The Kinks – You Really Got Me

About The Song

“You Really Got Me” is a groundbreaking rock song by The Kinks, released in 1964. Known for its distorted guitar riff, raw energy, and primal sound, the song is considered a pivotal moment in the development of rock and a precursor to the hard rock and heavy metal genres.

Five Facts:

Genre Influence: “You Really Got Me” is often credited with influencing the development of various rock genres, particularly hard rock and heavy metal. The distorted guitar riff played by Dave Davies is considered one of the earliest examples of the power chord, a fundamental element in these genres.
Chart Success: The song was a commercial success, reaching the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart in 1964. Its success contributed significantly to The Kinks’ rise to fame and established them as a prominent force in the British Invasion.
Innovative Guitar Sound: Dave Davies achieved the iconic guitar sound on “You Really Got Me” by slashing the speaker cone of his amplifier with a razor blade. This innovative and aggressive approach to guitar distortion was groundbreaking at the time and left a lasting impact on the rock music landscape.
Follow-Up Hits: The success of “You Really Got Me” was followed by other hit singles like “All Day and All of the Night” and “Tired of Waiting for You.” The Kinks’ early catalog is often celebrated for its energetic and rebellious rock sound.
Cover Versions: The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Van Halen, who released a popular version in 1978. The cover by Van Halen also became a major hit and introduced the classic rock anthem to a new generation of listeners.

Video

Lyrics

Girl, you really got me goin’
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’
Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’, now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me

See, don’t ever set me free
I always wanna be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’, now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
Oh no…

See, don’t ever set me free
I always wanna be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’, now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me