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The Kinks — 20th Century Man
Album: Muswell Hillbillies
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1714









Released: 1972
Length: 5:49
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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This is the age of machinery
A mechanical nightmare
The wonderful world of technology
Napalm, hydrogen bombs, biological warfare

This is the twentieth century
But too much aggravation
It's the age of insanity
What has become of the green pleasant fields of Jerusalem

Ain't got no ambition, I'm just disillusioned
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here
My mama said she can't understand me
She can't see my motivation
Just give me some security
I'm a paranoid schizoid product of the twentieth century

You keep all your smart modern writers
Give me William Shakespeare
You keep all your smart modern painters
I'll take Rembrandt, Titian, Da Vinci and Gainsborough

Girl, we gotta get out of here
We gotta find a solution
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to die here

I was born in a welfare state
Ruled by bureaucracy
Controlled by civil servants
And people dressed in grey
Got no privacy, got no liberty
'Cause the twentieth century people
Took it all away from me

Don't wanna get myself shot down
By some trigger happy policeman
Gotta keep a hold on my sanity
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna die here

My mama says she can't understand me
She can't see my motivation
Ain't got no security
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here

This is the twentieth century
But too much aggravation
This is the edge of insanity
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here
Comments (165)add comment
What a great band they were.
Posted 4 weeks ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
I'm usually fully behind Rays stance but not sure I agree with his view of the civil service and welfare state here.  I'm obviously more of a conformist than I realised and I do own a lot of grey clothes now I think about it.  Time to switch to beige maybe.
Posted 4 months ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
won't get fooled again... love the anthems.
Posted 10 months ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
As true today as it was 50 years ago.
Posted 1 year ago by fncll    [ Reply ]
Dripping with sardonic wit.  Thank you, Raymond Douglas!
Posted 2 years ago by cogbehaviour1    [ Reply ]
Grew up near Muswell Hill, London, UK, wasn't familiar with this album so thanks RP!
Posted 2 years ago by Samantho    [ Reply ]
Absolutely sterling 👍
Posted 2 years ago by CCSandman    [ Reply ]
God like!!!
Posted 3 years ago by wendyleefrancis1    [ Reply ]
Love this. I played at my 1999/2000= new year party
Posted 3 years ago by Kelvinclifford    [ Reply ]
My favourite Kinks album!  Thanks RP  
Posted 3 years ago by Chwkbud    [ Reply ]
Best Kinks tune by far.  
Posted 3 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
The Kinks and other 60s/70s bands are still relevant to the world....change is indeed slow. Too bloody slow esp now.
Posted 4 years ago by Zestos    [ Reply ]
Ray Davies; one of the greats for sure.
Posted 4 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Quite topical in 2020. Wow, the Kinks truly were ahead of their time!
Posted 4 years ago by pfreet    [ Reply ]
Kinks  CLASSIC  -  a real gem from the past and sadly rather appropriate for March 2020
Moving it up to a 9 today. Keep em coming Bill!
Posted 4 years ago by billseye    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill!!!!   Let's get this quarantine rolling...was worried we were going to a funeral!!!
Posted 4 years ago by andrzejmojo    [ Reply ]
Always a 10. In honor of Reverend Jim.
Posted 4 years ago by the_antibob    [ Reply ]
The Kinks are always good keep em coming
Posted 5 years ago by stephen.king12101    [ Reply ]
Amazing how this gains power as it rolls along
Posted 5 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 surfnetter1 wrote:
Was thinking just the other day, Muswell Hillbillies and here it is...
 primm
Posted: Sep 24, 2016 9:07
 {#Boohoo} arguably their best album ! every song is outstanding rock on !

