The Kinks

[fox69]

"Arthur"

"Arthur"



Arthur was born just a plain simple man
In a plain simple working class position
Though the world was hard and its ways were set
He was young and he had so much ambition
All the way he was overtaken
By the people who make the big decisions
But he tried and he tried for a better life
And a way to improve his own condition
If only life were easy it would be such fun
Things would be more equal and be plenty for everyone
Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Don't you know it, don't you know it
You can cry, cry all night but it won't make it right
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

Arthur we know and we sympathize
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur we like you and want to help you
Somebody loves you don't you know it

How is your life and your Shangri-la
And your long lost land of Hallelujah
And your hope and glory has passed you by
Can't you see what the world is doing to ya
And now we see your children
Sailing off in the setting sun
To a new horizon
Where there's plenty for everyone
Arthur, could be
That the world was wrong
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur, could be
You were right all along
Don't ya know it, I hope ya know it
Now we know and we sympathize
We'd like to help you and understand you
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Somebody loves you, don't ya know it
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it

Arthur the world's gone and passed you by
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
You can cry, cry all night
But it won't make it right
Don't ya know it, don't ya know it
Arthur we read you and understand you
Arthur we like you and want to help you
Oh! we love you and want to help you

 

[fox69]

"Artificial Light"

"Artificial Light"



Slow dancing in a disco,
Standing underneath the light show,
Illuminated by the artificial light.

I disbelieved it at first sight,
I couldn't tell if she was black or white,
It didn't matter in the artificial light,
Artificial light.
Artificial light.
Artificial light.
Artificial light.

First time I saw her she was easy to know,
She had nothing to hide, she put it all out to show.
She didn't cover up or try to conceal,
I knew the way that she felt 'cause her expression was real.
She didn't cover up the inside,
She showed it all on the outside,
Stark naked in the artificial light.

Everybody gotta learn to relax,
To be yourself you have to put on an act.
Get together in the artificial light.

And if I saw her in the light of day,
I wouldn't know what to say, I wouldn't know what had happened.
I only wanna know a world below,
Where we can be ourselves beneath an artificial glow.

And if you're scared what your friend'll say,
And you're embarrassed by the light of day,
Get together in the artificial light.

Everybody let yourself go,
Everybody to a floor show,
Get together in the artificial light.
Artificial light,
Artificial light,
Artificial light,
Artificial light.

 

[fox69]

"Artificial Man"

"Artificial Man"


[Scene:] After his capture, Flash is taken to a secret hideout to have
His brain cleansed, and his mind conditioned.
Flash, Mr. Black and the Mad Scientist sing:

[Flash:] I can't believe it's happening
I just want to stay the way that I am.
I don't want to live a lie in an artificial world.

[Mr. Black:] Let's build an antiseptic world,
Full of artificial people.
Cure all diseases, conquer pain
And monitor the human brain,
And see what thoughts you're thinking.
Observe your feelings,
Secret fears,
Controlling everything you say and do
And we will build a master race
To live within our artificial world.
Tell it to the people all across the land,
We're going to build an artificial man
With the physique of a Tarzan
And the profile of a Cary Grant,
A superior being
Totally made by hand.
Throw out imperfection,
Mould you section by section,
Gonna make you the ultimate creation.

[Flash:] I can visualise the day
When the world will be controlled by artificial people,
But I don't want to live a lie in an artificial world.

[Mr. Black:] Tell the world that we finally did it,
Made a man that's totally programmed,
Preconditioned thoughts and emotions,

Push-button artificial man.
Did you ever want to live forever?
Well here's your chance to be a total automaton
'Cos we've improved on God's creation
An outdated homo sapien.
Make you taller if you want it
Make your hair grow longer if you need it.
If it doesn't exist then I guess we can breed it.
There'll be no disagreements,
We'll dedicate our lives to achievements,
And organise your life and keep it totally planned.

[Flash:] I can visualise the day
When the world will be controlled by artificial people,
But I don't want to live a lie in an artificial world.

[Mr Black] Tell the world we finally did it.
[& Mad] Modified the population,
[Scientist:] Put your senses and your mind
Under constant observation
Even when you're dreaming.
Replaced your nose, heart and lungs,
So shake me with your artificial hand.
We went and built a master race
To live within our artificial world.

 

[fox69]

"Attitude"

"Attitude"


You go down the pub
You wear make up
And old dads trousers
Why don't you tidy up
You talk like a docker but you act like a queer
You drink champagne then complain it's too dear
You try so hard not to follow any trends
Then you cry in your beer and say you've got no friends
But is it any wonder that you've got no friends
But it's not the make up
Or the way you dress
It's not your appearance, that they all detest
It's not your manners, that you gotta improve
Ooooo-it's your attitude.

[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude

Take off your head phones
Hear what's going on
You can't live in a time zone
You've gotta move on
But before you get there
There's one thing you've gotta do
Oh change your attitude
It's your attitude
It's your attitude

[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude

The '80s are here, I know cuz I'm staring right at them
But you're still waiting for 1960 to happen

You might have the illness, but you've got the cure
You've got the answer, you will endure
You're the only person that's gonna pull you through
Ooh, with your attitude

[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude

You gotta learn to be positive, it's your only chance
You mustn't be so defensive, you gotta join in the dance
But it isn't your dancing that you've gotta improve
Ooh, it's your attitude.

