Shangri-La
The Kinks
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Now that you've found your paradise This is your kingdom to command You can go outside and polish your car Or sit by the fire in your Shangri-la Here's your reward for working so hard Gone on the lavatories in the back yard Gone all the days when you dreamed of that car You just want to sit in your shangri-la Put on your slippers and sit by the fire You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher You're in your place and you know where you are In your Shangri-la Sit back in your old rocking chair You need not worry, you need not care You can't go anywhere Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la The little man who gets the train Has got a mortgage hanging over his head But he's too scared to complain 'Cause he's conditioned that way Time goes by and he pays off his debts Got a T.V set and a radio For seven Shillings a week Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la All the houses on the street have got a name 'Cause all the houses in the street they look the same Same chimney pots, same little cars, same window panes The neighbors call to tell you things that you should know They say their lines, they drink their tea, and then they go They tell your business in another Shangri-la The gas bills and the water rates, and payments on the car Too scared to think about how insecure you are Life ain't so happy in your little Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la la la la la la la la la Put on your slippers and sit by the fire You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher You're in your place and you know where you are In your Shangri-la Sit back in your old rocking chair You need not worry, you need not care You can't go anywhere Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la Shangri-la
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Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Release Year and Album"Shangri-La" was released in 1969. It is part of the studio album named "Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)" by The Kinks.
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SongwriterThe song was written by Raymond Douglas Davies, better known as Ray Davies, the lead vocalist of The Kinks.
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Song Theme"Shangri-La" is said to discuss the disillusionment that comes with achieving the supposedly ideal suburban dream, drawing from Ray Davies's own experiences and observations about life and society.
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Album ConceptThe "Arthur" album was originally a concept album, meant to be the soundtrack for a television play co-written by Ray Davies and Julian Mitchell, which unfortunately never got produced.
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Critical Reception"Shangri-La" is frequently cited by critics as a standout track on the album "Arthur" which itself is considered one of the band's strongest efforts.
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LengthOne of the notable things about "Shangri-La" is its length. At 5:20, it is longer than most popular songs of the period.
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Delayed ReleaseAlthough the album was ready in early 1969, its release was delayed till October due to the failure of the TV play it was meant to accompany.
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Song InterpretationThe song is seen as an ironic commentary on the dream of the middle-class lifestyle which ultimately leads to a form of confinement or "prison", describing a supposedly utopian haven (drawn upon the fictional Shangri-La) as a place of stagnation and complacency.
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Cultural InfluenceOver time, "Shangri-La" has been covered by a variety of artists and bands, underscoring its influence and enduring appeal.
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Live PerformancesThe Kinks incorporated "Shangri-La" into their live performances with the song becoming a staple of their setlist over the years.
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"Shangri-La Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/17004826/The+Kinks/Shangri-La>.
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