Album: Face To Face (1966)

Charted: 5

License This Song 

• There's a crack up in the ceiling
  And the kitchen sink is leaking
  Out of work and got no money
  A Sunday joint of bread and honey
  
  What are we living for?
  Two-roomed apartment on the second floor
  No money coming in
  The rent collector's knocking, trying to get in
  
  We are strictly second class, we don't understand
  (Dead end!)
  Why we should be on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  People are living on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  I'm gonna die on dead end street
  
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  
  On a cold and frosty morning
  Wipe my eyes and stop me yawning
  And my feet are nearly frozen
  Boil the tea and put some toast on
  
  What are we living for?
  Two-roomed apartment on the second floor
  No chance to emigrate
  I'm deep in debt and now it's much too late
  
  We both want to work so hard
  We can't get the chance
  (Dead end!)
  People live on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  People are dying on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  Gonna die on dead end street
  
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  
  (Dead end!)
  People live on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  People are dying on dead end street
  (Dead end!)
  Gonna die on dead end street
  
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Head to my feet (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  How's it feel? (yeah)
  How's it feel? (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah)
  Dead end street (yeah) Writer/s: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
  Publisher: Abkco Music Inc.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Cee Gee Dee from Dallas, Texas, Usai was a Kinks fanatic for most of my teen years into early adulthood. I saw a documentary on them recently which almost revitalized that part of my life. Suffice it to say there is a real Kinks Kult out there and Ray Davies is the Main Man of that Krowd. The Kinks could not tour in America during that era, not because of Congress or LBJ's disdain for them, but because they got in trouble with a powerful musicians union here in the USA. That lasted almost to 1970. I do remember hearing this tune on the radio in 1966. I love the way Dead End is shouted and the early jazz-style solo at the end of the song. Plus, yes, Ray was not always in sync with his native Swinging London lyrically or psychologically.
  
  Ray Davies never will forget his British working class roots. In 2021 is that something forward looking or backward looking? I cannot answer that question for today's younger folks on an international level. The part about his daddy and ownership of property in 1960s UK was worth the price of the article. Thanks.
• Mk from Viennadead end street has nothing to do with one way street
• Gerard from Toulouse, FranceTo me, there has always been a striking resemblance between, on the one hand, the rhythm and the instrumental part at the end, and on the other hand the music and the ballet scenes at the beginning of the film West Side Story - just like if Davies had thought or wanted to say that the poverty he'd seen around him in working-class England was far less glamourous or colourful than poverty on the screen - even the lyrics seem to be an antithesis of "when you're a jet...". What I mean is if you were a young and naive teenager and you got carried away by the film shots and the energy in the singers' voices and the dance scenes, not to forget the beauty of Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno, well then poverty WAS beautiful, wasn't it? Maybe Davis thought "wait a minute, I can show you a different picture." Does anyone know if The Kinks have ever made any comment on this song?
• John from Anaheim, CaLou Rawls also had a song titled "Dead End Street" at this time (early 1967), and its title also referred to hopelessness. Unlike the Kinks, however, the Rawls song was an uplifting song of a black man rising above his poor beginnings.
• A. Ward from Arnold, MdI also consider this song to be Davie's finest along w/"A Well Respected Man". Both tunes are so evocative of the era and England's social classes. I have always thought that The Kinks were the thinking man's band and you never knew what to expect next or what sound they would have. From the first "heavy metal garage" tunes to the first Punk song ("I'm Not Like Everybody Else")to the stunning Waterloo Sunset-Wow!
• Reg from Kemptville, OnIf my memory serves me correctly, I believe this song was included on an album entitled "London a Go-Go". We aquired it in 1967 but there was a clause on the jacket stating that they could only list the song titles, not the artists. "We're sure you'll recognize them.." or something like that. I've never known who recorded Dead End Street until now.

More Songfacts:

American PieDon McLean

Don McLean's "American Pie" starts in mono and gradually goes to stereo. It isn't full stereo until the end of the song, which is over 8 minutes long.

Hangin' ToughNew Kids On The Block

"Hangin' Tough" came at the peak of New Kids On The Block mania (1988). Their writer/producer Maurice Starr wrote it about the struggles the band faced early on. It was a #1 hit in both America and the UK.

Scooby SnacksFun Lovin' Criminals

The Scooby Snacks in the Fun Lovin' Criminals song aren't dog treats, they're Valium pills.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.

CenterfieldJohn Fogerty

"Centerfield" was the first song enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Love Never Felt So GoodMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson became the first artist in history to score Top 10 hits in five consecutive decades on the Hot 100 when "Love Never Felt So Good" landed at #9 on the chart dated May 31, 2014.

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?