The Kinks - Preservation: Act 1 - Sweet Lady Genevieve

Artist: The Kinks
Album: Preservation: Act 1
Released: 16 November 1973
Song: Sweet Lady Genevieve
Track-No: 04/13

The Album:

Preservation: Act 1 and Preservation: Act 2 are a 1973 concept released as separate albums in 1973 and 1974 by the English rock group, The Kinks.

The Preservation albums were not well-received by critics and sold poorly (the first one peaking on the Billboard 200 at #177), though the live performances of the material were much better received. Many hardcore Kinks fans were alienated by Ray Davies' melodramatic songwriting during the Preservation project era, resulting in albums that played more like the soundtracks to a piece of musical theatre than rock albums.

However, more recent reviews of Preservation: Act 1 have been more sympathetic to its ambitions. In particular, All Music's Stephen Thomas Erlewine has declared "Sweet Lady Genevieve" to be the "real candidate for Davies' forgotten masterpiece".

The CD reissue of Preservation: Act 1 includes the single versions of "Preservation" and "One of the Survivors", neither of which are available on the original vinyl release. The latter briefly charted on the Billboard Pop Singles chart peaking at #108.


Lyrics:

Once under a scarlet sky I told you never ending lies,
But they were the words of a drunken vagabond
Who knew very well he would break your heart before long
Oh forgive me Genevieve.

Now I've come back to see Sweet Lady Genevieve,
This time I'll give you some security
And I will make promises I can keep
So will you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve.

Let me rock you, hold you,
Take you in my arms.
Forgive me, please,
Smile away all your sadness, put your trust in me.

Oh if you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve,
I'm not the impetuous fool you used to know
I know that I used you and I hurt you so,
But that was so long ago Sweet Lady Genevieve.

Oh, love me,
Take me in your arms.
Let me rock you, hold you,
Smile away all your sadness, put your trust in me.

Once under a starry sky I led you on and told you lies
Drank too much whiskey on that hot summer night.
I acted so slyly because you were acting so shy,
Oh forgive me Genevieve.

If you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve,
You're not the child who smiled so innocently
And I'm not the rogue that I used to be,
So will you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve.

Oh Genevieve, Oh Genevieve.

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[ClickUserName]

BTW, thanks for posting this. I'm still waiting for Where O Where is Love, at least a non-cover version.

[msspuremusic]

It's on Preservation: Act 2. I'll post it during the next weeks.

[stmaxmusic]

controversially, this is my favourite Kinks song. this and "the way love used to be" are absolutely amazing, but they just dont get the attention they deserve. such an underrated, yet bloody amazing band .

[fodsaks]

The Kinks lesser known (Some say 'flop') albums still contain the kind of songs that most other bands would give their eye-teeth to have recorded.

[Mark Morris]

All my life I loved the Beatles for their idealism but over time I have grown to adore the Kinks for stoicism. What a great song from the most unequivocally underrated and under appreciated musician of the last 40 years.........................­................

[loveraydavies]

hidden Gold.

[podchauffe]

sweet :)

[brian gibbard]

another great single released in the 70s that never got played on radio 1 and hatdly sold a copy..

[rickinaptos]

Genevieve is a very popular name in my family. Sisters, nieces, goddauthers, aunts, cousins all are graced by this wonder sounding name. I didn't know The Kinks wrote this song until just now, and I grew up in the 60s-70s!

[mechanicjitsu]

I had my first kid 10 days ago. Named her Genevieve. As I'm only 31, this song was well before my time and I didn't even know it existed. As fate would have it, my father is a huge Kinks fan and he and I are quite close; he played it for me. Because of him, I've listened to it every night since then, and sing it to my baby before I put her to bed when I get home from work.

[Sean Coughlin]

This song, like so much of the Kinks material, is way overlooked. I can't imagine any singer/songwriter today who comes up with material this clever and engaging.

[LETSFIGHTNASA1]

but that was so long ago

[leelevingate]

"smile all your sadness put your trust in me"- Brilliant.

[Genevieve Scheele]

Me too~ It's so weird to hear my (our) name in a song...