 
Agreed, the Kinks made many outstanding albums with “Muswell Hillbillies” being one of their best.  Not a bad song on the whole album.
Posted 5 years ago by inozjeff    [ Reply ]
me no like
Posted 5 years ago by OggieDogness    [ Reply ]
never noticed that ray's voice reminds me so much of chuck prophett (sp?).......is it just me....in the parts where he's not screaming here
Posted 6 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
Davies bros have always been my fav over.....the rest in this era.  Great lyrics and best delivery.  Dave's Lead and Ray's vocals are always super!  This is my total fav from them.
Posted 6 years ago by zumabch    [ Reply ]
Historic Crouch End pub in London Borough of Haringey. Worked there for 12 years and my wife lived there for awhile. Had a few drinks at the place too. Last year moved to Berlin (Germany) - that's where the action is at the moment.
Posted 6 years ago by yoksa    [ Reply ]
Was thinking just the other day, Muswell Hillbillies and here it is...
 primm
Posted: Sep 24, 2016 9:07
 {#Boohoo} arguably their best album ! every song is outstanding rock on !
Posted 6 years ago by surfnetter1    [ Reply ]
Song is going on 46 years old. If I didn't know better, I would say 46 days. Or just redub 20th Century Man to 21st.  Funny how nothing changes, sometimes not even change. 
Posted 6 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Hearing this today was perfect for me. In the past few days I finished a book about the Kinks, watched Ray's film 'Return to Waterloo' and just last night called an old friend who thought the Kinks were the best of the best back in the day. I love it when events synchronize like that.
Posted 7 years ago by skibbenr    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
I grin when this song comes on! So many of my Ozzie, British and Canadian expat friends in Tokyo also loved this well. The cover shot sends me back to some of the grand old pubs in Melbourne that still look like that... Gimme a Boag's...VeeBee...'n' a Toohey's, mate~!

 
How 'bout a Resch's in an oil can and a bottle of Broken Hill?
Posted 7 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Hell yeah!
Posted 7 years ago by Angry_Old_Man    [ Reply ]
I grin when this song comes on! So many of my Ozzie, British and Canadian expat friends in Tokyo also loved this well. The cover shot sends me back to some of the grand old pubs in Melbourne that still look like that... Gimme a Boag's...VeeBee...'n' a Toohey's, mate~!
Posted 7 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 Zapmedia wrote:
My all time favorite Kinks tune!
 

 
Certainly one of their best, I think.
Posted 7 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
Anybody who identifies with the counter culture from that era must find this song at the very least interesting.

As for all you straight, well-behaved conventional dudes and dudettes from the period, it is never too late:  Get a life!  
Posted 7 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Some them twice.  Last time Ray Davies sprayed a Heineken on me (but that was at the Stone Pony).
 
Posted 7 years ago by Zapmedia    [ Reply ]
My all time favorite Kinks tune!
 
Posted 7 years ago by Zapmedia    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

Ignorance is lionized now.  Didn't you get the memo?

 
LOL.

As the article about the Kinks in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes clear, the Kinks have a unique place in rock history. Whether you like them or not they were: "Always a band of anti-trendsetters" (https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/kinks) and forerunners of several rock genres from punk to heavy metal. 

It is always good to hear them, thanks Bill.  
Posted 7 years ago by sunward    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:

Overrated band, cheesy lyrics



 dragon1952 wrote:

The Kinks have endured for over 50 years, were at the forefront of the British invasion and likely influenced many of the bands you like today. To call them overrated is just plain ignorant.

 
Ignorance is lionized now.  Didn't you get the memo?
Posted 7 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Man do I hate The Kinks. PS(very)D.

 
Why share the h8? Tell us when you love a band.  It will be so much more meaningful
Posted 7 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
I always get caught my Ray's growl and commitment to the lyrics. Get song.
Posted 8 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
Man do I hate The Kinks. PS(very)D.
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
{#Boohoo} arguably their best album ! every song is outstanding rock on !
Posted 8 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]
Totally underrated band...Lets party..{#Cowboy}
Posted 8 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]
hey Ray it gets worse....you coulda morphed into 21st Century Schizoid Man!
 
