Featured as the opening track on the Kinks’ 1969 concept album, “Arthur – Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire” (released the same year as the Who’s “Tommy”) “Victoria” wasn’t a major hit by traditional Kinks standards, charting at Number 62 in the US and Number 33 in the UK.

Yet it’s the kind of song that Raymond Douglas Davies will long be remembered for: a keenly satirical look at “preserving the old ways from being abused,” artfully combined with Chuck Berry-like guitar riffs and Elgar-like brass and string crescendos.

Brilliant, articulate, witty, innovative, decidedly quirky and … bipolar, the man even has a heroic streak, as was widely revealed when Davies was shot in the leg while chasing purse-snatching thieves in New Orleans’ French Quarter, less than a week after being named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her (current) Royal Majesty. God save the village green.

 LISTEN TO TODAY’S SELECTION – Wednesday 16 January

Victoria

 Long ago life was clean

Sex was bad and obscene

And the rich were so mean

Stately homes for the lords

Croquet lawns, village greens

Victoria was my Queen

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

 I was born, lucky me

In a land that I love

Though I am poor, I am free

When I grow I shall fight

For this land I shall die

Let her sun never set

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

 Land of hope and gloria

Land of my Victoria

Land of hope and gloria

Land of my Victoria

Victoria, ‘toria

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

Canada to India

Australia to Cornwall

Singapore to Hong Kong

From the west to the east

From the rich to the poor

Victoria loved them all

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria, ‘toria

Victoria, Victoria, Victoria