He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
'Cause he gets up in the morning
And he goes to work at nine
And he comes back home at five-thirty
Gets the same train every time
'Cause his world is built 'round punctuality
It never fails
And he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And his mother goes to meetings
While his father pulls the maid
And she stirs the tea with councilors
While discussing foreign trade
And she passes looks, as well as bills
At every suave young man
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And he likes his own backyard
And he likes his fags the best
'Cause he's better than the rest
And his own sweat smells the best
And he hopes to grab his father's loot
When pater passes on
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And he plays the stocks and shares
And he goes to the regatta
He adores the girl next door
'Cause he's dying to get at her
But his mother knows the best about
The matrimonial stakes
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And he goes to work at nine
And he comes back home at five-thirty
Gets the same train every time
'Cause his world is built 'round punctuality
It never fails
And he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And his mother goes to meetings
While his father pulls the maid
And she stirs the tea with councilors
While discussing foreign trade
And she passes looks, as well as bills
At every suave young man
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And he likes his own backyard
And he likes his fags the best
'Cause he's better than the rest
And his own sweat smells the best
And he hopes to grab his father's loot
When pater passes on
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
And he plays the stocks and shares
And he goes to the regatta
He adores the girl next door
'Cause he's dying to get at her
But his mother knows the best about
The matrimonial stakes
'Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
A Well Respected Man Lyrics as written by Ray Davies
Lyrics © BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
This song's referring to the bleak and repressed mono-tone lifestyle people of middle class england were expected abide by. The grey routine depicted "Cause he gets up in the morning, And he goes to work at nine, And he comes back home at five-thirty, Gets the same train every time. 'Cause his world is built 'round punctuality, It never fails." is sung and expressed in a way which is trying to put across that this simple structured lifestyle is the way a "respected" person should live. However beneath these words lies the sense that this is a somewhat empty life which is structured accordingly to society's view of how one should live, as oppossed to the individuals wishes. There is also a sinister darker tone created through the character's hypocritical and lustful desires which do not correspond to middle class attitude. "While his father pulls the maid... And he hopes to grab his father's loot... Cause he's dying to get at her" You get the impression that these are not particular happy or nice people, however the contradiction lies in the fact that this is the exact image they are trying to convey, that they are nice,happy "respected" people. A subtle tribute to the hypocrisy of a great britain bound by class divisions, these people are no happier or normal than lower class. In a word an amazing song, one of my fav :)
Another one of those Kinks brilliant biographical songs, It makes me vividly imagine the guy in the song going about his day. It was great in Juno as well.
You seem to know alot about this song. Maybeyou can help me with some of the words.<br />
Reminds me of Mothers Little Helper.... Just, sorta different. Hmm xoxo! LOVEit
"..was inspired by a visit to a hotel in Exeter where aristocratic guests invited him [Ray] to play golf with them - as he [Ray] said, 'I'm not going to be your caddy so you can say you played golf with a pop star.'" I've also heard that this song was inspired by The Kinks' manager. In my opinion, the song is about a man who is well respected in society, but really he shouldn't be as respected as he is. It's written to make the man sound dull. Brilliant song. ;)
i just heard this song on criminal minds. it's so catchy
Another one of those Kinks brilliant biographical songs, It makes me vividly imagine the guy in the song going about his day. It was great in Juno as well.
It's also a political statement: the social climbing, money-grubbing mediocrity of the WRM is specifically said to be conservative, but just make that Conservative and watch the meanings expand!
In such a very English song, I don't expect the word 'fine' with the standard American meaning. And I'm certain I can hear a -d at the end of it! He's oh, so good and he's oh, so kind. Which even rhymes with 'mind', proving my point. And another error: this one, if corrected, improves the humour. Not 'his own sweat', but 'his arm sweat smells the best'. Which is hilarious: one's own sweat can be anywhere, running down the forehead, wherever, but underarm sweat is famously smelly!
I am in love with this song. I loved the way it was used at the end of "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"...it fits him almost eerily.
This song is a great song. It's a simple song, that is some how complex too, about a simple person, a well respected simple person, that probably shouldn't be as well respected as he is.
"And he hopes to grab his father's loot, When Pater passes on."
Muhaha! That’s kind of mean and un-respectful. Wouldn’t you agree?
"... And he adores the girl next door, 'Cause he's dying to get at her... And he's oh, so fine, And he's oh, so healthy, In his body and his mind."
I think that is magnificent.
A very English song, taking a stab at middle-class, bourgeois pretentiousness.
fun song to sing, and fun on the guitar.
This song always sorta reminds me of john lennon's "working class hero" because they are both insanely simple guitar with some cut-throat lyrics