Kinks – Tired Of Waiting

The Kinks are a band that I saw in 1983. Along with The Who and Paul McCartney they were among the best bands, I saw live.

Kinks lead singer Ray Davies wrote this song while he was a student at Hornsey School of Art in London. Ray was running out of ideas, so he decided to record the song he had written in college. The group put down the backing track, but he couldn’t remember the words, so he went home and wrote them the next day on the train ride into the studio.

This was released as the first single from the album Kinda Kinks. “Tired of Waiting for You” was a hit, peaking at #6 in the Billboard 100, #1 in the UK, #3 in Canada in 1965.

Dave Davies: “The recording went well but there was something missing and it was my raunchy guitar sound. Ray and I were worried that putting that heavy-sounding guitar on top of a ponderous song might ruin it. Luckily it enhanced the recording, giving it a more cutting, emotional edge. In my opinion ‘Tired Of Waiting’ was the perfect pop record.”

From Songfacts

When the Kinks released their first album in 1964, they scored a huge hit with the Davies-penned “You Really Got Me,” which was followed by the sound-alike “All Day And All Of The Night.”

In this song, Ray Davies sings about a girl who has him under her spell. Problem is, she keeps stringing him along and it’s wearing him out. The vocal is suitably weary, lacking that adrenaline rush of their previous hits. This discontent would play out for real throughout 1965 as The Kinks were dispatched to one show after another, doing promotional appearances along the way. It quickly became clear that there was a great deal of animosity in the band and that they couldn’t keep up the pace for long.

Tired Of Waiting

So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

I was a lonely soul
I had nobody till I met you
But you keep a-me waiting
All of the time
What can I do?

It’s your life
And you can do what you want
Do what you like
But please don’t keep a-me waiting
Please don’t keep a-me waiting

‘Cause I’m so tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

I was a lonely soul
I had nobody till I met you
But you keep a-me waiting
All of the time
What can I do?

It’s your life
And you can do what you want
Do what you like
But please don’t keep a-me waiting
Please don’t keep a-me waiting

‘Cause I’m so tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you
For you
For you

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

32 thoughts on “Kinks – Tired Of Waiting”

  2. Max, one thing your wonderful blog does for me is highlight just how many influences there have been over the years without my even knowing. I suppose it’s the same for a lot of people. I’ve never being a “groupie” of any band and in fact I’ve never been to a concert in my life (apart from accidentally stumbling across Tiny Tim (Tiptoe through the Tulips) giving a free concert in the botanical gardens). But I would know 90% of the songs you post – and for that matter the ones I most appreciate today are the ones I’ve never heard before. I know all these pieces of music not from the performers’ names but simply I know the words and tunes and performances – and it comes from having the radio going on in the background. When rap came along I turned the radio off and have never turned it on since – easily 20 plus years ago.

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    1. Thanks Bruce. it’s a great feeling when I can post something that people say…yes I forgot about that song….I haven’t heard it in decades. It’s hard finding those…I’m running out.
      A good example is that Little Feat song that you like called Dixie Chicken. It makes sense that you like that one because they were/are top notch musicians…in other words…they were never that popular in their prime. They were too good for the masses.

      Tiny Tim! That was an odd guy. I was fascinated by him and his ukelele. I do wish I could have seen him so you are one up on me. I just may have to post him soon.

      You come at this music from a different angle which is refreshing. I’m a Beatle groupie…can’t help it.

      Yep I turned the radio off also. I only hear it in restaurants (remember those?) and public places mostly.

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      1. I understand Beatles fans – but for me “She’s got a ticket to ride” and “I wanna hold your hand” were the best! (Mainly because these songs were played in our school library in the ’60s!) The only Lennon song I dislike is “Imagine” because to me it sounds like a call for everyone to be the same! I prefer to be different!

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      2. I grew up in the 80s and I didn’t like the music of my generation as much. When I was 8 years old in 75 I found the Beatles…that was it…I was lost forever.
        You like the early stuff…which I do also…well I like all of it but the early music has a charm about it.

        Imagine is not my favorite song by him either…I take pride in being a weirdo…the only way to live Bruce.

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    1. You got me curious so I checked Billboard. Yes this and Come Dancing peaked at #6 and that is the highest for a Kinks song. You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night peaked at #7….the only other top ten was Lola at #9….it’s a shame…they should have had more.

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    1. They had some stuff like this afterward.. Respected Man, Sunny Afternoon and things like that but this one is a little more bare.

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      1. Well Respected Man I recognize. That was in an episode of Supernatural.

        I’m STILL downloading, BTW… Juggling stuff.

        And, speaking of which, when done, can you find Supernatural? That would have to be done piece-meal. It is 15 seasons.

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      2. If the well has it I sure will. When did it begin?

        I’m going to try my best to go to bed at a…gasp….at a decent time tonight. Getting 5 hours a sleep at night is catching up to me.

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      4. Not yet but it’s coming before long.

        Ok…I’m going to do a search. Geez burning the candle at both ends arent we?

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      5. My retired cop and his 3rd shift life. He doesn’t go to bed until 6 or 7…am. There are nights (or mornings) that I have to holler at him and tell him to turn the TV down.

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  8. Max when you’re talking The Kinks you have me. Love this song. Ray D is the best (Or one of them). Never saw the little video before. They did some interesting little shorts to go with some of those early songs. ‘Dead End Street’ comes to mind.

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    1. Good pick on Dead End Street…thanks for the reminder…I just watched it again now…awesome.

      Funny the way I really discovered the Kinks. 1979 I was 12 and I saw a single called “Rock and Roll Fantasy” in the dime store. I didn’t know…I thought it was the Bad Company song so I bought it. I got a pleasant surprise. I liked it better and had to know everytihng about them.

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      1. After I read your take I went for a long walk and took the Kinks with me. I still use an old discman and I’m happier than hell.
        Love your personal experience with the music. Great story (CB’s a story guy). I think my intro was ‘Sunny Afternoon’ on a transistor radio.

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      2. I like stories also. I’m always afraid I’ll bore people with personal experiences but that is what it’s all about…taking you back to that time and everyone has one… I still love how music sounds over a transistor radio. I like low Fi I guess.

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      4. CB I think it’s the IT mindset I have…my mind bounces all over the place at times. Those sixties recordings do sound good in mono. I got the Apple Beatle releases in mono.

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