The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset

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Dirty old river, must you keep rolling, rolling into the night
People so busy, make me feel dizzy, taxi light shines so bright
But I don't, need no friends
As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
Chilly chilly is the evening time, Waterloo sunset's fine

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station, every Friday night
But I am so lazy, don't want to wander, I stay at home at night
But I don't, feel afraid
As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise
Every day I look at the world from my window
Chilly chilly is the evening time, Waterloo sunset's fine.

Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground
Terry and Julie cross over the river where they feel safe and sound
And they don't, need no friends
As long as they gaze on Waterloo Sunset, they are in paradise

Send "Waterloo Sunset" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by butterfingersbeck

Track duration: 03:14

"Waterloo Sunset" as written by Raymond Douglas Davies

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., ABKCO Music Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Waterloo Sunset song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:The song was actually written about Liverpool and was originally called 'Liverpool Sunset' because Ray Davies loved Livepool and wanted to do a Merseybeat song. He changed it because Penny Lane was released around the same time and it would have seemed like it was copying. There is of course a Waterloo in Liverpool.
    Flag Elliebooon October 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Waterloo Sunset is a great, great Kinks song, and one of the all-time masterpieces of music.
    Being lonely and sad and being conformed is the topic, I guess. ("And I don't need no friends. As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset, I am in paradise").
    The narrator knows about Terry and Julie, which I think are people he doesn't know, but he wishes he did, because he's lonely.
    Well, there are many interpretations, of course, though.
    Flag ligeirinhoon October 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Beautiful, whimsical and very British. I guess that's why NBC saw fit to cut it from its coverage of the Olympics closing ceremony.
    Flag divedoggon August 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think this song is one of those good old british songs about being happy with the simple pleasures, just like Song of a Baker by the Small Faces. The british seem to have (or had) a beautiful way of seeing the best in the most basic and seemingly boring of things. A good way to be methinks!
    Flag smallfacesfanon March 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Memory:I grew up in Waterloo, and first heard this song shortly before we moved away to the suburbs. Moving away from friends and places I knew; easy access to the very cosmopolitan atmosphere, historical depth, curiosities and amazing architecture of central London made Waterloo seem like paradise to me. It has always been a very personal song for me, all the better that so many other people love it too.
    Flag matthewsheffieldon February 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song isn't about Terrance Stamp and Julie Christie, Davies said in an interview in '04:
    "No, Terry and Julie were real people. I couldn't write for stars."
    Flag comedancingon October 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm listening to it right now. It really gets you doesn't it.
    Terry and Julie are indeed Terrence Stamp and Julie Christie.
    How can anyone think it's a song about lesbians!
    The Kinks are superb.
    Flag Dead Bang!on October 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Most beautiful song ever written.
    Flag comedancingon September 15, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:the song is about drugs being better than the company of other people.
    Flag chloriciconon September 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I thought it was about Julie Christie, lovely song.
    Flag robertwadeyon August 30, 2008   Link

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