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)
Where Did My Spring Go
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where did the trees go?
Where did the sun go?
Where did the bluebirds fly?
Why did the rainbow turn into shadows?
Why am I cold now?
Why does my skin sag?
Why do my feet ache?
Where did my youth go?
Where did my life go?
Remember walking in the rain,
And getting soaking wet,
Now I got rheumatic pains,
And I really do regret it.
Where did my teeth go?
Where did my muscles go?
Where did my shoulders go?
Where did my chest go?
When you were loving me,
You were just using me.
You would employ me,
You would destroy me.
Now all I've got are varicose veins.
Where did the spring go?
Where did my hormones go?
Where did my energy go?
Where did my go go?
Where did the pleasure go?
Where did my hair go?
Remember all those sleepless nights,
Making love by candlelight,
And every time you took my love,
You were shortening my life.
Where did my teeth go?
Where did my hair go?
Where did my shoulders go?
Where did my chest go?
Where did my hormones go?
Where did my go go?
Where did my energy go?
Where did my skin go?
Where did my muscles go?
Where did my liver go?
Where did my heart go?
Where did my bones go?
The Kinks’ “Where Did My Spring Go” is a melancholic reflection on aging and the passing of time. The singer in the song is looking back on his past, trying to come to terms with what he’s lost over time. The song is focused on the physical and emotional toll that aging can take on a person, from the loss of youthful energy to deterioration of the body. The lyrics question where all the important things in life have gone - spring, trees, sun, bluebirds fly, and rainbows - and suggest that these things have been replaced by shadows and discomforts like rheumatic pains, sagging skin, back pain, and varicose veins.
The song juxtaposes the idea of love with the physical and emotional hardships of aging. The singer reminisces about making love by candlelight and all the sleepless nights he spent with his lover. However, he also recognizes that every time his lover took his love, it was shortening his life. The song suggests that love is fleeting and temporary and that the physical and emotional toll of aging is inevitable and inescapable.
Overall, “Where Did My Spring Go” is a poignant and introspective song that reflects on the complexities and struggles of the aging process. It highlights the physical and emotional changes that occur as we grow older and reflects on the importance of cherishing the moments we have in life before they pass us by.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did the spring go?
Asking where the vitality and newness of life has gone
Where did the trees go?
Asking where the life and growth of nature has disappeared
Where did the sun go?
Asking where the warmth and light of happiness has vanished
Where did the bluebirds fly?
Asking where the freedom of youth and lightheartedness has gone
Why did the rainbow turn into shadows?
Pondering why the beauty and joy of life has vanished into darkness
Why am I cold now?
Reflecting on how the warmth and passion of youth have faded away
Why does my skin sag?
Noticing the physical signs of aging and wondering what happened to youthfulness
Why ain't my back straight?
Observing the effects of aging on posture and physical health
Why do my feet ache?
Experiencing the physical toll of living a long life
Where did my youth go?
Expressing nostalgia and sadness about the passage of time
Where did my life go?
Feeling lost and wondering how so much time has passed without being noticed
Remember walking in the rain,
Recalling the memories of happy, carefree times
And getting soaking wet,
Remembering the details of those happy times when things were simple and fun
Now I got rheumatic pains,
Feeling the physical effects of aging and time passing
And I really do regret it.
Feeling sorrow for the way things have turned out, particularly in light of happy memories
Where did my teeth go?
Bemoaning the effects of time on physical health and being incredulous about how teeth have vanished
Where did my muscles go?
Noticing the loss of muscle mass with age
Where did my shoulders go?
Noticing that the body has begun to sag and that shoulders are less broad than they once were
Where did my chest go?
Observing the effects of time on the body, particularly the loss of muscle in the chest area
When you were loving me,
Thinking back to times when love and connection were shared with another person
You were just using me.
Realizing that the love and connection were not truly mutual, but were being exploited for another person's benefit
You would employ me,
Remembering a time of being controlled and used by another person
You would destroy me.
Recognizing that the exploitation led to harm and damage over time
Now all I've got are varicose veins.
Feeling resigned to the ways in which the body has changed for the worse over time
Where did my hormones go?
Observing the changes in emotional responses and energy levels that come with age
Where did my go go?
Seeing a loss of physical energy and vitality with age and the passage of time
Where did the pleasure go?
Noticing the absence of joy and excitement in life
Where did my hair go?
Noticing changes to physical appearance with age, including hair loss
Remember all those sleepless nights,
Recalling the high energy and passion of love and youth
Making love by candlelight,
Recalling romantic encounters with someone in the past
And every time you took my love,
Realizing how much was given in these encounters and the hurt that ultimately followed
You were shortening my life.
Realizing that the near constant expenditure of time and energy could have been put to better use and that the cost was ultimately high
Where did my skin go?
Feeling like changes to the physical body have come suddenly and out of nowhere
Where did my liver go?
Noticing physical changes in organ function and longevity
Where did my heart go?
Noticing that the emotional intensity and passion from earlier life experiences have begun to fade or are gone altogether
Where did my bones go?
Pondering the effects of time on the physical structure of the body
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ce5890
Genius
@mistermerlin8917
This one cuts to the bone.
@johnhedgerguitarstudio3436
Ray Davies is pure genius! This song is funny as hell yet it is also a rock masterpiece! Rhythmically the way they change grooves and manipulate tempos is extremely effective in this tune. This lyrical mastery is to me a culmination of rock artistry which began with Chuck Berry (Chuck's influences go back to the great Louis Jordan among others) and an art/lyric tradition that was carried out by Ray Davies, John Lennon, Pete Townsend, Warren Zevon, etc..etc.. It's entertaining yet also very intelligent, yet also has an element of innocence, cuteness, and social awareness... A great example of Ray's genius!
@LaughingStock_
THE GREATEST SONGSMITH/POET TO COME OUT OF ENGLAND.
@johnthomas736
A🇬🇧 classic 👻
@ponyboygarfunkel1675
That is a very heavy number, which appeared on "The Great Lost Kinks" album, which I repeatedly played in the seventies while a student at Slippery Rock State College. Heck, I still spend my time drawing pictures in the sand...
@timroth7458
That was a wonderful album--"Pictures In The Sand" was a fun one. Thanks for remembering that one!
@milk_cow_blues
"Remember all those sleepless nights,
Making love by candlelight,
And every time you took my love,
You were shortening my life"
Man, those lyrics...
@LaughingStock_
Ray did it time and time and time again. "Tea, and toasted buttered current buns -are to compensate for lack of sun ... "
@TheLobohobo
💥😷☝🏻