Apeman by The Kinks: This Commentary on Modern Society Was Written 56 Years Ago

 

Formed in London in 1963, the Kinks built a reputation for songs that talked about everyday life, social class, nostalgia for better days, and the changing world around them. 

Ape Man was released as a single at the end of 1970, and later included on one of their albums, Apeman stood out as one of those classic or memorable songs. Although the lyrics have a cheerful, tropical, and chill rhythm, the content carries a thoughtful message. The narrator wants to escape pollution, bureaucracy, the overcrowded cities, and modern civilization; he wants to go back to a simpler time. 

At the time, Apeman received good reviews from critics, it received praise for being witty, memorable, and wonderful songwriting by Ray Davies. The song was a commercial success; it reached the Top 5 in the UK, and was strong in other European charts. 

More than half a century later, the themes of the song: environmental issues, technological overload, a chaotic world and the desire to leave modern society still feel current, as if they were talking about this decade.

The Illusion of Progress : Analysis of Apeman

Have you ever felt like life doesn’t matter, or more broadly, like humanity doesn’t matter? We grant ourselves so much importance, but when we look around at the rules of society, our human “rules”, they rarely make sense. In appearance, we have evolved, but we remain the same homo sapiens found in history books or museums; we have simply changed our surroundings and rules for everything, to govern each other.

The world’s population has multiplied to the point where many hesitate to even start a family. There are so many of us, and we are all haunted, living in fear that there won’t be enough for everyone to survive.

We believe we are completely free because we don’t live behind bars, yet a part of civilized life is another form of mental captivity. We chase luxuries and strive for sophistication, yet these pale in comparison to the true beauty and luxury of the nature we are currently destroying.  

We feel unsafe, worried, and anxious.  We live in an unstable society, defined by economic hardship and incompetent leaders. We are closer to a global catastrophe, yet many think that progress means building expensive cities and industries that contaminate our forests and poison our water.

The Search for Sanity

At the end of the day, we all want someone by our side on our team, our connection to sanity in a world that feels increasingly wrong. We want to feel safe and cared for.

In a society that often measures success through productivity and possessions, genuine human connection can feel like a rare luxury. We are searching for someone who reminds us that we are not alone in questioning the direction the world is taking. Someone to face the chaos with. 

-Do you feel like we’ve evolved as a society, or are we just living in a more complex 'cage'? 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Now, press play and follow along with the lyrics below:

The Kinks - Apeman

I think I'm sophisticated 'cause I'm living my life
Like a good homo sapiens
But all around me everybody's multiplying and
They're walking round like flies man
So I'm no better than the animals sitting
In the cages in the zoo man
'Cause compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an apeman

I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
'Cause I'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an apeman

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodoo man, oh I'm an apeman
'Cause compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies I am an apeman

In man's evolution he's created the city
And the motor traffic rumble
But give me half a chance and I'd be taking off my clothes
And living in the jungle
'Cause the only time that I feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in the coconut trees
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an apeman

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodoo man, oh I'm an apeman
I look out the window but I can't see the sky
The air pollution is a-fogging eyes
I want to get out of this city alive and make like an apeman

Oh come on and love me, be my apeman girl
And we'll be so happy in my apeman world

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodoo man, oh I'm an apeman
I'll be your Tarzan, you'll be my Jane
I'll keep you warm and you'll keep me sane
We'll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day, just like an apeman

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodoo man, oh I'm an apeman
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an apeman