Rock

The song “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks is perfect Sixties British Invasion music. This wry song, written by group member Ray Davies, was released as a single and as a track on The Kinks’s 1966 album Face to Face. Davies said that he did not want people to sympathize with the narrator of the song, so he made him into a sort of fallen, “lazing” aristocrat “who perhaps had not been nice to his girlfriend. And, in 1966, “Sunny Afternoon” went to #1 in the U.K, Ireland, Canada, and The Netherlands. It rose to #14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #2 in New Zealand and Sweden, and #7 in Germany.

The Kinks formed in London, England, in 1963, and were part of the British Invasion of the U.S. Group members for “Sunny Afternoon” were Ray Davids (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, mellotron), Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals), Pete Qaife (bass guitar, backing vocals) Mick Avory (drums percussion). Session musician Nicky Hopkins was on keyboards (harmonium on this song). They had numerous lineup changes over the years and toured and performed for many decades.

Here are the lyrics to “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks:

“The taxman’s taken all my dough
And left me in my stately home
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

And I can’t sail my yacht
He’s taken everything I’ve got
All I’ve got’s this sunny afternoon

Save me, save me
Save me from this squeeze
I’ve got a big fat momma trying to break me

And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime

My girlfriend’s run off with my car
And gone back to her ma and pa
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty

Now I’m sitting here
Sipping at my ice cold beer
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

Help me, help me, help me sail away
Well give me two good reasons
Why I ought to stay

‘Cause I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime

Ah save me, save me
Save me from this squeeze
I’ve got a big fat momma tryin’ to break me

And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime”

For other songs by The Kinks: “You Really Got Me,” “Tired of Waiting for You,” and “A Well Respected Man.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks.