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)

Still Searching
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a drifter who has lost his way
And I'm still searching for my dream
A wandering nomad with no home to stay
Just like a gypsy or a refugee
Lookin' at another sign for another town
Wondering if I'm ever gonna settle down
Or am I gonna keep on searchin' till my dying day

[Chorus]
Still searching, still searching, still lookin', all alone
Till I find myself a home
Still searching, still searching, just like a rolling stone
Destination still unknown
When all my energy starts letting me down
I get this feeling I'll be still wandering 'round
Still searching, still workin', still lookin'
Until I find a way

This world is full of restless souls
Sleeping rough and living day to day
Drifters who left families wondering why they went away
Perhaps that's how I wanna be
While I'm looking for some peace of mind
How can I find security?
A restless spirit who can't reach his goal
Can't find a home until I've found my soul
Still hitchin' rides and lookin' for a place to go

[Chorus]

Still searching, still searching, still searching
Until my dying day, oh yeah
Why? yeah
Surprise, surprise
Still searching, still workin', still lookin'
Until I find my way

I'm a drifter who has lost his way
And I'm still searching for my dream

Overall Meaning

The Kinks's song Still Searching is a poignant reflection on the difficult journey of searching for one's place in the world. The singer is a drifter, a wandering nomad who has lost his way and is in search of his dream. He feels like a gypsy or a refugee, with no home to stay, constantly looking for another sign for another town to settle down in. But he ultimately realizes that he might be searching until his dying day.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Still searching" three times, emphasizing the singer's ongoing quest for something he can't quite define. He yearns for a home, a sense of belonging, but isn't sure how to attain it. The second verse brings up the idea that this restlessness is common in a world full of restless souls, drfiting through their lives without finding true meaning. The singer wonders if this is how he wants to live his life. He is looking for some peace of mind, but can't seem to find it, and until he does, he will keep hitchin' rides and looking for a place to call home.

Overall, Still Searching is a song about the human condition, about the struggle to find a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost, unsure of where they belong, or what their life's purpose might be.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a drifter who has lost his way
I am someone who doesn't have a fixed home, and currently, I am feeling lost without any direction or purpose in my life.

And I'm still searching for my dream
Despite feeling lost, I am still hopeful and optimistic that I'll find my dream, i.e., something that gives meaning to my life.

A wandering nomad with no home to stay
I am someone who moves from place to place, without a permanent home that I can call my own.

Just like a gypsy or a refugee
I often feel like a wanderer because of my situation, which is similar to that of someone who has been forcibly displaced from their home or a traditional nomadic group.

Lookin' at another sign for another town
As I travel from place to place, I keep seeing signs that lead me to new towns or cities, where I hope to find a place that I can call my own.

Wondering if I'm ever gonna settle down
Although I keep moving, I often wonder whether I will ever find a place where I can finally settle down and stop moving.

Or am I gonna keep on searchin' till my dying day
It is possible that I might never find a permanent home or purpose, and I might keep searching for it until I die.

Still searching, still searching, still lookin', all alone
Despite feeling alone and isolated, I am still searching and looking for a place to belong.

Till I find myself a home
I will continue my search until I find a place where I can finally call my own and feel at home.

Still searching, still searching, just like a rolling stone
My search feels endless, and I am constantly moving, like a rolling stone, without any specific destination in mind.

Destination still unknown
I don't know where I'm going or where I'll end up, but I keep moving forward, hoping that I'll eventually find a place to settle down.

When all my energy starts letting me down
At times, my body and mind get tired from the constant movement and searching, which makes my journey even more challenging.

I get this feeling I'll be still wandering 'round
During such times, I feel like I'm stuck in a loop, and I'll continue to wander around without any real direction.

Still searching, still workin', still lookin'
Despite the challenges, I am still working hard and searching for a place to call my own.

Until I find a way
I won't give up until I find a way to end my search and finally find a place to belong.

This world is full of restless souls
The world is full of people who are like me, who are always restless and searching for something more in their lives.

Sleeping rough and living day to day
Some people are living in difficult conditions, without a permanent home or way of life, and they are struggling to survive.

Drifters who left families wondering why they went away
Some people have left their families behind to embark on a journey like mine, which can be difficult and leave people wondering why they left in the first place.

Perhaps that's how I wanna be
Maybe I am also on this journey because I want to be free from the societal norms and live a life without any strings attached.

While I'm lookin' for some peace of mind
Although I'm looking for a permanent home, I'm also seeking inner peace and solace that I haven't found yet.

How can I find security?
Finding a home will provide me with a sense of security, which I haven't been able to experience so far.

A restless spirit who can't reach his goal
Despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to find a permanent home or purpose, which leaves me feeling restless and lost.

Can't find a home until I've found my soul
I understand that finding a home is not only about finding a physical space but also about finding a sense of purpose and belonging, which I haven't found yet.

Still hitchin' rides and lookin' for a place to go
I am still moving from place to place, looking for a place to call my own and settle down in.

Until my dying day, oh yeah
I am committed to my journey of finding a home and purpose, and I won't give up until my last breath.

Why? yeah
I am still looking for answers to the questions that have been bothering me, like why I'm on this journey and why I haven't found my home yet.

Surprise, surprise
I'm still on this journey, seeking answers, and haven't been surprised by what I find.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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