Retro Music 25

~ beetleypete

The Kinks were a London-based pop group formed in 1963 by two brothers, Ray and Dave Davies. In 1964, they had a hit with the song ‘You Really Got Me’, and that attracted my attention at the age of 12. Three years later, they released a track from their latest album. It was called ‘Waterlo Sunset’, and I immediately identified with the lyrics. It is almost a hymn to London sung in an English accent, and still as relevant today as it was when I was 15.

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night?
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don’t need no friends
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine (Waterloo sunset’s fine)
Terry meets Julie
Waterloo station
Every Friday night
But I am so lazy, don’t want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I don’t feel afraid
As long as I gaze on
Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset’s fine (Waterloo sunset’s fine)
Millions of people swarming like flies ’round
Waterloo underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on
Waterloo Sunset
They are in paradise
Waterloo sunset’s fine (Waterloo sunset’s fine)
Waterloo sunset’s fine
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Raymond Douglas Davies

41 thoughts on “Retro Music 25”

  1. Massive fan of The Kinks, I even managed to go and see them in Manchester in the 80’s, but they had sold the right’s to their songs by then and couldn’t play any of the old stuff. Still a good night 🙂

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      1. I had a quick read and i think it was because they changed record label around that time and restrictions applied. Just as well I had bought the album they were promoting ‘Think Visual’ and I could sing along 🙂

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  8. They were more than popular in NZ. Waterloo Sunset was an absolute anthem and as soon as i was at the training school I waited in a pub nearby till sunset and walked to the bridge and sang the song. I was not on my own. (the song doesn’t specify the bridge but more the train station but the bridge is really the only place you’ll see a sunset from at ground level).
    I was there 1982 the day a large choir lined both sides of the bridge and the river banks and sang it to mark 15 years. After 40 years this was repeated with Ray Davies himself singing it.

    Why is this song one of the worlds classics? The answer is getting a triangle right which is rarely done musically. A blend of good lyrics from a true story where you can’t help but listen to, coupled with a blended rhythm guitar, a great melody and lead guitar work and painting a mood. You only have to hear the 1st bar and you know its Waterloo Sunset. Pete will understand here – but I often drive around London on Google Earth with this song blaring away.
    A couple of other comments. Waterloo bridge I believe built by the women during WW2 & the reason the song is not on bands/ singers set lists is because of the chorus lyrics being slightly different each time and it turns them off as it causes mistakes. When I sing it I just use the same chorus each time.
    Sorry Pete – I kept this short !!! = you pulled my heart strings here.

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    1. Can I specify what I mean about the lyrics being different . . .
      (1) But I don’t need no friends
      (2) But I don’t feel afraid
      (3) And they don’t need no friends
      then
      (1&2) I am in paradise
      (3) They are in paradise

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  12. I just asked Alexa to play this for me…a gorgeous song – and boy, what a string of hits this band had…one of the later 70’s efforts called “Sleepwalker” is a favorite of mine, with the beautiful song “Stormy Sky”

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  16. Pingback: Retro Music 25 | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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