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Really Ray - wait till you get to the 21st Century
Posted 8 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
i didn't pay much attention to this album when it came out
it was played a lot on FM
and i heard a lot of it but this was 1972
and i thought the Kinks were just some over-the-hill mid-60's pop band
7 years is a long time in rock-n-roll years
 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 oldfart48 wrote:


first punk tune EVER RECORDED  right here.... KINKS RULE...{#Dance}

 
Right on!
Posted 8 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
one of their best records by far and some of ray's best writing thanks bill !
Posted 8 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]

Don't wanna get myself shot down
By some trigger happy policeman
Posted 9 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
{#Guitarist} Yep!
Posted 9 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Think these awesome lyrics are even more true of this 21st century.
Posted 9 years ago by andreafrankham    [ Reply ]
 dragon1952 wrote:

The Kinks have endured for over 50 years, were at the forefront of the British invasion and likely influenced many of the bands you like today. To call them overrated is just plain ignorant.

 
Ditto what dragon said. 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:

Overrated band, cheesy lyrics



 
The Kinks have endured for over 50 years, were at the forefront of the British invasion and likely influenced many of the bands you like today. To call them overrated is just plain ignorant.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Here's one thing, among many, which is great about The Kinks. It's the diversity of their output. Their range is just incredible.
Posted 9 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Punk rock!!!
Posted 10 years ago by squidish    [ Reply ]
 Byronape wrote:

And there wasn't anything such as police brutality in the 70's?  Or in London where this album was recorded?  I think there might be a tiny bit of a difference between the culture in the UK in 1972 and New Orleans in 2004 when he was shot.  I have a feeling that chasing after the dude that stole his woman's purse might not have been his smartest move either.


 
It was just a flesh wound, said the Black Knight.
Posted 10 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]

Quite an indictment of the 20th century drift towards benevolent socialist dictatorships. Same could still be said and perhaps more so of the 21st.


Posted 10 years ago by bitbanger    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:

Overrated band, cheesy lyrics



 

I agree though there are a few songs that I really like from them and this just happens to be one of them. 8
Posted 10 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 Lrobby99 wrote:
The KINKS soo underrated and nearly forgotten.

 
NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD......{#Dance} ( their in several vynal piles )
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:

Overrated band, cheesy lyrics



 

first punk tune EVER RECORDED  right here.... KINKS RULE...{#Dance}
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:

Overrated band, cheesy lyrics



 
From '64 to about '72, their output held it's own with their more famous brethren.  Hardly overrated.
Posted 11 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
I have GOT to get my turntable out of storage and hook it up. Musicmusicmusic in the vinyl form, and this is one of them.
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Outstanding!
Posted 11 years ago by itaish    [ Reply ]
great lyrics
Posted 12 years ago by ivotaillefer    [ Reply ]
 CamLwalk wrote:
Stones, Marley's 'War', Elvis Costello's best song, now this.  Pretty hot run there Bill!
 
Ditto this fine afternoon...thanks again Bill.

Posted 12 years ago by p2h2d2    [ Reply ]
Underrated band. Great lyrics.
Posted 13 years ago by dkwalika    [ Reply ]
This is the edge of insanity and I like it!!!
Posted 13 years ago by gemtag    [ Reply ]
HEY guess what Ray - YOU DIDN'T...{#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Ray could have used a policeman when that gutterpunk in New Orleans shot him. Revisionist history always dreams of the "good old days" that never were.
 
And there wasn't anything such as police brutality in the 70's?  Or in London where this album was recorded?  I think there might be a tiny bit of a difference between the culture in the UK in 1972 and New Orleans in 2004 when he was shot.  I have a feeling that chasing after the dude that stole his woman's purse might not have been his smartest move either.

Posted 13 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
Don't wanna get myself shot down
By some trigger happy policeman,
Gotta keep a hold on my sanity
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna die here.

Ray could have used a policeman when that gutterpunk in New Orleans shot him. Revisionist history always dreams of the "good old days" that never were. Great song, tho'.

