In the years since their original disbanding, the group has reunited in various incarnations, mostly involving Dolenz, Tork and Jones, but not Nesmith. The first reunion began in 1986 and at first featured only Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Davy Jones joined the others and a new album was released before they split again in 1989.
The next regrouping took place between 1993 and 1997 and featured a new album that included the particpation of all four members. A further reunion between 2001 and 2002, was followed by another reunion in 2011 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the television show. This reunion was cut short before 2011 had ended due to scheduling problems with the anniversary tour.
The unexpected death of Davy Jones at the beginning of 2012 prompted the most recent reunion tour, this time featuring Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith.
Created by producers of a TV series to be an American Beatles, the antics of the Monkees band members on the television series were very reminscent of Beatles' antics in films like 'Help' and 'Hard Day's Night'. Indeed, in songs like 'Forget that Girl...', the band and even the lead singer could sound just like the Beatles. With songs provided by Don Kirshner from such writers as Neil Diamond and Carole King, among others, the Monkees were assured of pop success. However, in the beginning, the four group members were hired only as actors to front the band and to provide the vocals whilst studio musicians recorded the backing music. These recordings were provided by Kirshner. Things changed though after the success of the single Last Train to Clarksville, the first hit, leading to demands that the band play live gigs. Having learned to play the music, the band became angry when the second LP was recorded (by Kirshner) by studio musicians, without their knowledge or musical input. They therefore demanded and obtained control of the music.
Nesmith who revealed that the band did not perform on their records was also instrumental in getting Don Kirshner sacked. the next album Headquarters was recorded by The Monkees alone, using hand picked producer Chip Douglas. While not as successful as their first two albums it made it to number one, only to be replaced a week later by The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album. The Monkees eventually settled on a formula of using their own talents as well as those of studio musicians. After two seasons the network and the group could not reach agreement on the format of a third season and the show was canceled even though the ratings were still high. A feature film named Head co-written by The Monkees, Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson) followed.
Peter Tork was the first to leave the band, in 1968, during 1969 The TV show went into Saturday morning reruns and the three remaining Monkees recorded two more albums. in 1969 Nesmith departed and began a serious foray into merging country and rock music. He also eventually developed a format that became MTV. By the way his mother invented a product called Liquid Paper, sold it to the Gillette Company for $47 million dollars then died a year later leaving the money to her only son. The remaining two Monkees Dolenz and Jones recorded one last album named Changes in late 1969.
There has, however, been a resurgent interest in The Monkees' music Rhino Records has been instrumental in restoring all their albums, adding bonus tracks, and equipping them with complementary liner notes and stories.
Davy Jones died on February 29, 2012 in Indiantown, Florida.
Peter Tork died on February 21, 2019, at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut.
Michael Nesmith died on December 10, 2021, in Carmel Valley, California.
DISCOGRAPHY (from www.themonkees.net):
The Monkees (1966)
More of The Monkees (1967)
Headquarters (1967)
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967)
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968)
Head (1968)
Instant Replay (1969)
The Monkees Present (1969)
Changes (1970)
Then & Now...The Best of the Monkees (1986)
Pool It! (1987)
Live 1967 (1987)
Justus (1996)
Good Times! (2016)
Daydream Believer
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What number is this, Chip?
7-A
Okay, know what I mean, like don't get excited man
It's 'cause I'm short, I know
Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But six rings and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shaving razor's cold and it stings
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh and our good time starts and ends
Without dollar one to spend
But how much, baby, do we really need?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
The Monkees’ hit “Daydream Believer” expresses the desire to escape one's mundane reality and live in a world of fantasies. The song talks about the struggle to get up in the morning and face the day ahead, and how sometimes the desire to be in a daydream state is overwhelming. The opening lines of the song bring up the reference to the digits 7-A, which leaves the listener wondering what it means. This is meant to be vague, and it does not reveal its significance until the end of the verse where it appears to be a kind of joke or play on words between friends. The singer of the song finds himself wishing he could escape the monotony of a standard workday with its early morning alarms and his painful razor, wishing instead to sail away into a daydream.
The refrain of the song, “Cheer up, Sleepy Jean,” appears throughout the lyrics, serving as a message of encouragement. The term “Sleepy Jean” serves as a nickname the singer gives to his lover, and he is encouraging her to be more optimistic and to embrace her daydreams. The song's lyrics also allude to the fact that life doesn't have to be perfect and that it's possible to find happiness in simple things, like being together and enjoying each other's company without the need for financial abundance.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But six rings and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shaving razor's cold and it stings
I daydream about escaping my mundane routine and waking up on my own terms, but in reality, I struggle to get up in the morning and face the harshness of my daily routine.
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Hey, cheer up! You, like me, may be a hopeless daydreamer, but there's no problem with that. Life is tough, but we can find joy in the simple moments and our shared fantasies.
You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh and our good time starts and ends
Without dollar one to spend
But how much, baby, do we really need?
You used to see me as a perfect, unattainable savior, but now you see the real me - someone who's content with simple pleasures and doesn't need money to have a good time. Let's question the idea that material possessions bring happiness and focus on what truly matters.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
A great Monkees song.