What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE KINKS "Arthur (or the decline and fall of the British Empire)" cd, 1969/2019

a Christmas gift from my sister
the 2019 remaster/reissue of this forgotten classic Kinks album from 1969.
based on the heartbreak both Ray and Dave felt when their sister and her husband, Arthur, emigrated
to Australia in the late 1960s.
album flopped everywhere, only charted in the US at a lowly #105
four singles issued, with the only charting one being "Victoria" which barely scraped the top40 anywhere
another glorious hidden gem in the Kinks arsenal
I LOVE THIS ALBUM

the title track:





the lyrics:

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