Lyr Add: Complicated Life (Ray Davies)

Subject: Lyr Add: COMPLICATED LIFE (Ray Davies)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:46 PM

I heard this on the radio today, and liked it. In fact, I was surprised to learn that it was by The Kinks, a band that I had never paid much attention to.

COMPLICATED LIFE
Ray Davies

1. Well, I woke this morning with a pain in my neck,
A pain in my heart and a pain in my chest.
I went to the doctor and the good doctor said,
"You gotta slow down your life or you're gonna be dead.
Cut out the struggle and strife.
It only complicates your life."

2. Well, I cut down women. I cut down booze.
I stopped ironing my shirts, cleaning my shoes.
I stopped going to work. I stopped reading the news.
I'm sittin' twiddlin' my thumbs 'cause I got nothing to do:
Minimal exercise,
To help uncomplicate* my life.

BRIDGE: Gotta stand and face it:
Life is so complicated.
La-di-da, di-da-da.
La-di-da, di-da-da.
Ya gotta get away from
The complicated life, son.
Life is overrated.
Life is complicated.
Must alleviate this
Complicated life.
Cut down the struggle and strife.
Such a complicated life.

3. Like Old Mother Hubbard, I got nothin' in the cupboard.
Got no dinner and I got no supper.
Holes in my shoes, I got holes in my socks.
I can't go to work 'cause I can't get a job.
The bills are rising sky high.
Such a complicated life.

REPEAT BRIDGE

[As sung by The Kinks on "Muswell Hillbillies," 1971. Also recorded by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

[*It only makes sense to sing "uncomplicate" here but it sure sounds like "complicate."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Complicated Life (Ray Davies)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 01:21 AM

I've always enjoyed the quirky, interesting lyrics of Kinks songs.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Complicated Life (Ray Davies)
From: alanabit
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 02:16 AM

"My bank went bust and my well ran dry
It was almost enough to contemplate suicide
Stuck my head in the oven - but soon realised
I hadn't settled my bill - so they cut off my supplies...."

("Life Goes On" by Ray Davies)

There has always been that kind of wit in their songs, right from the start. "Sunny Afternoon" is a hilarious character sketch of a spoilt, upper class brat, moaning about his tax bill.