from the alienating present while recognising that it is impossible to go back, and Fleiner contends that it recommends using the common cultural experiences of the past to cope with issues in the present. Side one "The Village Green Preservation Society" In a contemporary interview, Ray explained that he composed "The Village Green Preservation Society" after someone suggested to him that the Kinks had been preserving "nice things from the past". The song states the band's intentions to "preserve" things and consists of a listing of British institutions to be saved for posterity, including vaudeville, the George Cross medal and its recipients, draught beer and virginity, among others. Ray subsequently described the song as the album's "national anthem". Employing a simple composition, its arrangement is defined by what Miller terms Avory's "especially exuberant" drumming and the "similarly light and effective" piano contribution. Ray and Dave closely harmonise throughout, while Ray's voice is emphasised at the midway point and its closing. "Do You Remember Walter" Ray was inspired to compose "Do You Remember Walter" after running into a childhood friend and finding they no longer had anything in common. The singer recalls his and Walter's various childhood exploits, which he contrasts against the older Walter who he expects is now fat and married. He mocks Walter's early bedtime, while he imagines that Walter would be uninterested in his reminiscing of the past. Rogan compares the song to Ray's 1967 composition "David Watts" and suggests it conveys "a loss of almost tragic proportions" when the Walter character is "demythologised in adulthood". In his November1968 interview with Melody Maker, Ray stated that the song's message was summarised in its closing line: "People often change but memories of people can remain". After opening with what Rogan terms "machine gun drumming", the song is defined by a dominant piano and bass guitar, alongside snare rolls. "Picture Book" "Picture Book" describes an ageing narrator's experience flipping through a photo album reflecting on happy memories from "a long time ago". The vocals include wordless barbershop-like harmonies as well as Ray singing "scooby dooby doo" in reference to Frank Sinatra's 1966 single "Strangers in the Night". The song employs two acoustic guitars and an overdubbed electric guitar. Quaife doubles Ray's rhythm guitar with his bass in playing the song's distinctive hook. Unlike most of the album's songs, its mix emphasises the low-end, particularly Quaife's bass guitar and Avory's