Till The End Of The Day
“I had just had my first child with my wife. I was being overwhelmed by family. I didn’t go to clubs or anything. My manager thought I’d dried up, and I was quite depressed and strung out. A songwriter named Mort Shuman told me not to try so hard and enjoy life. So, after a few days off, I came back and thought, “I’ve got to make everybody think I’m OK.” So my first rhyme was, “Baby, I feel good.” And then, “From the moment I rise, feel good from morning till the end of the day.” Which was a total lie.”Ray Davies (65)
Waterloo Sunset
“This was romantic lyrical song about my older sister’s generation. Maybe the love of her life, walking into the future, crossing the bridge [Waterloo Bridge in London – Ed]. “Terry” and “Julie” were big, famous actors at the time. It was that generation that survived World War II.”Ray Davies (65)
Lola
“It’s a love song, and the person they fall in love with is a transvestite. It’s not their fault – they didn’t know – but you know it’s not going to last. It was based on a story about my manager.”Ray Davies (65)
“Sexual ambiguity interests me. I used to go to this club in Paris. One time my manager was dancing with this beautiful black girl who turned out to be a guy in drag. He didn’t realize it until about six in the morning, when the stubble started showing. I wrote ‘Lola’ about a year afterwards.”Ray Davies (120)
A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
“My brother wanted to leave the band around this time [1978 – Ed]. The bass player and the keyboard player both announced they didn’t want to make another record after “Misfits”. The song was almost a homage to them; if you listen to the lyrics, it’s about someone leaving the band because they’ve given up the cause, and the two brothers will find a way through this. As I was writing it, it was announced that Elvis Presley died. I was staying in New York at the time, and I looked out the window at about five in the morning, and there was one light on in a building, and that became the character “Dan the Fan”. I refer to Elvis dying: “The King is dead, rock is done. You might be through, but I’ve just begun.” This great innovator has passed away, but the cause will go on.”Ray Davies (65)
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