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)
Stormy Sky
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little darlin',
Did you ever see such a stormy sky?
It's never been like this before.
All the people,
They're runnin'.
Ev'rybody's try'n' to hide,
Perhaps it's a sign
Of what we're headed for.
We're under a stormy sky,
Watchin' the clouds roll by.
But won't you let me keep you warm,
And leave the storm outside?
It's only a stormy sky.
I feel it.
Do you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Feels like we're in for a stormy night,
But I can't see a cloud in sight.
I see it.
Do you see it?
Can't you see it,
See that warning in that stormy sky.
But perhaps its gonna pass us by,
So don't you cry.
There's nowhere we can hide.
But if you hold me tight,
I know that we'll be all right.
Tomorrow we'll laugh about it;
Greet the mornin' light.
It's only a stormy sky.
We're under a stormy sky,
Watchin' the clouds roll by.
But there'll be another dawn
To clear the storm away,
And we will be all right.
The Kinks's "Stormy Sky" is a lamentation on the state of the world, its inherent instability, and the need for human comfort and reassurance in the face of natural and social chaos. The song opens with the singer acknowledging the extraordinary nature of a stormy sky and how it is indicative of the uncertain times in which he lives. The people around him are frightened and go into hiding, trying to avoid the impending tempest. The singer himself is scared, but he offers to hold his lover close and provide comfort, suggesting that the storm is only a passing event that will soon subside. The lyrics suggest a fatalistic attitude to the wider world, but also an optimism that people can survive in the face of adversity by finding love and support.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of foreboding and unease, a feeling that something big and catastrophic is looming on the horizon. The storm is a metaphor for upheaval and change, and the song is a plea for people to come together and find solace in each other. The lyrics also suggest that the storm may be a warning, a sign of things to come. There is a sense of uncertainty and tension in the song, conveyed through the use of vivid metaphors and imagery, and the repeated refrain of "It's only a stormy sky" is both an acknowledgment of the dangers ahead, and a reassurance that love can help weather the storm.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh darlin',
The singer addresses their loved one.
Little darlin',
The singer addresses their loved one in a caring way.
Did you ever see such a stormy sky?
The singer points out the chaotic weather.
It's never been like this before.
The artist emphasizes that the weather is unusually severe.
All the people,
The artist observes the surroundings.
They're runnin'.
People are trying to escape.
Ev'rybody's try'n' to hide,
People are desperately searching for shelter.
To get away from that stormy sky.
People are trying to avoid the tumultuous weather.
Perhaps it's a sign
The artist suggests that the storm is symbolic.
Of what we're headed for.
The artist speculates that the storm represents a larger issue.
We're under a stormy sky,
The singer reminds their loved one of the tumultuous weather.
Watchin' the clouds roll by.
The artist is observing the weather.
But won't you let me keep you warm,
The singer asks their loved one to stay close to them for comfort.
And leave the storm outside?
The singer wants their loved one to forget about the chaos outside.
It's only a stormy sky.
The singer reassures their loved one that the storm will pass.
I feel it.
The artist senses something.
Do you feel it?
The artist asks their loved one if they feel the same thing.
Can you feel it?
The singer questions if their loved one can sense the same thing.
Feels like we're in for a stormy night,
The singer suggests that the storm will last through the night.
But I can't see a cloud in sight.
The artist is confused that the stormy weather is not visible.
I see it.
The artist clarifies that they can see the storm imminent.
Do you see it?
The artist asks their loved one if they can see what's about to come.
Can't you see it,
The singer questions whether their loved one can sense the approaching storm.
See that warning in that stormy sky.
The artist draws attention to the signals of the bad weather.
But perhaps its gonna pass us by,
The singer suggests that the storm may not directly affect them.
So don't you cry.
The singer reassures their loved one that they don't need to worry.
There's nowhere we can hide.
The singer points out that there is no escape from natural disasters.
But if you hold me tight,
The artist wants to be close to their loved one.
I know that we'll be all right.
The artist is confident that they will be safe together.
Tomorrow we'll laugh about it;
The singer imagines that they will be able to find humor in the situation in the future.
Greet the mornin' light.
The singer looks forward to the new day ahead.
There's nowhere we can hide.
The artist repeats that there is no escape from natural disasters.
We're under a stormy sky,
The artist once again reminds their loved one of the chaotic weather.
Watchin' the clouds roll by.
The artist is still observing the weather.
But there'll be another dawn
The singer looks forward to a new day.
To clear the storm away,
The artist anticipates that the storm will eventually pass.
And we will be all right.
The singer reassures their loved one that they will be safe in the end.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
leopoldo ochoa
what a song!!! and what a guitar player !!!!! Dave Davies!!!!!
Duke Mackris
the song is Beautiful it puts my heart at peace takes me away to a beautiful place
Guy Reid-Brown
This is actually the most beautiful song ever produced by anyone anywhere, and you are not paying attention. Just sayin'
Fazlur Baksh
I love the way ray Davies sing these romantic kinks songs.i saw the kinks live in my younger days and every song they performed was so enjoyable
Melanie Banner
Just seen The Kinks performing songs from this album live on The Old Grey Whistle Test 1977. Ray jokingly referred to it as a 'Loser' album. What a shame and a waste. So many songs I'd not heard like this one are absolutely gorgeous.
Mavarla
Gorgeous; loved this in '76; still do.
Logan Walley
What a band. One of my favorite from them.
junkpick
Awesome awesome awesome! Saw them as the Kinks back in 93 ... also seen Ray play his story teller show and Dave play his solo show 2 years ago! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Chip Zigrossi
God save the kinks
Ignacio Bravo
Beatiful song...