Posted 13 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
I have GOT to get my turntable out of storage and hook it up. Musicmusicmusic in the vinyl form, and this is one of them.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
I remember this LP coming out! Sensational!
Posted 13 years ago by danuneken    [ Reply ]
I'm dancing in my seat!
Posted 14 years ago by wendyleefrancis    [ Reply ]
This is one of my all-time favorites by the Kinks.  Such snarky-yet-truthful lyrics, and some really great instrumental stuff going on.  I also like "Massive Reductions, " but this one will invariably make me tap my foot, grin, and then double-take and think, "Whaaaa?!" {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:
Love the electric piano or is that an organ?
 
Both !

Posted 14 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
MH is the best album of the Kinks. With a better production it would have become a real classic one
Posted 14 years ago by JoepKoperdraat    [ Reply ]
 AdyMiles wrote:
boring and predictable strumming thud thud music
 

Boring and predictable comment from someone who has apparently, blessedly, gone the way of excelsior. Yay!

Posted 14 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
Great song, and poignant is right.  I'd like to hear The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again after this: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Posted 14 years ago by audiolizard    [ Reply ]
Stones, Marley's 'War', Elvis Costello's best song, now this.  Pretty hot run there Bill!
Posted 14 years ago by CamLwalk    [ Reply ]
My boy just came in and said "So dad is this like Can then, sounds a bit like them?"
At the time he had a point and I was proud
Now the 70's groove is there and I'm not so sure.
At least he's got Can on his iPod eh?
Posted 14 years ago by gumbo73039    [ Reply ]
Yeah you got me really goin now,
right from the very start
yeah you got me goin
yeeees
Posted 14 years ago by gumbo73039    [ Reply ]
 tonypf wrote:
As far as I was concerned, Ray and the rest of the Kinks were one of the great bands on the planet during this period.
 
{#Yes},,some songs I like  You Really Got Me
                                        All Day and All of the Night
                                        Dead End Street
                                        Dedicated Follower of Fashion
                                        Tired of Waiting for You
Posted 14 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 wendyleefrancis wrote:
This is the Kinks at their best! There are many songs from this early era of the Kinks that are absolute classics - some of the best music ever produced.
 
The Kinks came on the scene about the same time as the Stones and the Beatles. 20th Century Man is really from the middle/end of their career.

Still an awesome song that has stood up well over time (no pun intended)!{#Clap}

Posted 14 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
 h8rhater wrote:

All the Men in the world are still 20th Century Men and the liberty/privacy issues that Ray spoke of in 72 are as poignant today.

 
Yeah, like the calender is what matters......not.  Looks like Ray is eyeing the dude's Guinness to me!

Posted 14 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
 ecocommie wrote:
When listening to this song, please remember that we're in the 21st century...
Perhaps Ray could give us the update-
 
All the Men in the world are still 20th Century Men and the liberty/privacy issues that Ray spoke of in 72 are as poignant today.

Posted 15 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 Not on RP they're not.  In my mind this is one of their best.


Lrobby99 wrote:
The KINKS soo underrated and nearly forgotten.
 

Posted 15 years ago by alux    [ Reply ]
This is the Kinks at their best! There are many songs from this early era of the Kinks that are absolute classics - some of the best music ever produced.
Posted 15 years ago by wendyleefrancis    [ Reply ]
The KINKS soo underrated and nearly forgotten.
Posted 15 years ago by Lrobby99    [ Reply ]
My toes starting tapping on the first note.
Posted 15 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
Love the electric piano or is that an organ?
Posted 15 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
this is genius pop.
Posted 15 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Certainly they flew under the radar for me, for many years all I knew of the Kinks was Lola, and let me tell you, if the rest of their stuff was comparable to Lola, I never would have gotten into them. But RP showed the deeper cuts, and I have to say they are an amazing band. And yes, underappreciated.
 
Nice comment. Yes, there's so much of the Kinks music that is unknown to many, including myself. Thanks to Bill and Rebecca for shining some light on these hidden treasures.

