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)
Stepping Stone
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
You're trying to make your mark in society
You're using all the tricks that you used on me
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
(No!)
Not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes
But, now you're walking around like you're front-page news
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose
But, you won't find my name in your book of "who's-who?"
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
(No, girl, not me!)
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
(No!)
Not your steppin' stone
I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
The Monkees's song Stepping Stone tackles the issue of being used and taken advantage of by someone who is trying to climb the social ladder. The singer is refusing to be used as a "stepping stone" and is standing up for himself. The opening lines of "I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone" emphasize the singer's firm stance on the matter.
The second verse highlights the girl's transformation from being barefoot to being a high-flyer who is now very selective about the company she keeps. But the singer is not impressed by her new persona and is not willing to be part of her scheme. The repetition of "Not your steppin' stone" in the chorus emphasizes this message.
Line by Line Meaning
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
I will not let you use me to climb to a higher social status or to achieve your goals at the expense of my own.
You're trying to make your mark in society
You are attempting to establish yourself in a higher position in society.
You're using all the tricks that you used on me
You are employing the same tactics that you used to manipulate me in your climb up the social ladder.
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines
You are trying to emulate the trendy fashion styles found in popular magazines.
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes
Your clothing choices are drawing unwanted attention and causing disturbances in public places.
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes
When we first met, you did not have adequate footwear.
But, now you're walking around like you're front-page news
Now you act as if you are the center of attention and the topic of front-page news.
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose
You have been very selective in choosing the people whom you associate with.
But, you won't find my name in your book of "who's-who?"
However, you will not find my name among the influential or notable people in your social circle.
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone
I refuse to be used as a tool for your own gain.
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
I will not allow myself to be walked over and used by you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER JOSEPH HOOTON, STEPHEN GEDDES GRIMES, KEITH ROGER MULLIN, CARL JAMES HUNTER, TOMMY BOYCE, BOBBY HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eduardspanjer
Im not your steppin' stone (+4 times more)
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 (+6 or7 more)
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
Bron: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Bobby Hart / Tommy Boyce
Songteksten voor (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone © Screen Gems-emi Music Inc., Cherry Red Songs, Picadilly Music Corp
i copy paste from Google, hmm, what else. is there an other good one too ?
@slint69
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
You're trying to make your mark in society
You're using all the tricks that you used on me
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes
But, now you're walking around like you're front-page news
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose
But, you won't find my name in your book of "who's-who?"
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
(No, girl, not me!)
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
@owenkwon9751
I was 11 when this came out. Now, I’m 66. Man, time does fly. I remember when all four Monkees were all so young! Three of them are gone. Rip to Davy, Peter, and Michael. All of them are just so talented and made some of the best songs from the 60s!
@danielem0007
I know the feeling....Micky is amazing as are the rest of the group
@michaelmccartin2054
I was a lot younger but I remember this playing on the radio!
@carolmcfadden2913
I remember that time also..at 67 now they were very popular in 1968 when we had soc hops at the community center on Minot AFB
@MrRyomo
@@carolmcfadden2913cool cool, nice to hear somebody @ my age kicking back on old school music
@MrRyomo
My fav song.Take the train to Tarksville, don't be slow .
@GjpgrD
This has always been my idea of the quintessential 1960's pop/rock song. It has all the elements of hippie music to me. Just coolness personified. Plus Micky Dolenz is probably the most underrated rock singer of all time. He's frickin' awesome!
@truthseek3017
Not hippie, it is punk music.
@GjpgrD
@@truthseek3017 Hippie punk!
@oolongoolong789
Classic song by The Monkees. Still as fresh as the day it was minted.