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)
Too Much On My Mind
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's too much on my mind,
And I can't sleep at night thinking about it.
I'm thinking of the time,
There's too much on my mind,
It seems there's more to life than just to live it.
There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can say.
And there is nothing I can do
About it,
About it.
My thought just weigh me down,
And drag me to the ground,
And shake my head till there's no more life in me.
It's ruining my brain,
I'll never be the same,
My poor demented mind is slowly going.
There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can say.
There's too much on my mind,
And there is nothing I can do
About it,
About it.
There's too much on my mind.
The Kinks's song "Too Much on My Mind" portrays the inner turmoil of the singer who is constantly bombarded with overwhelming thoughts, causing him sleepless nights and a gradual mental breakdown. The opening lines of the song repeat twice, emphasizing the weight of the singer's thoughts. He is unable to relax or let go of his concerns, constantly thinking about the time and questioning the purpose of his existence. He feels that life is more than just living and that there must be something more meaningful to it.
The singer's thoughts become such a burden that he feels helpless and powerless. He cannot free himself from his own mind, and despite wanting to do something about it, he is unable to take action. The lyrics suggest a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer's thoughts crush him, dragging him down to the ground and shaking his head till the life is drained out of him. His mental state is deteriorating, causing him to fear that he will never be the same again.
The song is a poignant depiction of the human experience, showcasing the struggles of an individual grappling with their own mind. It highlights how our thoughts can quickly spiral out of control and take over our lives, leaving us feeling drained and helpless.
Line by Line Meaning
There's too much on my mind,
I am overwhelmed with thoughts and worries.
And I can't sleep at night thinking about it.
These thoughts keep me awake and make it hard for me to get rest.
I'm thinking of the time,
I am reflecting on the past and considering how it impacts my current situation.
It seems there's more to life than just to live it.
I am realizing that life is complex and there are many aspects to consider.
And there is nothing I can say.
Despite my thoughts and worries, I am unable to express them effectively to others.
And there is nothing I can do about it,
I feel powerless to change the situation or my thoughts.
My thoughts just weigh me down,
My worries and concerns are like a heavy burden that I carry with me wherever I go.
And drag me to the ground,
My worries hold me back and prevent me from moving forward in life.
And shake my head till there's no more life in me.
My worries cause me stress and anxiety, leaving me exhausted and drained.
It's ruining my brain,
My excessive worrying is having negative effects on my mental health.
I'll never be the same,
I fear that my excessive worrying may be changing who I am as a person.
My poor demented mind is slowly going.
My excessive worrying is taking a toll on my mental health and well-being.
There's too much on my mind.
My mind is overwhelmed with worries and concerns that are becoming difficult to handle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Millie Warham
What an album, I can just endlessly spin it and lose myself in the whimsical melodies of the kinks. Genius
Silvino Gutierrez
One of my favorite kinks album. I always felt Ray Davies was never acknowledged for his song writing during the sixties.
Silvino Gutierrez
@Lost Machinima if you listen to 'See My Friends" by the kinks, was the first time an Indian sound was heard. Although it's not a sitar, but I had heard that when George Harrison was hanging out with Dave Davies and heard this song he immediately bought a used sitar to use on the Beatles Norwegian Woods song.
1+1 hosted by Youri Smouter (sometimes Yuri)
beautiful song! I find the Kinks in many ways and songs like this are underrated.
lgbpop
I love the gradual, layered construction of this song. It goes out the way it comes in.
MrGoldenthroat
Another Ray Davies gleaming jewel to be savored by all with astonishment!
wayne elliott
Another Masterpiece from the pen of Genius Songwriter Ray Davies.
Stephanie Dutton
Love it!
Out RAjious
Dedicated to my lost brother Harvey Curry... he played this album endlessly... this and Rainy Day in June
total stranger
Great song! Great record!