Big Black Smoke
The Kinks
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
She was sick and tired of country life. A little country home, A little country folk, Made her blood run cold. Now her mother pines her heart away, Looking for her child in the big black smoke, In the big black smoke. Frailest, purest girl the world has seen, According to her ma, according to her pa, And everybody said, That she knew no sin and did no wrong, Till she walked the streets of the big black smoke, Of the big black smoke. Well, she slept in caffs and coffee bars and bowling alleys, And every penny she had Was spent on purple hearts and cigarettes. She took all her pretty coloured clothes, And ran away from home And the boy next door, For a boy named Joe. And he took her money for the rent And tried to drag her down in the big black smoke, In the big black smoke. In the big black smoke. In the big black smoke.
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Band Creation"Big Black Smoke" is a song by the English rock band, The Kinks. The Kinks were formed in London in 1964 by Ray Davies, his brother Dave, Mick Avory, and Pete Quaife.
|
Album detailsThe song first appeared in 1966 as the B-Side of the single "Deadend Street" which reached No. 5 in the UK charts.
|
Song CreationIt was composed by Ray Davies, the lead singer, and songwriter of The Kinks.
|
Song ConceptThe song is about a girl from the North of England who comes to London, gets exploited and sinks into a life of destitution. It illustrates the difference between the promise and reality of urban life in contemporary Britain.
|
Album Reissue"Big Black Smoke" did not appear on a Kinks album until 1973 when it was included in "The Kink Kronikles," a double album compilation released by the band's American label, Reprise Records.
|
Rare PerformanceThe Kinks rarely performed "Big Black Smoke" live. However, they did include it in their setlist during their 1980 U.S. tour.
|
Lyrics DescriptionThe song's thoughtful and socially conscious lyrics are considered a perfect example of Ray Davies's talent for writing songs that combine catchy melodies with incisive social commentary.
|
Genre Classification"Big Black Smoke" is widely regarded as a definitive example of British invasion-era rock and roll, with elements of Mod and Psychedelia.
|
Music InnovationIt was one of the earliest Kinks songs that experimented with changing the time signature in the middle of the song.
|
Collective ImpactAs part of the broader Kinks discography, "Big Black Smoke" has contributed to the band's legacy as rock innovators, influential on bands and musicians from Van Halen and The Pretenders to The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Big Black Smoke Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/391813/The+Kinks/Big+Black+Smoke>.
Discuss the Big Black Smoke Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In