Prince Of The Punks

Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file

Lyrics:

A well known groover, rock 'n' roll user,
Wanted to be a star.
But he failed the blues, and he's back to loser,
Playing folk in a country bar.

Reggae music didn't seem to satisfy his needs.
He couldn't handle modern jazz,
'Cause they play it in difficult keys.
But now he's found a music he can call his own,
Some people call it junk, but he don't care,
He's found a home.

He's the prince of the punks and he's finally made it,
Thinks he looks cool but his act is dated.
He acts working class but it's all bologna,
He's really middle class and he's just a phony.
He acts tough but it's just a front,
He's the prince of the punks.

He's the prince of the punks and he's finally made it,
Thinks he looks cool but his act is dated.

He tried to be gay, but it didn't pay,
So he bought a motorbike instead.
He failed at funk, so he became a punk,
'Cause he thought he'd make a little more bread.

He's been through all of the changes,
From rock opera to Mantovani.
Now he wears a swastika band
And leather boots up past his knees.

He's much too old for twenty-eight,
But he thinks he's seventeen,
He thinks he's a stud,
But I think he looks more like a queen.

He's the prince of the punks and he's finally made it,
Thinks he looks cool but his act is dated.
He talks like a Cockney but it's all bologna,
He's really middle class and he's just a phony.
He acts tough but it's just a front.

He's the prince of the punks and he's finally made it,
Thinks he looks cool but his act is dated.
He acts working class but it's all bologna,
He's really middle class and he's just a phony.
He acts tough but it's just a front,

He's the prince of the punks and he's finally made it,
Thinks he looks cool but his act is dated.
He acts working class but it's all bologna,
He's really middle class and he's just a phony.
He acts tough but it's just a front,
He's the prince of the punks.

This song can be found on the following releases:

stereo mix (3:16), recorded 12-16 Jul, 1976 with possible overdubs Oct 1977 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London
Father Christmas/Prince Of The Punks 25 Nov, 1977 UK Arista ARISTA 153 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Father Christmas/Prince Of The Punks 8 Dec, 1977 USA Arista AS 0296 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Sleepwalker 24 Nov, 1998 USA Konk/Velvel 63467-79725-2 CD
Sleepwalker 11 Jan, 2005 USA Konk/Koch Records VEL-SC-79810 SACD (hybrid)

live, stereo mix, recorded 4 Mar, 1980 at Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, New York
One For The Road 1980 Brazil Arista (Ariola Discos Fonograficos) 300 932/3 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
One For The Road 4 Jun, 1980 USA Arista A2L 8401 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
One For The Road 1 Aug, 1980 UK Arista DARTY 6 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
One For The Road 4 Apr, 1989 USA Arista A2CD-8041 CD
One For The Road 27 Apr, 1999 USA Konk/Velvel 63467-79728-2 2 CD set
One For The Road 7 Sep, 2004 USA Konk/Koch VEL-SC-79803 SACD (hybrid)


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