Three Great Songs by The Monkees
Well, pretty good songs, anyway…
The Monkees was my g-g-generation’s band. We were in-betweeners, too young for The Beatles, too old for Kiss. Just right for The Monkees.
Did they write their own songs? No. Did they play their own instruments? No. But for maybe these exact reasons, The Monkees, sometimes known as the Pre-Fab Four (The Beatles were the Fab Four), did have some pretty good songs. Here are three of them.
Caution! You do not want to look up any YouTube videos of the band or the boys later in life. They did not age well, not a one of them.
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Vocals: Mickey Dolenz
One, two, one, two, three, four
When I met you, girl, you didn’t have no shoes
Now you’re walking ‘round like you’re front page news
You’ve been awful, careful ‘bout the friends you choose
But, you won’t have my name in your book of who’s who
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
You’re making your mark in society
Using all the tricks that you used on me
All them high fashion magazines
The clothes you’re wearin’, girl, are causing public scenes
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
One, two, one, two, three, four
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Oh, not your steppin’ stone, no, not me
Oh, babe, I’m not your steppin’ stone
No babe, I’m not your steppin’ stone
Babe, not your steppin’ stone, not me
Not your steppin’ stone
No babe, I’m not your
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Bobby Hart / Tommy Boyce
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone lyrics © Screen Gems-emi Music Inc., Cherry Red Songs, Picadilly Music Corp
Auntie Grizelda
Vocals: Peter Tork
She knows her mind all right, your Auntie Grizelda
She says she knows my kind, she might, maybe so
Oh, yeah, she’s raised you right, your Auntie Grizelda
You only know the things she wants you to know
I know she’s having a fit
She doesn’t like me a bit
No bird of grace ever lit on Auntie Grizelda
You can’t begrudge her style, your Auntie Grizelda
She couldn’t budge a smile and do it for free
So righteous making fudge, your Auntie Grizelda
So proper judging others over her tea
You look just like her you do
I know by looking at you
That you’ve been listening to your Auntie Grizelda
Oh, no, don’t look at me like Auntie Grizelda
It takes much more to be someone of your own
You’ve got to make it free from Auntie Grizelda
Or just like her you’ll have to make it alone
I know she’s having a fit
She doesn’t like me a bit
No bird of grace ever lit on Auntie Grizelda
Auntie Grizelda, Auntie Grizelda
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jack Keller / Diane Hilderbrand
Last Train to Clarksville
Vocals: Mickey Dolenz
A commentor below the linked video has this interesting insight: @americansasquatch_the_original
Clarksville Tennessee is on the border with Kentucky. Fort Campbell is a 12 mile ride to the base. Fort Campbell is the home of the screaming eagles 101st airborne division. This song was about a young man drafted to the Army to go to Vietnam hence “and I don’t know if I’m ever coming home”
Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by 4:30
’Cause I’ve made your reservation
Don’t be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
’Cause I’m leavin’ in the morning
And I must see you again
We’ll have one more night together
’Til the morning brings my train
And I must go
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don’t know if I’m ever comin’ home
Take the last train to Clarksville
I’ll be waiting at the station
We’ll have time for coffee flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
Take the last train to Clarksville
Now I must hang up the phone
I can’t hear you in this noisy railroad station, all alone
I’m feelin’ low
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home
Oh
Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by 4:30
’Cause I’ve made your reservation
Don’t be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Bobby Hart / Tommy Boyce
Last Train to Clarksville lyrics © Screen Gems-emi Music Inc.
Honorable Mention: Hey Hey We’re The Monkees!
Not a great rock song, but a fantastic sitcom theme song!
Background: If you don’t know, The Monkees was the concoction of some Hollywood television executives who wanted to ride the coattails of The Beatles.
Inspired by The Beatles’ movies A Hard Days Night and Help!, they held an open casting call to assemble the band. Though the plan was only for a sitcom starring the faux band, they were so successful that The Monkees became a semi-legit touring band. The line-up was:
Davy Jones — Front man, lead vocals (for romantic songs), tambourine and maracas, teen heart-throb, miniature person(5' 3"), English accent.
Mikey Dolenz — Drums, lead vocals, smart-aleck.
Michael Nesmith — Guitar, tall, serious, silent type, usually seen in a knit ski cap.
Peter Tork — Bass, occasional keyboards, general goof-ball. Not clear if he ever actually played the bass; he played guitar in real life.
Studio Musicians — For recording and generally until the boys learned to play their assigned instruments well enough.
