In the satirical style that Ray Davies had become known for in his earlier works such as the Kinks 1966 hit, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, the lyrics juxtapose the paternalist aspirations of the British Empire in the Victorian age, "Land of my Victoria/Land of hope and gloria", with the grim realities of life in Britain during the nineteenth century, "Sex was bad and obscene/And the rich were so mean", and expresses the simple adulation of the queen and country by the working class, "Though I am poor, I am free/When I grow I shall fight/For this land I shall die".
The music starts with a simple electric blues riff under the lyrics, and builds to an exuberant climax with brass and strings at the "Land of hope and gloria" bridge. The play-out features brass, heavy rock guitar and raucous background vocals from Dave Davies, and a "psychedelic" effect is achieved by use of an Indian-style drone, reminiscent of the effect on the group's 1965 single, "See My Friends", and by then familiar to audiences from recordings by The Byrds and The Beatles.
Victoria
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sex was bad, called obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
In a land that I love
Though I am poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let her sun never set
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From to the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
The Kinks's "Victoria" is an ode to the eponymous queen of the British Empire during whose reign (1837-1901) the country reached its zenith in terms of power, prosperity and colonial expansion. The song starts with a satirical take on the Victorian era, when social mores were stricter and sexual prudishness was the norm. The singer sings, "Long ago life was clean, sex was bad, called obscene, and the rich were so mean", suggesting that the restrictive society was hypocritical and oppressive. But then, he goes on to praise his native land and the Queen, describing "stately homes for the Lords, croquet lawns, village greens" as part of the idyllic landscape that he loves. Victoria, who is being addressed with almost religious fervor, is presented as a unifying force that embraces all classes and races. The chorus repeats her name several times, as if to evoke a feeling of loyalty and pride.
The second verse reaffirms the singer's sense of patriotism and duty towards Britain - "When I grow I shall fight, for this land I shall die, let her sun never set". This phrase was often used to describe the vastness of the British Empire, where it was said, "the sun never sets on its territories". The notion that British people were willing to die for their country was embedded in the Victorian ethos of honor, courage and sacrifice. The bridge of the song lists various far-flung territories that were under British rule, such as Canada, India, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Again, the Queen is seen as the unifying force that bound these disparate lands into a cohesive whole.
Overall, "Victoria" is a nostalgic and celebratory song that idealizes an era in British history that was marked by progress, ambition and pride. While acknowledging some of the drawbacks of the period, such as sexual repression and class inequality, the song chooses to focus on the positive aspects and to portray Victoria as a symbol of unity and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago life was clean
In the past, society was more conservative and rules around expression of sexuality were stricter.
Sex was bad, called obscene
Sex was viewed as inappropriate and frowned upon by society.
And the rich were so mean
Wealthy people were often seen as arrogant and unkind towards the poor.
Stately homes for the Lords
Large, grand homes were reserved for the aristocracy.
Croquet lawns, village greens
Leisure activities such as croquet were popular among the upper class, and village greens were a common space for the community.
Victoria was my queen
The singer feels a sense of admiration and loyalty towards Queen Victoria.
I was born, lucky me
The singer feels fortunate to have been born in their homeland.
In a land that I love
The artist has a deep affection for their country.
Though I am poor, I am free
Despite not being wealthy, the artist feels a sense of freedom in their country.
When I grow I shall fight
The artist is willing to fight for their country and its values.
For this land I shall die
The singer is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Let her sun never set
The artist hopes that their country will never lose its global influence and power.
Land of hope and gloria
The singer views their country as a place of promise and greatness.
Land of my Victoria
The singer feels a strong connection to their country's history and heritage, specifically referencing their queen.
Canada to India
The British Empire spanned many countries and continents.
Australia to Cornwall
The British Empire had territory all over the world.
Singapore to Hong Kong
The British Empire had a presence in many cities and regions.
From the West to the East
The British Empire had a global influence that spanned from west to east.
From to the rich to the poor
The singer suggests that Queen Victoria loved and represented all people, regardless of their economic status.
Victoria loved them all
The artist believes that Queen Victoria had a deep affection for all people in the British Empire.
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, 'toria
Throughout the song, the artist repeatedly calls out to Queen Victoria in admiration and reverence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Tennyson
First heard this song as a kid at the local swimming pool on AM radio in south Texas. The girls were dancing around the pool.
What a memory.
Johmathan .B. Swift
Awesome memory.
Thanks for sharing it.
That SeventiesRockFan
I have loved this song all my life and will love it for the rest of my life.
Andrew Smith
I love this song so much I named my daughter Victoria
Sean C
I always loved this song...has such a catchy hook and positive vibe!
Chris Botelho
The Kinks at the top of their game in 1969. Everything about this song is spot on.
Charles Bronson
Masterpiece
Christopher Abbott
From about 2:50 in til the end, their hollering and whooping in the background is so cool! You can tell they were having a blast all in one studio!
James Borge
Me gusta mucho este tema.
Onur
"Kids, you can't talk yourself into falling in love. It doesn't take days of deliberation. When it's real, you know pretty quickly, and with absolute certainty. I had forgotten that, but I was about to be reminded."