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)
Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking Vernacular
God save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups, and virginity
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliates
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
God save the Village Green!
The Kinks's song "The Village Green Preservation Society" is a hymn for those who, despite living in a fast-changing world, are determined to hold on to traditional values and ways of life, as well as preserving the beauty of nature and the charm of small-town living. The song is an ode to nostalgia, where the band lists different appreciation societies that celebrate everyday things such as draught beer, custard pie, and Mrs. Mopp. The lyrics may appear quirky, but they reflect the singing of praises to what may seem like mundane things, but are symbols of lost times and rejections of the modern world's progressions.
The lyrics also highlight the importance of preserving the old ways from being abused while protecting the new ways. This message shows a desire to cling to the beauty and positivity of the past while accepting some of the benefits of modern society. The song's chorus echoes this sentiment, calling on God to save Donald Duck, vaudeville, variety, and the village green, signifying that preservation of history and tradition is vital.
Line by Line Meaning
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
We are a group of people who are committed to preserving and protecting the traditional way of life in our village.
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We value and appreciate old-fashioned entertainments like Donald Duck cartoons, vaudeville shows, and variety acts.
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
We are fans of Desperate Dan, a comic book character who embodies the spirit of our village.
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
We cherish simple pleasures like strawberry jam, and enjoy the variety that life has to offer.
Preserving the old ways from being abused
We work to keep traditional customs and practices from being corrupted or destroyed.
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
We also support new innovations and ideas, and strive to create a balance between the old and the new.
What more can we do?
We wonder if there is anything else we can do to safeguard the things we cherish.
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
We are beer enthusiasts who want to preserve the British tradition of serving beer from a cask or keg, rather than from a bottle or can.
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley
We honor beloved characters from British comedy, Mrs. Mopp and Mother Riley.
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
We enjoy the silly and playful humor of throwing custard pies in each other's faces.
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them
We respect the bravery and sacrifice of those who have earned the George Cross, the highest civilian award for bravery in the UK.
Ooh ooh ooh
This is a musical interlude, with no specific meaning.
We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking Vernacular
We appreciate the classic British detective stories of Sherlock Holmes, and the mysteries he solves.
God save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We also enjoy the darker side of fiction, with iconic villains like Fu Manchu, Professor Moriarty, and Dracula.
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
We sympathize with those who feel trapped in corporate office environments, and want to support individuality and creativity.
God save little shops, china cups, and virginity
We advocate for the importance of small independent shops, the beauty of china cups, and care for one's virginity.
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliates
We believe that the construction of modern skyscrapers is destroying the character and history of traditional neighborhoods.
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards
We value the beauty and craftsmanship of Tudor architecture, antique furniture, and the game of billiards.
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
We reiterate our commitment to preserving and protecting our way of life.
God save the Village Green!
We call upon a higher power to protect and safeguard the heart of our village, the Village Green.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
matafuko
"We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded'em"
Every rhyming couplet in this song is a work of art.
Hannah F.
If you like sentences like this, try KMFDM's "Megalomaniac." Musically, as far from the Kinks as you get. But some fun turns of phrase.
ShredtillurDEAD
@Hannah F. Sucks is another great KMFDM song dripping with sarcasm
Stihl_joking
This song is amzing I have never heard it till I was watching Clarksen farm season 2
ZippyMufo
@ShredtillurDEAD Who says Davies is being sarcastic? He's spoken out in favor of English village life many times over the years.
Drew Sturgeon
Ray is by far the most imaginative songwriters of all time! The rest of 60s pop were extremely jealous.
Nate Kang
This album as a whole is a masterpiece
CatPianoClassics
We must deal with those who decide to thumbs this video down... For the greater good.
Funeral Giggle
The greater good!
nyyfanvkamath
SHUT IT!!!!!