20th Century Man

About 20th Century Man

"20th Century Man" is a song recorded by British rock band The Kinks. It was released as a single in December 1971 from the band's 1971 LP Muswell Hillbillies, an album with blues and country roots. It centered on such themes as poverty, housing development, alienation, the welfare state, and other troubles of the modern world.

Year:

1971

5:58

322 Views

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This is the age of machinery, 
A mechanical nightmare, 
The wonderful world of technology, 
Napalm hydrogen bombs biological warfare, 

This is the twentieth century, 
But too much aggravation 
It's the age of insanity, 
What has become of the green pleasant fields of Jerusalem. 

Ain't got no ambition, I'm just disillusioned 
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to be here. 
My mama said she can't understand me 
She can't see my motivation 
Just give me some security, 
I'm a paranoid schizoid product of the twentieth century. 

You keep all your smart modern writers 
Give me William Shakespeare 
You keep all your smart modern painters 
I'll take Rembrandt, Titian, Da Vinci and Gainsborough, 

Girl we gotta get out of here 
We gotta find a solution 
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to die here. 

I was born in a welfare state 
Ruled by bureaucracy 
Controlled by civil servants 
And people dressed in grey 
Got no privacy got no liberty 
'cause the twentieth century people 
Took it all away from me. 

Don't want to get myself shot down 
By some trigger happy policeman, 
Gotta keep a hold on my sanity 
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to die here. 

My mama says she can't understand me 
She can't see my motivation 
Ain't got no security, 
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to be here. 

This is the twentieth century 
But too much aggravation 
This is the edge of insanity 
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to be here

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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 »

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