"Sunny Afternoon" is a song by the Kinks, written by Ray Davies[7] and released as a single in June 1966.

Like its contemporary "Taxman" by the Beatles, the song references the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson,[8][9] although it does so through the lens of an unsympathetic aristocrat bemoaning the loss of his vast unearned wealth.

[10] Its strong music hall flavour and lyrical focus was part of a stylistic departure for the band (begun with 1965's "A Well Respected Man"), which had risen to fame in 1964–65 with a series of hard-driving, power-chord rock hits.

In order to prevent the listener from sympathizing with the song's protagonist, Davies said, "I turned him into a scoundrel who fought with his girlfriend after a night of drunkenness and cruelty.

"[10] Davies explained of the circumstances in which the song was written and recorded: "Sunny Afternoon" was made very quickly, in the morning, it was one of our most atmospheric sessions.

In America, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart early autumn 1966.

In a 1995 interview, Ray Davies recalled being surprised at the song's broad appeal, stating, "'Sunny Afternoon', I remember the record coming out and I walked into a British Legion or a pub.

"[17] Cash Box said that it is a "slow-moving, blues-drenched, seasonal affair with a catchy, low-key repeating riff.