The Kinks

[fox69]

"Oh Where Oh Where Is Love?"

"Oh Where Oh Where Is Love?"


[Sung by: The Tramp and the Do-Gooders]

In a world full of jive,
Full of homicide and suicide,
There's no room for love and romance.
In a world full of spite
Full of hatefulness and bitterness,
Sincerity don't stand a chance.
And every night I close my eyes
And ask the stars above,
Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where is love?

Where is love and romance,
And appreciation of storybooks, fairytales
And the ordinary things people did long ago.
Where did it go?
Where is love?
Where is hope?
Where is sympathy and trust?
Where is faith?
Where is joy in simplicity?
And where is regard and respect?
Oh where, oh where is love?
This world is spinning and turning
And my head is full of learning,
But my thoughts keep on returning
To the things I used to know.
I should be stronger,
But my mind continually wanders
And deep inside
A voice keeps crying
Where, oh where is love?

Where is love and romance,
And appreciation of storybooks, fairytales,
And the ordinary things people did long ago?
Where did it go?
In a world full of jive,
Full of homicide and suicide,
There's no room for love and romance.
In a world full of rape,
Full of hatefulness and bitterness,
Sincerity don't stand a chance.
And every night I close my eyes
And ask the stars above,
Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where is love?
Where oh where is love?
Where is Love?
Where is hope?
Where is sympathy and trust?
Where is faith?
Where is joy and simplicity
And where is regard and respect?
Oh where, oh where is love?
Oh where oh where is love?
Oh where oh where is love?

 

[fox69]

"Oh! What A Day It's Gonna Be"

"Oh! What A Day It's Gonna Be"



I can see
Oh what a day it's gonna be
There'll never be another like it
As far as I can see

'Cause the world's gonna know
When they see our good times grow
Oh yes, today, girl
Oh what a day it's gonna be

'Cause I can hear
The birds are singing
It seems a better life beginning
And all the mist will clear

'Cause the sun is gonna shine
And keep shining all the time
Oh yes, today, girl
Oh what a day it's gonna be

I can see
Oh what a day it's gonna be
It seems the very air I'm breathing
Is bringing you to me

And then when our days are few
We'll remember things we're doing
Yes, today, girl
Oh what a day it's gonna be

 

[fox69]

"Oklahoma U.S.A."

"Oklahoma U.S.A."



All life we work but work is bore,
If life's for livin' what's livin' for,
She lives in a house that's near decay,
Built for the industrial revolution,
But in her dreams she is far away,
In Oklahoma U.S.A.
With Shirley Jones and Gordon McRea,
As she buys her paper at the corner shop,
She's walkin' on the surrey with the fringe on top,
Cos in her dreams she is far away,
In Oklahoma U.S.A.,
She walks to work but she's still in a daze,
She's Rita Hayworth or Doris Day,
And Errol Flynn's gonna take her away,
To Oklahoma U.S.A.,
All life we work but work is a bore,
If life's for livin' then what's livin' for.

 

[fox69]

"On The Outside"

"On The Outside"



You stay at home,
All on your own with nothing but walls to talk to.
You never go anywhere,
You say you've nothing to wear,
So you keep all your troubles inside of you.
There's something hidden in you,
And you keep it out of view.
You shouldn't feel any guilt,
Or have any doubts,
You gotta let yourself out whilst there's something left of you

Hey baby blue,
Don't hide your troubles inside.
I'd sure like to knoe you,
And there's so much to show you on the outside.
Somehow I know that we are goona get by,
So stop acting like a ladfy come and cry like a baby on the outside
Outside
I know that the weather is fine,
Outside
I know we're gonna be alright.
Somehow I know that we are goonna survive.
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like a baby on the outside
On the outside

You think you're a freak,
And you're afraid to compete,
In a world that you thinks got it down on you,
You're a closet queen,
You think it's obscene,
To let the people see what's deep inside of you.
I know what you're going through,
But what you are is nothing new,
So don't feel ashamed
'Cos you're not to blame,
Role up the blinds and let the sun come shining through.

Hey baby blue
Don't hide your troubles inside,
You should be glad in the gay,
Nobody cares anyway on the outside.
Somehow I know that we are gonna get by,
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like a baby on the outside.
Outside
I know that the weather is fine
Outside
I know it's gonna be alright.
Somehow I know that we are gonna get by,
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like baby on the outside.
On the outside
On the outside

 

[fox69]

"Once A Thief"

"Once A Thief"



So you've decided to set me free
I've paid my debt to society
Fresh out of jail trying to make a new start
On the street with a bitter heart
But my past keeps on haunting me
There ain't no chance for a man with my history

Once a thief
Always a suspect
Once a liar
Never be believed
Will they ever forget that
I was once a thief?

