In 1982 I was late for a concert at the Royal Opera House in London as I ran to get there I crossed Waterloo Bridge, when I suddenly turned and saw a “Waterloo Sunset” at the place where it should be seen. I immediately started singing this song
Ray Davies started writing this a few years before The Kinks recorded it. At first, it was called “Liverpool Sunset,” but when The Beatles released “Penny Lane,” he changed the words so it wouldn’t look like a rip-off. Waterloo Bridge is in London, and the lyrics are about a guy looking out of a window at two lovers meeting at Waterloo Station. Davies used to cross Waterloo Bridge every day when he was a student at Croydon Art School.
Ray Davies brought this to the band while they were in the middle of recording the album. He was reluctant to share the lyrics because they were so personal. In a Rolling Stone magazine interview, his brother (and Kinks guitarist) Dave Davies said Ray felt “it was like an extract from a diary nobody was allowed to read.”
Ray Davies (From Uncut magazine January 2009): “It came to me first as a statement about the death of Merseybeat. But I realized that Waterloo was a very significant place in my life. I was in St. Thomas’ Hospital when I was really ill as a child, and I looked out on the river. I went to Waterloo every day to go to college as well. The song was also about being taken to the Festival of Britain with my mum and dad. I remember them taking me by the hand, looking at the big Skylon tower, and saying it symbolized the future. That, and then walking by the Thames with my first wife (Rasa, who left Ray, taking his two daughters, in 1973) and all the other dreams that we had. Her in her brown suede coat that she wore, that was stolen. And also about my sisters, and about the world I wanted them to have. The two characters in the song, Terry and Julie, are to do with the aspirations of my sisters’ generation, who grew up during the Second world War and missed out on the ’60s.
Sometimes when you’re writing and you’re really on good form, you get into the frame of mind where you think, I can relate to any of these things. It’s something I learned at art school-let all the ideas flow out. But if you listen to the words without the music, it’s a different thing entirely. The lyrics could be better. But they dovetail with the music perfectly.”
The line, “Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station every Friday night” is about the relationship between actor Terence Stamp and actress Julie Christie.
Ah the Kinks! Best British band. I have been playing Muswell Hillbillies and the Village Green Appreciation Society on high rotation lately, so this is a treat.
This song has a wonderful, wistful, bittersweet quality that is mysterious and irresistable to me. Terry meets Julie every Friday night, all is well, yet…
What about Picture Book? Or Oklahoma USA?
Humboldt,
The Kinks are a favorite of mine as is Village Green. I realized I hadn’t played them in a while and any day is a great day to play The Kinks.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
February 27, 2011 at 1:04 pm
yousendit link:
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1055615219/b6540d57813615401ca2dc65a2cbb1e3
February 27, 2011 at 1:22 pm
The Kinks were underated in popularity & greatness
February 28, 2011 at 12:08 am
I totally agree, Morpfy!
February 27, 2011 at 8:13 pm
In 1982 I was late for a concert at the Royal Opera House in London as I ran to get there I crossed Waterloo Bridge, when I suddenly turned and saw a “Waterloo Sunset” at the place where it should be seen. I immediately started singing this song
February 28, 2011 at 12:09 am
sblake,
That’s the magic of music!
February 27, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Ray Davies started writing this a few years before The Kinks recorded it. At first, it was called “Liverpool Sunset,” but when The Beatles released “Penny Lane,” he changed the words so it wouldn’t look like a rip-off. Waterloo Bridge is in London, and the lyrics are about a guy looking out of a window at two lovers meeting at Waterloo Station. Davies used to cross Waterloo Bridge every day when he was a student at Croydon Art School.
Ray Davies brought this to the band while they were in the middle of recording the album. He was reluctant to share the lyrics because they were so personal. In a Rolling Stone magazine interview, his brother (and Kinks guitarist) Dave Davies said Ray felt “it was like an extract from a diary nobody was allowed to read.”
Ray Davies (From Uncut magazine January 2009): “It came to me first as a statement about the death of Merseybeat. But I realized that Waterloo was a very significant place in my life. I was in St. Thomas’ Hospital when I was really ill as a child, and I looked out on the river. I went to Waterloo every day to go to college as well. The song was also about being taken to the Festival of Britain with my mum and dad. I remember them taking me by the hand, looking at the big Skylon tower, and saying it symbolized the future. That, and then walking by the Thames with my first wife (Rasa, who left Ray, taking his two daughters, in 1973) and all the other dreams that we had. Her in her brown suede coat that she wore, that was stolen. And also about my sisters, and about the world I wanted them to have. The two characters in the song, Terry and Julie, are to do with the aspirations of my sisters’ generation, who grew up during the Second world War and missed out on the ’60s.
Sometimes when you’re writing and you’re really on good form, you get into the frame of mind where you think, I can relate to any of these things. It’s something I learned at art school-let all the ideas flow out. But if you listen to the words without the music, it’s a different thing entirely. The lyrics could be better. But they dovetail with the music perfectly.”
The line, “Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station every Friday night” is about the relationship between actor Terence Stamp and actress Julie Christie.
February 28, 2011 at 12:11 am
sblake,
I have long been a favorite of the Kinks. They had a distinctive sound which raised above many of the British groups of the same era.
You give me a perspective on the words of so many songs. They now make far more sense to me. They are a story, not just lyrics.
February 28, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Hey, Thanks for the info. I always liked the Kinks & that tune is one of my favorites. It’s nice to have your insights into the lyrics
February 28, 2011 at 6:11 pm
Tom,
sblake is our resident historian. He has taught me so much about the songs I post.
February 27, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Ah the Kinks, always did like them.. Thanks for the history of the song.
Gonna play it some more later.
February 28, 2011 at 12:12 am
Lori,
I too listened again to hear the story.
February 28, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Ah the Kinks! Best British band. I have been playing Muswell Hillbillies and the Village Green Appreciation Society on high rotation lately, so this is a treat.
This song has a wonderful, wistful, bittersweet quality that is mysterious and irresistable to me. Terry meets Julie every Friday night, all is well, yet…
What about Picture Book? Or Oklahoma USA?
February 28, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Humboldt,
The Kinks are a favorite of mine as is Village Green. I realized I hadn’t played them in a while and any day is a great day to play The Kinks.
Bittersweet is a perfect description.