Give The People What They Want

Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file

Lyrics:

Hey, hey, hey...
Give the people what they want

Well, it's been said before, the world is a stage
A different performance with every age.
Open the history book to any old page
Bring on the lions and open the cage.

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please

The Roman promoters really did things right.
They needed a show that would clearly excite.
The attendance was sparse so they put on a fight
Threw the Christians to the lions, it sold out every night

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
The more they get, the more they need
And every time they get harder and harder to please

Give 'em lots of sex, perversion and rape
Give 'em lots of violence, and plenty to hate
Give the people what they want
Give the people what they want

[Extra verse from early GTPWTW album acetate:]
   The French Revolution was a crazy scene
   All those aristocrats getting guillotined
   The promoters cleaned up, the expenses were low
   An execution costs nothing, it's a wonderful show

   Give the people what they want
   Give the people what they want
   Blow out your brains, and do it right
   Make sure it's prime time and on a Saturday night.

   The world wants a fight, peace is a bore
   Every now and then you gotta give 'em a war
   Give the people what they want
   Give the people what they want

When Oswald shot Kennedy, he was insane
But still we watch the re-runs again and again
We all sit glued while the killer takes aim
"Hey Mom, there goes a piece of the president's brain!"

Give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
Blow out your brains, and do it right
Make sure it's prime time and on a Saturday night.
You gotta give the people what they want
You gotta give the people what they want
Give the people what they want
Give the people what they want
Give the people what they want

This song can be found on the following releases:

stereo mix, recorded Jun-Aug 1980 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London
Give The People What They Want 1981 Brazil Arista (Ariola Discos Fonograficos) 203 915 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Give The People What They Want 26 Aug, 1981 USA Arista AL 9567 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Give The People What They Want 15 Jan, 1982 UK Arista SPART 1171 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Give The People What They Want 12 Jul, 1988 USA Arista ARCD-8224 CD
Give The People What They Want 27 Apr, 1999 USA Konk/Velvel 63467-79730-2 CD
Give The People What They Want 24 Aug, 2004 USA Konk/Koch Records VEL-SC-79804 SACD (hybrid)

live, stereo mix, recorded 1 Jul, 1987 at Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Road (The Kinks Live) 9 Dec, 1987 Germany Metronome 828 081-2 CD
The Road (The Kinks Live) 11 Jan, 1988 USA MCA MCA-42107 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Road (The Kinks Live) 11 Jan, 1988 USA MCA MCAD-42107 CD
The Road (The Kinks Live) 23 May, 1988 UK London LONLP 49 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Road (The Kinks Live) 23 May, 1988 USA London LONCD 828.081-2 CD
Lost And Found (1986-89) 27 Aug, 1991 USA MCA MCAD-10338 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded 25 Mar, 1994 at Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
To The Bone 15 Oct, 1996 USA Guardian 7243 8 37303 2 2 2 CD set
To The Bone 3 Mar, 1997 UK Guardian 7243 8 37303 2 1 2 CD set

stereo mix, by Patrick Costello (3:52), recorded 2010
The Kinks UnKovered 22 Jun 2010 USA Paradiddle Records 8579670021049 CD


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