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
boring and predictable strumming thud thud music
Posted 15 years ago by AdyMiles    [ Reply ]
made me stop what i was doing to give it a big {#Yes}
Posted 15 years ago by lostintokyo    [ Reply ]
That's where Southern Culture On The Skids gets the song title.
Hmmm.
Posted 15 years ago by dbird29    [ Reply ]
I like this song, but I definitely don't think it's one of their stronger tracks.
Posted 15 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
I like this song.  But I like the song Muswell Hillbilly better.

Posted 15 years ago by spofcher    [ Reply ]
I just LOVE THIS SONG! period. {#Notworthy}
Posted 15 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
 ChardRemains wrote:
Witty self pity doesn't make the self pity any more appealing.
 
Yes it does...well, sometimes.


Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I've listened to a lot of the Kinks and loved it all.  Somehow this song and album have always summed them up the best.

Posted 15 years ago by Finafek    [ Reply ]
Somehow this reminded me of the Kinks - DUHHHHH!

Posted 15 years ago by ezzyme    [ Reply ]
 brightshadow wrote:
One word comes to mind. Liberty.
 
One word comes to my mind:  Guns.

Posted 15 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]

Poignant! What with them grey suits committing my kids and everyone else in the next generation to outrgaeous national debt - spend your way out of recession! The pub's still exactly the same also.




Posted 15 years ago by Mack    [ Reply ]
Great cover; whatever the future holds, we will always be heading to the pub
Posted 16 years ago by drews    [ Reply ]
One word comes to mind. Liberty.
Posted 16 years ago by brightshadow    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
Little did he know that technology would be even further today than when he sang this song!
Oh, I'd say he did a pretty good job of forseeing and predicting the future. God I love this song! Long live Ray Davies!
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
sharkartist wrote:
Got to hear Ray Davies perform this just two weeks ago in San Francisco. Still as timely as ever. Such a great song.
Little did he know that technology would be even further today than when he sang this song!
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Got to hear Ray Davies perform this just two weeks ago in San Francisco. Still as timely as ever. Such a great song.
Posted 16 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
lmic wrote:
I'm always puzzled when folks say this. Didn't they make a permanent name with "Lola"?
Certainly they flew under the radar for me, for many years all I knew of the Kinks was Lola, and let me tell you, if the rest of their stuff was comparable to Lola, I never would have gotten into them. But RP showed the deeper cuts, and I have to say they are an amazing band. And yes, underappreciated.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
ChardRemains wrote:
Witty self pity doesn't make the self pity any more appealing.
so you are throwing away around 90% of all rock and roll's greatest songs?
Posted 16 years ago by rickhoran    [ Reply ]
ChardRemains wrote:
Witty self pity doesn't make the self pity any more appealing.
perhaps, but the tune makes it very appealing. Cool song, I think.
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
Canned Heat comes to mind! Great song!
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
All you need to do is change 20th to 21st century and it's all very current.
Posted 17 years ago by frednic    [ Reply ]
Witty self pity doesn't make the self pity any more appealing.
Posted 17 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
sweet!
Posted 17 years ago by harmaton    [ Reply ]
One of my alltime favorite songs from one of my alltime favorite albums. The Kinks rule.
Posted 17 years ago by stevetheshoe    [ Reply ]
Such a good song. Makes me realize how deep the Kinks catalogue is and how I need to dig around in it some more.
Posted 17 years ago by mnuisance    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
According to Wikipedia (click here), it's The Archway Tavern... about 2 miles from Muswell Hill. algrif wrote:
I'm sure I've been in that bar. It's in London innit? Anybody know where?
Posted 17 years ago by kerr    [ Reply ]
This is the twenty-first century But too much aggravation This is the edge of insanity I'm a twenty-first century man but I don't wanna be here.
Posted 17 years ago by wersfan    [ Reply ]
Dave Davies's acoustic guitar is a wonder--easily the equal of Beggar's Banquet-era Richards.
Posted 17 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]