[Chorus]
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude
Attitude, Oo Oo Oo
Your attitude

It's all the music
It's all in your brain
You've used all the old licks
Now it's all gotta change.
Change your attitude
It's your attitude
Attitude

 

[fox69]

"Australia"

"Australia"



Opportunities are available in all walks of life in Australia
So if you're young and if you're healthy
Why not get a boat and come to Australia

Australia, the chance of a lifetime
Australia, you get what you work for
Nobody has to be any better than what they want to be
Australia, no class distinction
Australia, no drug addiction
Nobody's got a chip on their shoulder
We'll surf like they do in the U.S.A.
We'll fly down to Sydney for our holiday
On sunny Christmas Day
Australia, Australia
No one hesitates at life or beats around the bush in Australia
So if you're young and if you're healthy
Why not get a boat and come to Australia
Australia sha-la-la-la sha-la-la-la
Australia sha-la-la-la sha-la-la-la
Everyone walks around with a perpetual smile across their face
Australia sha-la-la-la sha-la-la-la
Australia sha-la-la-la sha-la-la-la
Everyone gets around and nobody can ever get you down
We'll surf like they do in the U.S.A.
We'll fly down to Sydney for our holiday
On sunny Christmas Day
Australia, Australia

 

[fox69]

"Autumn Almanac"

"Autumn Almanac"


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.

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
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, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
[etc.]

 

[fox69]

"Babies"

"Babies"



Babies being born every day
In a world where there's so much to discover
All the babies crying out from the womb
Not much room, can I come out mother?

Mama, can you hear me call?
Don't drop me now
'Cos it's a long way to fall
Mama, I can hear all the sounds
Outside it's like a battleground
And I'm afraid to fall down
Into the great big nowhere
Papa's had a skin full of beer
Mama, don't let him into here
Baby, baby

Babies being born
Different hormones and genes
There's so many of us out there
How was I conceived
Was it love, was I meant
Or was I just an accident

Mama, what I sense from outside
It's a world full of fear
And there's nowhere to hide
Mama, I feel safe between these walls
And I'm so scared of heights
And it's a long way to fall
Into the great big nowhere
Maybe Papa's getting pressure from his peers
Are you straight, are you queer
So he made me, baby

Babies being born, some are rich, some are poor
But they're innocent and unprepared
Little girls and boys, didn't ask to be born
But they're always popping out there
Falling into the great big nowhere

Mama, I know that once upon a time
You and Papa were rich
When you were both in your prime
Mama, now you got the pains
And I know it's nearly time
But I don't want to join the crowd
I see standing in line
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby

Babies being induced, no excuse, what's the use
So they're always popping out there
Babies didn't wanna be born
Ill equipped, running loose
But they're innocent and unprepared

Mama, now you are showing all the signs
But is your world upside-down
On its head just like mine
Mama, now your ambition is mine
Don't make me over
Achieve too much in my time
Oh Mama, please don't make me climb
Mama

 

[fox69]

"Baby Face"

"Baby Face"



I never knew why I loved you so much
Maybe it's the way you look at me when you get up in the morning
I didn't need a shove,
I just fell in love,
With your little baby face

Baby face,
You got the prettiest little baby face
There isn't another one to take your place
Baby face
You got my heart a jumpin'
You sure have started something

Baby face,
I'm up in heaven when I'm in your firm embrace
I didn't need a shove,
I just fell in love
With your pretty little baby face

You got my heart a-jumpin'
You sure have started something

Baby face,
I'm up in heaven when I'm in your firm embrace
I didn't need a shove,
I just fell in love
With your pretty little baby face,
Pretty little baby face,
Pretty little baby face.

 

[fox69]

"Back To Front"

"Back To Front"



Just come back where I came from,
Looks the same as something's wrong.
And all my friends that used to be,
Have gone and turned their backs on me.
Everyone's got different views,
Now I'm all shook up and all confused.

East is West, left is right,
Up is down, and black is white,
Inside-out, wrong is right,
It's back to front and I'm all uptight.

I've just come back from fantasy,
Right back to reality.
Stayed away too long but now I've found,
My world is turning upside-down.
I don't fit in but I don't stand out,
I should stay cool but want to shout.

East is West, left is right,
Up is down, and black is white,
Inside-out, wrong is right,
It's back to front and I'm all uptight.

No one knows where I come from,
"Who are you and what do you want?"
You've thrown away all that we had,
It's down the drain, it's all gone mad.
The word is out, I've seen the sign,
So you go your way, I go mine.

East is West, left is right,
Up is down, and black is white,
Inside-out, wrong is right,
It's back to front and I'm all uptight.

East is West, left is right,
Up is down, and black is white,
Inside-out, wrong is right,
It's back to front and I'm all uptight (alright).
It's back to front and I'm all uptight (alright, alright, alright, alright).

Are you listening?
(NO!)
Well then, I'll have to do it all over again!

 

[fox69]

"Bald Headed Woman"

"Bald Headed Woman"



Well I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean

Well I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, oh, make me mean

Well I've been driving on bald headed mountain
I've done my time, done my time
I've been driving on a bald headed mountain
I've done my time, oh, done my time
Done my time, done my time, done my time

Well I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean
I don't want no sugar in my coffee
Gonna make me mean, oh, make me mean

I don't want no bald headed woman
Gonna make me mean, yes, love, it make me mean