I was out in the cold
I was soaked to the skin
I needed a home
And your heart took me in
Then I heard all the lies
And I lost my belief
You threw away my hope
And you called me a thief

So you've decided to set me free
I'm out of jail but you've still got the key
There was a time when I thought you respected me
But somehow you always suspected me

Once a thief
Always a suspect
Once a liar
Never be believed
Will they ever forget that
I was once a thief?

Instead of offering me charity,
You should've tried to put some faith in me
Instead of making me a better man,
You kept reminding me of what I am

Instead of offering me charity,
You should've tried to put some faith in me
How many years must a criminal pay?
Until he's old and his hair turns to gray
You smile at me
But I know underneath
You're thinking
Once a thief always a suspect.

Once a thief
Always a suspect
Once a liar
Never be believed
Will they ever forget that
I was once a thief?

 

[fox69]

"One Fine Day"

"One Fine Day"



One fine day now,
My baby's coming back home to me.
One fine day now,
We'll be as happy as happy can be.

Well I saw my baby comin' up across the hill
Well I'm a hootin' and a hollerin' 'cause I love her still
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day

One fine day now,
My baby's arms will hold me tight.
One fine day now,
I know our love's gonna be all right.

Well I saw my baby comin' up across the hill
Well I'm a hootin' and a hollerin' 'cause I love her still
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day

Yeah!

Whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day

One fine day now,
My baby's coming back home to me.
One fine day now,
We'll be as happy as happy can be.

Well I saw my baby comin' up across the hill
Well I'm a hootin' and a hollerin' 'cause I love her still
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day

Whoa yeah, one fine day
I said whoa yeah, one fine day
...

 

[fox69]

"One Of The Survivors"

"One Of The Survivors"


[Sung by Johnny Thunder and Chorus]

See Johnny Thunder sitting on his motorbike
Riding along the highway,
Rock and Roll songs from the nineteen-fifties
Buzzing around in his brain.
Johnny Thunder he's one of the original bebop generation
And he's got no time for complicated music or too much sophistication.

He's one of the survivors,
The motorbike riders.
You ought to see Johnny Thunder riding down the highway
One of the rock and roll survivors,
Twelve bars flowing through his brain.
He digs Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion and The Belmonts,
And Johnny & The Hurricanes.

He plays Hound Dog, Oh Boy, and Great Balls of Fire
And Boppin' At The High School Hop.
And he's got no time for phonies or posers
'Cos they don't know how to reel and rock.
And he plays Little Egypt and Ooh Poo Pah Doo,
And he plays Poison Ivy and Blue Suede Shoes,
The Hollywood Argyles, Danny & The Juniors,
Dion & The Belmonts, Johnny & The Hurricanes.

He's one of the survivors,
The boppers and the jivers,
Yeah and he rocks all day.
Johnny & The Hurricanes, Johnny & The Hurricanes.

Got my freedom riding along the freeway.
I ride a hundred miles an hour but I don't mess up my D.A.
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll.
You can't stop rock 'n' rollin' music play.
([Repeat] last two lines)

Feel those vibrations flow in my brain.
Got my freedom riding down the highway,
Keeps me sane, feel alive,
I'm one of the survivors.

Feel all right.
First gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, all right.
Old Johnny Thunder looks a little overweight,
And his sideburns are turning grey.
But he still likes to bebop, boogie and jive
To his worn out seventy-eights.
Johnny Thunder.
He's alright.
He's one of the survivors,
Twelve bars flowing through his brain,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion & The Belmonts,
Johnny & The Hurricanes, Johnny & The Hurricanes.

 

[fox69]

"Only A Dream"

"Only A Dream"


Standing by the elevator
Feeling gloomy and down
Waiting for the flashing light
To lift me up from the ground
Then the elevator opened
And I saw her standing there
She had to be a young executive
She looked so corporate and clean
And I thought I'd seen her somewhere before
On the cover of a magazine
I didn't think she'd even look at me
Or bother to glance my way
But she actually smiled at me and said
Hi-ya handsome, have a good day

[Chorus:]
I must be dreaming if she looks at me
I gotta be dreaming, is it a fantasy
Now I've got positive emotions
Buzzing 'round every molecule in me
I gotta be dreaming, is it reality
But over and over I live that memory
Was it real or only a dream
La la la la

Was it my imagination playing tricks on me
When she looked my way
Maybe she took me for somebody else
Whatever it was, it made my day, hey hey

