The Ray Davies Appreciation thread

[dirtysanta]

My favourite lyricist by far..

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar,
When the dawn begins to crack.
It's all part of my autumn almanac.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow,
So I sweep them in my sack.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

Friday evenings, people get together,
Hiding from the weather.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun,
Because the summer's all gone.

Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

I like my football on a Saturday,
Roast beef on Sundays, all right.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays,
Sit in the open sunlight.

This is my street, and I'm never gonna to leave it,
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine,
Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away,
Because it's calling me
Hear it calling me

Oh, my autumn ........................


Fucking genius. x

 

[Belushi]

He has written some classic songs, Waterloo Sunset is one of my all time favourites.

 

[Belushi]

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes 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

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

Millions of people swarming like flies ’round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And the don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset’s fine

 

[dirtysanta]

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes 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

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

Millions of people swarming like flies ’round waterloo underground
But terry and julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And the don’t need no friends
As long as they gaze on waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset’s fine

*gets all misty eyed*

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

"A man lives at the corner of the street
And his neighbors think he’s helpful and he’s sweet
’cause he never swears and he always shakes you by the hand
But no one knows he really is a plastic man

He’s got plastic heart, plastic teeth and toes
(yeah, he’s plastic man)
He’s got plastic knees and a perfect plastic nose
(yeah, he’s plastic man)
He’s got plastic lips that hide his plastic teeth and gums
And plastic legs that reach up to his plastic bum
(plastic bum)

Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don’t feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can’t disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man (plastic man)

He’s got plastic flowers growing up the walls
He eats plastic food with a plastic knife and fork
He likes plastic cups and saucers ’cause they never break
And he likes to lick his gravy off a plastic plate

Plastic man got no brain
Plastic man don’t feel no pain
Plastic people look the same
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Kick his shin or tread on his face
Pull his nose all over the place
He can’t disfigure, or disgrace
Plastic man (plastic man)

He’s got a plastic wife who wears a plastic mac
(yeah, he’s plastic man)
And his children wanna be plastic like their dad
(yeah, he’s plastic man)
He’s got a phony smile that makes you think he understands
But no one ever gets the truth from plastic man (plastic man)

Plastic man (plastic man)".

Just bought the new solo album, 'Other People's Lives', which will get a spin v. shortly.

Fucking genius.

 

[Sunspots]

My favourites are Big Sky and Wonder Boy.

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

My favourites are Big Sky and Wonder Boy.

'Wonder Boy' is teh cool.

And also 'Starstruck', which I've always felt is of a similar ilk. A lot of the lesser known vignettes are where some of the shiniest treasure lies.

 

[Sunspots]

I'm a bit saddened though by the recent news that Ray Davies has sold off a bunch of his best songs to US advertisers.

"-So what!?..." I hear you cry. "-Everybody else does it, so why can't he?..." -I know, I know. I just thought he was different to all the rest...

He's still a great songwriter though, regardless.

 

[William of Walworth]

I've seen him live, just him and a guitar at a Sunday afternoon (ie mellow ) slot at the Cambridge Folk Festival, a few years back.

He was SUPERB and included many of the old tunes including Autumn Almanac.

He is the coolest.

x 10,000

 

[cathal marcs]

I love Dead End Street

There's a crack up in the ceiling,
And the kitchen sink is leaking.
Out of work and got no money,
A Sunday joint of bread and honey.

What are we living for?
Two-roomed apartment on the second floor.
No money coming in,
The rent collector's knocking, trying to get in.

We are strictly second class,
We don't understand,
(Dead end!)
Why we should be on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are living on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

On a cold and frosty morning,
Wipe my eyes and stop me yawning.
And my feet are nearly frozen,
Boil the tea and put some toast on.

What are we living for?
Two-roomed apartment on the second floor.
No chance to emigrate,
I'm deep in debt and now it's much too late.

We both want to work so hard,
We can't get the chance,
(Dead end!)
People live on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are dying on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

(Dead end!)
People live on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
People are dying on dead end street.
(Dead end!)
Gonna die on dead end street.

Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Head to my feet (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
How's it feel? (yeah)
How's it feel? (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)
Dead end street (yeah)

Albums this song

 

[William of Walworth]

He did that one at Cambridge too!!!

Mmmm beer ...