hurting my pride / Buddy can you spare me, buddy can you spare me a dime". The song suggests that these attempts to appear wealthier through material goods are ultimately futile and do not address the root causes of their poverty.

The song also comments on the selfishness of those in higher social classes, who do not notice or care about the struggles of those beneath them. The line "But she hasn't any food in the larder / Nor has anybody else in the street" highlights the wider community's poverty and suggests a lack of empathy or support from those in power. Ultimately, the song is a critique of the class system and how it can create a sense of false hope and disconnection between people.

Line by Line Meaning

She's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
She purchased a hat similar to Princess Marina's for her social events

To wear at all her social affairs
She wears it to all her public events

She wears it when she's cleaning the windows
She even wears it when doing household chores like window cleaning

She wears it when she's scrubbing the stairs
Also when doing physically intense cleaning work such as scrubbing the stairs

But you will never see her at Ascot
You will not see her at the Ascot racecourse as she can't afford to attend

She can't afford the time or the fare
She cannot afford the cost of time and transportation to attend such events

But she's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
Despite not attending such events, she doesn't regret buying the hat

So she don't care
She is indifferent to not being able to attend the event since the hat makes her feel wealthy and happy

He's bought a hat like Anthony Eden's
He bought a hat reminiscent of Anthony Eden's

Because it makes him feel like a Lord
The hat simulated a sense of aristocracy and superiority for him

But he can't afford a Rolls or a Bentley
He is unable to purchase extravagant cars like Rolls Royce or Bentley

He has to buy a secondhand Ford
He has to settle for secondhand cars like Ford

He tries to feed his wife and his family
He does his best to provide for his family

And buy them clothes and shoes they can wear
He also wants to buy them suitable clothes and shoes

But he's bought a hat like Anthony Eden's
Despite his struggles, he indulges in buying a hat like his role model

So he don t care
He is not bothered by his financial hardships when wearing the hat as it gives him contentment

Buddy can you spare me a dime
He is asking for some monetary help

My wife is getting hungry
His wife is struggling due to hunger

And the kids are crying
His children are weeping due to scarcity

This poverty is hurting my pride
He is distressed by his poverty as it's affecting his dignity

She's bought a hat like Princess Marina's
She still has the hat similar to Princess Marina's

And her neighbors think it suits her a treat
Her neighbors admire her for flaunting the hat

But she hasn't any food in the larder
Despite the hat and admiration, she has no food in her pantry

Nor has anybody else in the street
Similarly, none of her neighbors have any food supplies

But to look at her you'd think she was wealthy
Despite the poverty surrounding her, her adornments offer the illusion of prosperity

Cause she smiles just like a real millionaire
She still wears the hat gracefully like a millionaire, emanating joy and contentment

So she don't care, she don't care, she don't care, she don't care
She is undisturbed by her struggles, indifferent to societal expectations and expenses, and thus continues to wear the hat with pride

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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