“Waterloo Sunset” is one of my boyfriend’s favorite songs. He was the first one to play it for me early in our relationship. I’ve been a fan of the song ever since. It not only reminds me of us at the start, but it reminds me of the magic of storytelling and songwriting.

This song is so vivid. I can see every bit of those days staring at Waterloo station at sunset, I can feel it, sense it, even smell the room that overlooks the station. Close your eyes and listen to the story. Can you feel the small room above? Can you see Terry and Judy? Doesn’t it feel like you are there, too?

“Waterloo Sunset” by The Kinks
from the Album, Something Else (1967)

“As long as I gaze on Waterloo Sunset,
I am in paradise.”

I remember my first apartment. The second floor of a two-story, small apartment building. You could hear the trains every night, and every early morning. Outside my living room window was a giant avocado tree, so big that I could open the window and just reach out to grab one. The view out of my bedroom window was the neighbor next door. A big family lived there. The house was vivid and alive all the time, with delicious smells of cooking wafting up to my window. My favorite was on Friday nights when three generations would sit around a table and play cards, laughing, sometimes singing, being a family.

This song reminds me of all of that this morning.

“Waterloo Sunset” was released as a single in 1967, and was featured on their album Something Else by The Kinks, as well. The song was composed and produced by Ray Davies. It was The Kinks first single to be available in true stereo.

The song reached #2 on the British charts. It was also a top 10 hit in Australia, New Zealand, and most of Europe. In the US, “Waterloo Sunset” was released as a single, but failed to chart. (from Wikipedia)

Here is a live version of “Waterloo Sunset” that I’m quite fond of. Ray Davies and Damon Albarn performing the Song together.

“Waterloo Sunset” (live) by Ray Davies and Damon Albarn