Till the End of the Day

Album: The Kink Kontroversy (1966)
Charted: 6 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Belying the optimistic lyric ("Baby, I feel good, from the moment I arise..."), this song was written by Kinks lead singer Ray Davies when he was going through a very difficult time.

    The Kinks were on the rise, with a run of hits starting with "You Really Got Me" in 1964. The band couldn't enjoy it, however, because they were pressured into a rigorous cycle of touring, recording and promotion that put enormous strain on the group. Davies was married and hardly able to enjoy the benefits of his stardom; in May 1965 he had his first child, a daughter named Louisa. With the strains of fatherhood now upon him as well, he sunk into a depression, but was still expected to write some hits. After a few days off, he came back to work determined to make everyone think he was A-OK, so he wrote this chipper song, which he later explained was a total lie.

Comments: 1

  • Ken from Philadelphia, PaThe Kinks are possibly the most underrated band of all time, and this is quite likely their best song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.