BBC Two - The Kinks at the Rainbow

About the Song

Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks is a song that captures the essence of a carefree summer day. With its catchy melody and lighthearted lyrics, it’s no wonder that the song was a hit in 1966. But Sunny Afternoon is more than just a catchy tune; it’s also a significant song in the history of British rock music.

The Kinks were one of the first British Invasion bands to achieve success in the United States, and Sunny Afternoon was their biggest hit. The song’s success helped to pave the way for other British bands, such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, to conquer the American charts.

Sunny Afternoon is also notable for its innovative use of power chords and distorted guitars. These elements of the song’s sound would later be adopted by punk rock and heavy metal bands. In addition, Sunny Afternoon‘s lyrics are often credited with being the first to deal with social issues in a pop song. The song’s narrator sings about the drudgery of work and the longing for escape, themes that would later be explored by other British rock bands.

Sunny Afternoon is a classic song that has stood the test of time. It’s a song that is still enjoyed by people of all ages today. The song’s catchy melody, lighthearted lyrics, and innovative sound have made it a timeless classic.

Here are some additional details about the song and its significance:

  • Released: 1966
  • Genre: Rock
  • Written by: Ray Davies
  • Performed by: The Kinks
  • Chart positions:
    • #1 on the UK Singles Chart
    • #4 on the Billboard Hot 100

Sunny Afternoon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The song has been covered by many artists, including David Bowie, The Who, and Green Day.

The Band - The Kinks - The Kinks

Video

Lyrics: Sunny Afternoon

The tax man’s taken all my dough
And left me in my stately home
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
And I can’t sail my yacht
He’s taken everything I’ve got
All I’ve got’s this sunny afternoon

Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze
I got a big fat mama trying to break me
And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime

My girlfriend’s run off with my car
And gone back to her ma and pa
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty
Now I’m sitting here
Sipping at my ice cold beer
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

Help me, help me, help me sail away
Well give me two good reasons why I oughta stay
‘Cause I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime

Ah, save me, save me, save me from this squeeze
I got a big fat mama trying to break me
And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime
In the summertime

You Missed

“I JUST WANT TO SING IT THE WAY I ALWAYS HAVE.” That’s what Toby Keith said. No dramatic pause. No swelling music behind the statement. Just a simple sentence delivered the way he delivered everything else in his life — straight and unpolished. And somehow, that simplicity made the room feel heavier than any grand farewell ever could. This final night wasn’t built around spectacle. There were no fireworks designed to distract from reality, no desperate swing for nostalgia. What filled the air instead was something steadier — grit. The kind that comes from songs that rode shotgun through people’s hardest seasons, songs that were there when nothing else quite knew what to say. You could hear the difference in the pauses. See it in the way the audience didn’t rush to clap, as if they were afraid to interrupt something sacred. Every lyric landed slower, deeper, not because he sang it differently, but because time had added weight to every word. These weren’t just melodies anymore. They were years. Memories. Battles fought quietly. It didn’t feel like a goodbye wrapped in sorrow. It felt like a man standing exactly where he had always stood — not retreating, not reinventing himself to soften the moment. Just singing it straight. Letting the songs do the heavy lifting. Trusting them to say the things he never needed to spell out. And maybe that was the most Toby Keith thing of all. No grand exit. No final speech. Just the music — steady, honest, and strong enough to carry everything.