WHAT do you mean of when you see the immortal lines "As farsighted as a I gaze on Waterloo sunset, I am in paradise"?
I'd always assumed it was Waterloo, London, and that the dingy old river was the Thames, but it turns out the solution lies much closer to home.
"Liverpool is my favourite city, and the strain was originally called Liverpool Sunset," smiles its writer, Ray Davies. "I was divine by Merseybeat.
I'd fallen in bed with Liverpool by that point. On every tour, that was the best reception. We played The Cavern, all those old places, and I couldn't get plenty of it.
"I had a burden of mates in bands up there, and that sound - not The Beatles but Merseybeat - that was unbelievable. It used to exhort me every time.
"So I wrote Liverpool Sunset. Later it got changed to Waterloo Sunset, but there's still that run on words with Waterloo.
"London was home, I'd grown up there, but I wish to believe I could be an adopted Scouser. My substance is definitely there."
And after this month he'll be binding in the city, playing at the Philharmonic Hall. I'm catching up with The Kinks singer quite literally on the route between tour dates, his bus has pulled over and the crowd are having a relaxation break. He's clearly loving every minute. As he talks about performing in Liverpool, his enthusiasm is clear.
"I know the Phil," says Ray, 65. "It's such a big spot to play. And every time I get to Liverpool there's something new. It' a deal I look ahead to on every tour.
"We've got a big band, and we represent different songs every night. You get a few new ones, plenty of old ones. We go with what we believe will make each night. It keeps it interesting."
Ray has ever been one to living things interesting. Throughout his career he's always tried new things, refusing to be pigeon-holed.
As easily as writing some of the best songs of his generation, including You Really Got Me, All Day And All Of The Night, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, Days, The Village Green Preservation Society, Lola and of course Waterloo Sunset, he's composed musicals, acted, directed and produced shows for house and television.
"I wish to call the changes," he laughs. "I'm concerned in everything. I've been very lucky that I've been capable to do so many things."
His latest design is an album of collaborations, which includes a new edition of the Kinks' Better Things, featuring Bruce Springsteen, and a rendering of the 1972 single Celluloid Heroes, with Jon Bon Jovi.
"I've been running with Metallica, yes, and Jon Bon Jovi. Bruce Springsteen has been fantastic. I went out to his farm in New Jersey to show that. He's a very generous performer. And I was blown off by what a Kinks fan he was. He's got every book I always made. I'm a fan of his form too, so it played out precisely right."
The thought can the album is to work collaboratively, says Ray.
"You see in the music industry that it's all dog-eat-dog competitive nonsense," he chuckles. "Well, I wanted to do this album to show there's more to it that. You get people who are in it for the wrong reasons, sure. But they don't stay around. Give them three days and they're out of the picture. Careers that last amount from a bed of the music, and medicine for music's sake."
Ray is still recruiting for the album.
"I'd love to go with Paloma Faith," he explains. "She's got a big sound. She's playing in Liverpool soon isn't she? Say hi to her for me. That should be a good show."
Surely there can't be anything yet to beat off on Ray's to-do list?
"Play for England?" he offers. "I fancy doing that. I go to the gym a fair bit, and we get a kickabout, so I mean I'm as just a bet as any. I see they've got Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, so I could be the honorary Scouser on the line-up."
He asks me if I've had a see at the potential squad. I take to hold that I haven't and that the election has taken over my news viewing over the final few days.
"What do you conceive of all that?" he asks, pondering. "I mean it was the better that we could desire for, after last week. I think Labour could do with going back to being old Labour, regrouping, and coming back stronger. The rest could do with doing the same. It's been a bit of an anti-climax, but perhaps it's what we all need."
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