This is one of the last complete masterworks that Ray Davies wrote for the Kinks (the above cartoon – I have no idea what it means, which is I think why I like it). Anyway, it’s typical hang dog Ray Davies fodder. He’s not talking about Princess Diana – he’s talking about Diana Dors, the actress – sort of an English Marilyn Monroe – and that’s also her not Marilyn on Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. There’s a brief passage where he ponders an atomic bomb going off (which is hardly the way to convince yourself to have a good day), but in typical Ray fashion, he seems so impatient waiting for the world to end that he at least hopes that it will provide a good show.
I don’t think any songwriter in the history of man comes close to Ray in the genre of songs written to convince yourself to get out of bed. This one starts with his alarm going off – sounds like a cheap Casio. I should tally how many of his song begin with him waking up.
Superman (Woke up this morning, started to sneeze)
Predictable (Don’t know why I’m even bothering) – I think the video begins with him in bed.
State of Confusion (Woke up in a panic)
Ray apparently needs to be talked off a ledge every time he regains consciousness. He’s right though – the alarm clock is a truly ghastly invention.
He sings it at times with complete passion and good intent and at other times as if the very notion of brandishing himself forth for another day on the planet is the final proof of his own complete and utter insanity.
Good Day
The sky is blue but there are clouds in my head,
With big decisions looming ahead.
The sun is out but the room is so grey,
So much confusion headed my way.
Get positive, try to be gay.
News of the world, tea and biscuits in bed.
The headlines said that Diana is dead.
She couldn’t act much but she put on a show.
She always smiled even when she felt low.
I used to fancy her a long time ago.
So today has got to be a good day,
Today is gonna be a good day,
Today is gonna be a good day,
Good day, good day, good day.
Holes in my socks and I can’t find my shoes.
It’s no surprise that I’m singing the blues.
So many holes in my life still to mend,
And someone just said that the world’s gonna end.
So today better be a good day,
Today is gonna be a good day,
Today has got to be a good day,
Good day, good day, good day, good day.
If we blow away the past with a bloody great blast,
Make it fast, make it fast.
So have a good day today because it could be your last,
Make it last, make it last.
Will it light up the sky?
Will it blot out the sun?
Well we’ve waited this long,
So it better be a good one.
Good day, good day, good day.
Yeah, it’s gonna be a good day.
Hey baby, if you come back home it’ll be a good day today.
They could drop a small atom bomb on the city today,
But if you walk through that door honey, you know it’ll be a good day.
And now survival is my only aim.
I call friends and see if any remain.
Who was that girl who used to be my flame?
I’d call her if I could remember her name.
So today is gonna be a good day,
Today has got to be a good day,
Today is gonna be a good day,
Good day, good day, good day, good day.
Hey Diana, I’ve really got to learn to take a tip from you,
Put on my makeup and try to make the world take notice of you.
Yeah, it’s gonna be good day today.
Yeah! Nice essay, ess-sayy.