Significant in Quicksilver's development was the almost immediate arrest and imprisonment of Valenti for a drugs offence. He did not rejoin the band until late 1969. In 1965, the line-up was strengthened by the arrival of guitarist Gary Duncan and, replacing Sonoban, Greg Elmore.
They debuted at the end of '65 and played around the Bay Area and then the West Coast for the next two years, building up a large following, but resisting offers to record that had been taken up by such San Francisco acid-rock colleagues as Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead.
Quicksilver finally signed to Capitol toward the end of 1967 and recorded their self-titled debut album in 1968. Jim Murray departed soon after their well-received appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
The quartet of Cipollina, Duncan, Elmore and Freiberg recorded the first two albums; both were important in the development of San Francisco rock music, as the twin lead guitars of Cipollina and Duncan made them almost unique. The second collection, "Happy Trails", is now regarded as a classic. George Hunter and his Globe Propaganda company were responsible for some of the finest album covers of the 60s and Happy Trails is probably their greatest work. The live music within showed a spontaneity that the band were never able to recapture on subsequent recordings. The side-long suite of Bo Diddley's 'Who Do You Love' has some incredible dynamics and extraordinary interplay between the twin guitarists.
Duncan departed soon afterwards and was replaced by UK session pianist and ex- Steve Miller Band and Jeff Beck Group member, Nicky Hopkins. His contributions breathed some life into the disappointing "Shady Grove", notably with the frantic 'Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder'.
"Just For Love" showed a further decline, with Valenti, now back with the band, becoming overpowering and self-indulgent. "Fresh Air" gave them a Top 50 U.S. hit in 1970. Cipollina and Hopkins departed, as did Freiberg following his arrest in 1971 for drug possession (he found a lucrative career later with Jefferson Starship). The remaining trio of Valenti, Duncan, and Elmore hired replacements and cut another couple of albums before disbanding by 1979.
Various incarnations have appeared over the years with little or no success. As recently as 1987, Gary Duncan recorded an album carrying the Quicksilver name, that also featured Freiberg on background vocals, but by then old fans were more content to purchase copies of the first two albums on compact disc.
Gary Duncan has a side project as Crawfish of Love.
Not many of Quicksilver's members are left. John Cipollina passed away, May 29, 1989, and the great Nicky Hopkins left us in September 1994, and Dino Valenti died November 16, 1994.
In 2006, Gary Duncan and David Freiberg launched a 40th-anniversary Quicksilver celebration tour as Quicksilver Messenger Service. They are still performing.
Throughout 2014 David Freiberg is touring with Jefferson Starship (40th anniversary tour) joined by Paul Kantner (original member of Jefferson Starship and Jefferson Airplane)
Mona
Quicksilver Messenger Service Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Mhm, Mona
I'm gonna tell you, Mona, what I wanna do
I'm gonna build my house next door to you
Can I make love to you once in a while?
Ah, baby, we could go kissing through the vine
When I come out on the front
You'll listen to my heart goin' bumpity bump
I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Hey Mona
Ooh Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Ooh-ooh Mona
I'm gonna tell you Mona, what I wanna do
I'm gonna build a house next door to you
Oh, can I make love to you once in awhile?
Yeah, or we can go kissin' through the vine
When I come out on the front
Girl, you will listen to my heart goin' bumpity bumpity bump
Well, I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Hey Mona
Ooh Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Ooh-ooh Mona
The Quicksilver Messenger Service's song "Mona" is a playful and flirtatious track about a man's desire to build his house next door to Mona's and make love to her. The song begins with a simple, upbeat guitar riff and the opening lines, "Hey, hey, hey, hey Mona, Hey, hey, hey Mona, Mhm, Mona" hint at the exciting and frenzied tone of the rest of the track. The lyrics are straightforward and direct, with the singer declaring his intentions to Mona and asking if she would be open to occasional physical intimacy. He suggests romantic scenarios like kissing through the vines and listens to his own heart beating hard as he imagines being near her. The refrain, "Hey Mona, Ooh Mona, Hey, hey, hey Mona, Ooh-ooh Mona" reinforces the playful and flirtatious energy of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hey, hey Mona
Greetings to Mona
Mhm, Mona
Acknowledgment of Mona's presence
I'm gonna tell you, Mona, what I wanna do
Expressing his intentions to Mona
I'm gonna build my house next door to you
Willingness to be closer to Mona
Can I make love to you once in a while?
Asking for Mona's consent for physical intimacy
Ah, baby, we could go kissing through the vine
Proposing a romantic activity with Mona
When I come out on the front
Referring to his arrival in front of Mona's house
You'll listen to my heart goin' bumpity bump
Describing his physical and emotional excitement to see Mona
I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Expressing his true feelings and desire for Mona
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Emphasizing how much Mona's love means to him
Hey Mona
Repeating his address to Mona
Ooh Mona
Using a different tone to address Mona
Well, I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Reiterating his emotional dependency on Mona
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Emphasizing the importance of Mona's love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mona Kaloush
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Mhm, Mona
I'm gonna tell you, Mona, what I wanna do
I'm gonna build my house next door to you
Can I make love to you once in a while?
Ah, baby, we could go kissing through the vine
When I come out on the front
You'll listen to my heart goin' bumpity bump
I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Hey Mona
Ooh Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Ooh-ooh Mona
I'm gonna tell you Mona, what I wanna do
I'm gonna build a house next door to you
Oh, can I make love to you once in awhile?
Yeah, or we can go kissin' through the vine
When I come out on the front
Girl, you will listen to my heart goin' bumpity bumpity bump
Well, I need you baby and it ain't no lie
Oh, without your lovin' I'd surely die
Hey Mona
Ooh Mona
Hey, hey, hey Mona
Ooh-ooh Mona
cynthia gibbs Barfield
Forty three years later..this song still sounds excellent..what a band...I just love this entire record. JC was pure genious and you couldn't beat that Frisco sound...
delta9779
Born in "1950" I so so so love this version by Quicksilver. John Cippolina rocks RIP. This song brings back such unbelieveable memories and the chills this song gives me are wow. I Love this fucking group their music is so real and it transcends the years. Wow where did life go I am so glad to be lucky enough to live in those times of real music. Live it Love it feel it my friends and never forget this is what real music sounds like.
Noel Salisbury
I'm gonna TELL you Mona what I'm gonna do.
delta9779
@thomas percival I am still here and still listening love this song love this group
thomas percival
Hey, I was born in '52, lived my whole life in Northern Ont 🇨🇦. Played this 8 track in my '69 firebird. Is there anyone else out there, or am I the last one listening to this?
Joseph de la garza
You bet, I saw them performance on this song and many more in San Antonio Texas, fabulous.
MissMyPonytail
That makes 2 of us ~ April 1950... and ditto!!!
rudi b
Strangely enough none of my friends and acquaintances know this song.
Every now and then, when I'm home alone, I listen to this Mona with the volume at maximum and dance and shout along.
I really love this song.
Noel Salisbury
Turn 'em on...👍
Carl Perez
This is the one song that captures the psychedelic era perfectly...Quicksilver MS never really made it big ....they refused to sell out..Thanks to the remaining members for holding the line for us...