Rush Hour Blues

The Kinks · Soap Opera [1975]

He gets up early about seven o'clock,

The alarm goes off and then the house starts to rock.

In and out of the bathroom by seven-o-three,

By seven-ten he's downstairs drinking his tea.

So put a shine on your shoes,

Put on your pin-striped suit.

Can't lose those early-morning-can't-stop-yawning,

Push and shoving rush hour blues.



Wife:

Darling are you ready?

You'll be late for the bus!



Star:

Don't rush me baby

While I'm using my brush.



Wife:

Get a move on darling

You're cutting it fine.



Star:

Cool it baby

I've got plenty of time.



So put a shine on your shoes

Put on your pin-striped suit.

Can't lose those early-morning-can't-stop-yawning

Push and shoving rush hour blues.



Soon I'll be just one of the commuters

Waiting for the subway train.

I'll be rushing up the stairs

And in the elevator.

By the time that I get there

I'm gonna feel like a mole in the ground

I'll be caught in the crush

I'll be pushed and be shoved,

And I'll be trying to get the subway train.

I'll be fighting with my brief case

And my umbrella,

Every morning and every night.

Some people do it every day of their lives.



Wife:

Read the paper later

You'll be caught in the queues.



Star:

Don't rush me baby

While I'm reading the news.



Wife:

Darling get a move on

You're cutting it fine.



Star:

Cool it baby

I've got plenty of time.



A quick cup of coffee and a slice of

toast and the Star (or should we say,

Norman?) is off to do battle with the

rush hour queues and traffic jams.



In the rush hour queues

No one gives a damn.

No one knows where I'm going to

No one knows who I am.



I'm sitting in my office

In the metropolis

I'm just part of the scenery,

I'm just part of the machinery.

Chained to my desk on the 22nd floor,

I can't break out through the automatic door,

I'd jump out the window but I can't face the drop

I'm sitting in a cage with an eye on the clock.



I'm ready to start paying my dues,

I've got to lose those early-morning-can't-stop-yawning,

Push and shoving, rush hour blues.



Well I'm ready to start paying my dues,

I've got to lose those early-morning can't-stop-yawning,

Push and shoving rush hour blues.

Rush Hour Blues

Rush Hour Blues stands as a vivid snapshot of urban life captured by The Kinks during their mid-1970s period. Released on the 1975 album Soap Opera, the track reflects the band's continued exploration of everyday struggles and social observation. Ray Davies' songwriting often turned mundane commuting experiences into poignant commentary, and this recording exemplifies that approach with its driving rhythm and relatable subject matter. The song fits within a broader discography that balances rock energy with narrative storytelling, showcasing the group's ability to find musical depth in the routine chaos of city living. As part of an era where the band experimented with varied textures, the track remains a testament to their enduring capacity to articulate the collective mood of the working class through accessible, melodic rock.