I wake up in the morning
Smiling with anticipation
Suddenly I feel alive
Face the world with expectation
I must be dreaming this world is a better place
Was my imagination playing tricks on me
Was it real or only a dream?
I see a great big sunset
Where only clouds used to be
Was it all an illusion, is it fantasy
If it's just a dream
It's good enough for me, yeah yeah

Waiting by the elevator
Feeling optimistic and keen
Waiting for my executive goddess
To appear as if in a dream
Then the elevator opened
She was talking to another guy
And I tried to say hello to her
But I failed to even catch her eye
Then everybody crowded inside
And I sadly stood my ground
Thinking life's just like that elevator
It takes you up and brings you down

[Chorus]

Was it only an illusion
Was it real or only a dream

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Oobadiooba"

"Oobadiooba"



Oobadiooba, oobadiay
Everything's swingin', swingin my way
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
One thing is certain, I wanna say
Darlin' I love you, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah...

Feel I wanna laugh and shout
Cry "Hip hip hooray"
Now I know without a doubt
You are here to stay

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
We'll be together, come what may
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Feel I wanna laugh and shout
Cry "Hip hip hooray"
Now I know without a doubt
You are here to stay

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
We'll be together, come what may
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Oobadiooba, oobadiyay

 

[fox69]

"Ordinary People"

"Ordinary People"


[Star:]
I am the image maker. I am the magic
Maker. I can turn the most ordinary
Man in the world into a star. To prove
My point I am going to find the most
Mundane little man and turn him into
Celebrity. Hmm! This looks like a
Suitably uninteresting house. I wonder
If there's anybody here with enough
Star quality?

He presses the doorbell.

[Star:]
Hello. What's your name?

[Wife:]
Andrea.

[Star:]
Oh, that's a nice name. What's your
Husband's name?

[Wife:]
Norman.

[Star:]
His name's Norman. That sounds
Ordinary enough. I would like you to
Join in a unique experiment with me.
I am going to take Norman's place for
A few days. I 'm going to research his
Ordinary dull little existence.

[Wife:]
Oh you can't come in now! The place
Is in a terrible mess!

[Star:]
That doesn't matter. I want you to act
Normally. I want you to treat me as if I
Were Norman. I am going to sacrifice
My normal flamboyant life style and
Become ordinary, boring little Norman
For a few days.

Ordinary People

It's like another world, being here with you,
It's quite a trip for me, so this is reality.
I'm studying every movement, I'm trying to learn the part,
Now I want you to be natural, just relax and be as you are,
'Cos it's all for art, I want to observe the ordinary people

Tomorrow I shall become Norman,
I shall go to his office,
Mix with his workmates.
And if they ask any questions
I shall say I'm doing research for one of my songs.
Nomand and I are changing places
And I'm going to make him a star,
So I'm throwing away my stage suit and I'm packing away my guitar,
For the sake of art I'm gonna mix with the ordinary people.

[Star:]
God these pyjamas are awful!

[Wife:]
Awful? Well all I can say is my Norman wears them every night.

[Star:]
Alright, no sacrifice is too great for art!

The things I've done for music,
The things I've done for art.
So I'll make these sacrifices and I'll take it like a star
For the sake of art I will mix with the ordinary people.

[Star:]
You'd better come to bed darling.

[Wife:]
Coming! You'll never get up for work in the morning.

I'm making observations, and character simulations.
I'll mix with his friends and relations,
And he'll be a part of me.

[Chorus]
He's changing places with Norman,
To get background for his songs.

I'm immortalising his life
And I'll even sleep with his wife,
For the sake of art I'll go to bed like the ordinary people.

Turn out the light.
Turn out the light.

The Star exchanges his silver stage
Suit for Norman's pin stripe suit,
Umbrella and briefcase. He forsakes
His customary brandy and cigars and
Settles for a cup of hot chocolate before
Going to bed.

[Live version:]
Hey Norman, you're stayin' at home with your wife
And you dream you're a rock-n-roll star
But you've reached the point of no return
And you don't know who you really are
You're livin' in a fantasy world
You don't know what's real
How does it feel, all of your life
In an enchanted lie[?] [could be "eternal lie"?]

[Or possibly it's "Imitating lives of... the ordinary people"]

The ordinary people
The ordinary people
The ordinary people

Hey mister can you lend me a hand
Can you tell me who I really am
Am I just an ordinary guy
Or do I play in a rock-n-roll band
Are you all in my imagination
Are they only in my mind
'Cause I just don't know what to feel
When everything seems real

With the ordinary people
The ordinary people
The ordinary people