I understand the view of the song, man losing his own daughter/similar. But certain aspects of this are just too unsettling: "Come to daddy", "jogging in the park is my excuse to look at all the little girls" (I know it says pretty in this version), "Come to daddy, I'll give you some candy," "I follow her around for hours".
I feel like some of these lines could definitely be omitted without losing the meaning.
I also want to say: Facial hair changes Rays looks DRASTICALLY!
@Rawrizar What needs to be omitted is your manipulation of a songs meaning by defining 'snip its' of the lyrics!! Listen to the emotion in his voice as he sings the lyrics, then, maybe, you will feel the meaning and be able to understand..
Interesting that in the live version he sings "...just a substitute for what THEY'VE taken from me." In the studio version, it's "what's BEEN TAKEN from me." This version makes it sound like the state took the kids or something.
A sad story about a father divorced from his kids crossed my mind too, but it may not be that innocent. You have to ask yourself why he's lost his kids. You could go either way, and on the creepy side, he molested his own daughter and now has rehabilitated himself somewhat ("I've learned to appreciate you the way art lovers do"). Ray Davies is a masterful lyricist in terms of his perfect ambiguity. "Lola" for instance never outright states Lola is a transvestite - it only hints.
"She" is just a substitute for what has been taken from him... Consider he is a father who has lost custody. I think this is one of the most mis-understood songs ever written/listened to.
@kymmiesmommy Extremely well said kymmiesmoomy. I'm not even a parent but I came from a broken home and it's hard for me to listen to this song without getting a lump in my heart. I think it's a really beautiful song. Cheers
That last line is an impressive summation: "I only want to look at you." It cuts two ways: he doesn't want to do anything bad to the girl, only wants to look at her; at the same time, he only wants to look at her, not at anybody else, for hours and hours. Creepy? Yes. Who would be comfortable with this seedy character watching their daughter? But he is also harmless. And we need not take his word for it; the lite, bouncy music tells us this as well. A delicate balance, an impressive song.
type in Layeeefa Lover Of Arts
Layeeefa 4 months ago
I understand the view of the song, man losing his own daughter/similar. But certain aspects of this are just too unsettling: "Come to daddy", "jogging in the park is my excuse to look at all the little girls" (I know it says pretty in this version), "Come to daddy, I'll give you some candy," "I follow her around for hours".
I feel like some of these lines could definitely be omitted without losing the meaning.
I also want to say: Facial hair changes Rays looks DRASTICALLY!
Rawrizar 5 months ago
@Rawrizar What needs to be omitted is your manipulation of a songs meaning by defining 'snip its' of the lyrics!! Listen to the emotion in his voice as he sings the lyrics, then, maybe, you will feel the meaning and be able to understand..
Alphafalpha 2 weeks ago
i'ma father that lost custody, and that is the only way i ever interpreted this beautiful song. it really gets to the bottom of how much it hurts...
evilwine07 5 months ago 2
I understand it was the loss of his daughter with Chrissy Hind
1616gman 11 months ago
Interesting that in the live version he sings "...just a substitute for what THEY'VE taken from me." In the studio version, it's "what's BEEN TAKEN from me." This version makes it sound like the state took the kids or something.
jhf201 1 year ago
A sad story about a father divorced from his kids crossed my mind too, but it may not be that innocent. You have to ask yourself why he's lost his kids. You could go either way, and on the creepy side, he molested his own daughter and now has rehabilitated himself somewhat ("I've learned to appreciate you the way art lovers do"). Ray Davies is a masterful lyricist in terms of his perfect ambiguity. "Lola" for instance never outright states Lola is a transvestite - it only hints.
davisquinn 1 year ago
Great song about a father divorced from his children.
PRINCIPALBROKER 1 year ago
Yeah! Let's fuck some lolis. It's alright.
6b616e 1 year ago
PETE QUAIFE Dios te bendiga!
cordanzo 1 year ago
Knowing that background has transformed this from a creepy song to a tragically sad song.
mrbrymo 1 year ago
"She" is just a substitute for what has been taken from him... Consider he is a father who has lost custody. I think this is one of the most mis-understood songs ever written/listened to.
kymmiesmommy 2 years ago 4
@kymmiesmommy Extremely well said kymmiesmoomy. I'm not even a parent but I came from a broken home and it's hard for me to listen to this song without getting a lump in my heart. I think it's a really beautiful song. Cheers
Nigelxman 1 year ago
That last line is an impressive summation: "I only want to look at you." It cuts two ways: he doesn't want to do anything bad to the girl, only wants to look at her; at the same time, he only wants to look at her, not at anybody else, for hours and hours. Creepy? Yes. Who would be comfortable with this seedy character watching their daughter? But he is also harmless. And we need not take his word for it; the lite, bouncy music tells us this as well. A delicate balance, an impressive song.
briteness 2 years ago
Great song
StoryEyesTV 2 years ago