The Village Green Preservation Society

The Kinks

About The Village Green Preservation Society

"The Village Green Preservation Society" is a single by the English rock group the Kinks. Written by Ray Davies, the song is a nostalgic reflection on cultural English "village green", country, and hamlet lifestyle, and references many different characteristics and features of it, such as Tudor houses and draught beer. At the same time, it speaks negatively of modern, industrial traits, such as office blocks and skyscrapers. As the opening track of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, it sets the theme for the majority of the rest of the album. It is also, according to AllMusic, the best-known track from the album. The song has been part of the Kinks' live setlist. The song inspired the band's slogan, "God Save the Kinks". 


Year:
2014
2:47
122 

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Out in the country far from all the soot and noise of the city
There's a village Green, it's been a long time
Since I last set eyes on the church with the steeple
Down by the village Green

'Twas there I met a girl called Daisy
And kissed her by the old oak tree
Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame
And so I left the village Green

I miss the village Green and all the simple people
I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

And now all the houses are rare antiquities
American tourists flock to see the village Green
They snap their photographs and say
"Gawd darn it, isn't it a pretty scene?"
And Daisy's married Tom the grocer boy
And now he owns a grocery

I miss the village Green and all the simple people
I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

And I will return there and I'll and Daisy
And we'll sip tea, laugh
And talk about the village Green
We will laugh and talk about the village Green

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The Kinks

The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, the Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock groups of the era. Their music was influenced by a wide range of genres, including rhythm and blues, British music hall, folk and country. Ray Davies (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals) remained members throughout the group's 32-year run. Original members Pete Quaife (bass guitar, vocals) and Mick Avory (drums and percussion) were replaced by John Dalton in 1969 and Bob Henrit in 1984, respectively. Dalton was in turn replaced by Jim Rodford in 1978. Keyboardist Nicky Hopkins accomp… more »

8 fans

Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"The Village Green Preservation Society" is a part of a concept album and is widely recognized as one of the greatest examples of British pop and rock in the 1960s.
Album Release
The Village Green Preservation Society was an album released by The Kinks in November 1968. It was not a commercial success at the time of its release.
Songwriter
Like most of The Kinks' songs, "The Village Green Preservation Society" was written by Ray Davies, the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.
Theme
The song praises traditional English pastoral life and values, embracing nostalgia and a longing for a simpler time.
Musical Style
Drawing heavily from British music hall and folk styles, the song exhibits The Kinks' shift away from hard rock toward more melodic, softer sounds.
Album Reputation
Despite poor original sales, The Village Green Preservation Society album has garnered a cult following and is now considered one of the most influential and important works in rock.
Album Cover
The album cover for "The Village Green Preservation Society" is a collage of pictures including band members and images representative of village life.
Concept Album
It's the title song of The Kinks concept album, which is a collection of vignettes of British life and character studies of eccentric individuals.
Negative Initial Reception
Initially, the album received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial failure, however, it has been re-evaluated and now considered a classic.
Cultural Influence
The song's title was later adopted by a British campaign group dedicated to preserving historically significant buildings and landscapes.

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