Ray Davies is the Best Songwriter Exhibit H

This is part H of of a semi regular segment systematically proving that Ray Davies is the greatest songwriter this planet has ever produced. Today's song, "Have A Cuppa Tea" is our first from The Kinks record Muswell Hillbillies but sure not to be the the last. Video and lyrics below. Click here to read previous Ray Davies exhibit.    Enjoy! - Colin G.

Have a Cuppa Tea  (Ray Davies)

The Kinks - Have a Cuppa Tea from Muswell Hillbillies album Formed in 1971. Ray Davies: Rhythm guitar and Vocals Dave Davies: Lead guitar and background vocals John Dalton: Bass Mick Avory: Drums John Gosling: Keyboards Lyrics: Granny's always ravin' and rantin' And she's always puffin' and pantin', And she's always screaming and shouting, And she's always brewing up tea.

Granny's always ravin' and rantin'
And she's always puffin' and pantin'
And she's always screamin' and shoutin'
And she's always brewin' up tea

Grandpappy's never late for his dinner
'Cos he loves his leg of beef
And he washes it down with a brandy
And a fresh made cup of tea

Have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea
Have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea

If you feel a bit under the weather
If you feel a little bit peeved
Take granny's stand by potion
For any old cough or wheeze
It's a cure for hepatitis, it's a cure for chronic insomnia
It's a cure for tonsillitis, and for water on the knee

Have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea

Tea in the morning, tea in the evening, tea at supper time
You get tea when it's rainin', tea when it's snowin'
Tea when the weather's fine
You get tea as a mid day stimulant
You get tea with your afternoon tea
For any old ailment or disease
For Christ sake have a cuppa tea

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Rosie Lea

Whatever the situation, whatever the race or creed
Tea knows no segregation, no class nor pedigree
It knows no motivations, no sect or organization
It knows no one religion, nor political belief

Have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea
Have a cuppa tea, for Christ sake have a cuppa tea


 

Ray Davies is the Best Songwriter. Exhibit F.

Hey Hipsters. Get a load of this. "Give The People What They Want" might be the best Kinks album of them all. Yup, you heard me. Better than "Face to Face" or "Village Green" or "Muswell Hillbillies". Chew on that. This is our sorta-weekly example of why Ray Davies is the greatest songwriter that our planet has ever produced. Lyrics and video below. Enjoy! - Colin G.

Click here for Ray Davies is the best songwriter exhibit D & E

Exhibit F : Give the People What They Want

Hey, hey, hey...
Give the people what they want

Well, it's been said before, the world is a stage
A different performance with every age.
Open the history book to any old page
Bring on the lions and open the cage.

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please

The Roman promoters really did things right.
They needed a show that would clearly excite.
The attendance was sparse so they put on a fight
Threw the Christians to the lions, sold out every night

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please

Give 'em lots of sex, perversion and rape
Give 'em lots of violence, and plenty to hate
Give the people what they want
Give the people what they want

When Oswald shot Kennedy, he was insane
But still we watch the re-runs again and again
We all sit glued while the killer takes aim
"Hey Mom, there goes a piece of the president's brain!"

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
Blow out your brains, and do it right
Make sure it's prime time and on a Saturday night.
You gotta give the people what they want

 

Title track from the Kinks album, which was released in August 1981 in the US, but was delayed until January 1982 in Europe. It was delayed because Ray Davies wanted to produce a full length video for the album, but financing fell through. Also scrapped were plans to remix the album for the European market.