Mr. Reporter

Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Carlin Music Corp.

Chord file

Lyrics:

First version (Ray lead vocals):

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
I'll believe all that you put down.
I'll believe the sun is going up,
Even though it's going down.

Why, Mr. Reporter,
Do you like some things more than most?
I hate you, Mr. Reporter,
'Cause your self pity makes you a ghost.

You smile and then you jot down,
All the things you wanted to hear.
Then you take away such dear things,
Then you treat them with a smear.

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
Don't you twist my words around.
I'll kill you, rather than let you,
Distort my simple sound.

Did your daddy stop you playing
With your friends when you were young?
And is that why you run down
All the young folks having fun.

The reason I am morbid,
Is because I read you every day.
You contest all of the good things
Because they rub you up the wrong way.

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Ha!
Hey...
Hey...


Second version (Dave lead vocals):

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
I'll believe all that you put down.
I'll believe the sun is going up,
Even though it's going down.

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
Don't you twist my words around.
I'll kill you, rather than let you,
Distort my simple sound.

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Did your daddy stop you playing
With your friends when you were young?
And is that why you run down
All the young folks having fun.

The reason I am stupid,
Is 'cause I read you every day.
You misquote all of the true things
Because it rubs you up the wrong way.

Hey, Mr. Reporter,
How 'bout talking about yourself?
Do you like what you're doing,
Or is it that you can do nothing else?

Hey...
Hey...

Hey...
Hey...

This song can be found on the following releases:

mono mix, lead vocals by Ray (3:55), recorded 2 Feb, 1966 at IBC Studios, London

stereo mix, lead vocals by Dave (3:58), recorded Apr-Jun 1969 at Pye Studios, London

stereo mix, lead vocals by Dave, 2009 remix (3:36), recorded Apr-Jun 1969, remixed Dec 2009 at Pye Studios (No. 1), London

stereo mix, lead vocals by Dave, alternate 2009 remix (4:07), recorded Apr-Jun 1969, remixed Dec 2009 at Pye Studios (No. 1), London

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