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)
Daily Nightly
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through prisms of no color
Hand in hand, they walk the night
But never know each other
Passioned pastel neon lights
Light up the jeweled traveler
Who, lost in scenes of smoke-filled dreams
Startled eyes that sometimes see
Phantasmagoric splendor
Pirouette down palsied paths
With pennies for the vendor
Salvation's yours for just the time
It takes to pay the dancer
And once again, such anxious men
Find questions, but no answers
The night has gone
And taken its infractions
While reddened eyes
Hope there will be a next one
Sahara signs look down upon
A world that glitters glibly
And mountainsides put arms around
The unsuspecting city
Second hands that minds have slowed
Are moving even faster
Toward bringing down someone who's found
The questions, but no answers
The Monkees' song Daily Nightly is a surrealistic exploration of urban loneliness and the search for meaning in a world that seems to offer only artificial glitz and confusion. The lyrics describe a world of disconnection, where people move through the night like shadows, never truly knowing each other, lost in a sea of neon and smoke. The imagery is vivid and often unsettling, evoking a sense of disorientation and despair.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for what's to come: "Darkened rolling figures move/Through prisms of no color/Hand in hand, they walk the night/But never know each other." Here we have a vision of people wandering aimlessly through a desolate landscape, devoid of color or meaning. The use of the word "prisms" suggests a fractured, distorted view of reality, while the repetition of the phrase "but no answers" reinforces the theme of unfulfilled longing.
As the song progresses, we see glimpses of a world that is both alluring and dangerous. The "passioned pastel neon lights" are both beautiful and overwhelming, while the "smoke-filled dreams" suggest a state of confusion and disorientation. The idea of a "jeweled traveler" emphasizes the transience and superficiality of this world, while the repeated references to "questions" suggest a deeper yearning for meaning and understanding.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most poignant: "Second hands that minds have slowed/Are moving even faster/Toward bringing down someone who's found/The questions, but no answers." Here we have a sense of time speeding up, with people frantically searching for something they know they may never find. The image of minds "slowed" suggests a kind of existential weariness, as people struggle to keep up with a world that is always changing and always out of reach.
Overall, Daily Nightly is a haunting and memorable song that captures the alienation and confusion of modern life, while also hinting at the possibility of redemption and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Darkened rolling figures move
Mysterious people are moving in the dark
Through prisms of no color
Through a colorless world
Hand in hand, they walk the night
Walking together, but not knowing each other
But never know each other
They don't connect on a deeper level
Passioned pastel neon lights
Bright lights that evoke strong emotions
Light up the jeweled traveler
Illuminate a worldly person
Who, lost in scenes of smoke-filled dreams
Who is distracted by illusions
Find questions, but no answers
Seeking meaning, but cannot find it
Startled eyes that sometimes see
Eyes that are occasionally shocked into awareness
Phantasmagoric splendor
Illusory, surreal beauty
Pirouette down palsied paths
Dance down shaky paths
With pennies for the vendor
With little to offer
Salvation's yours for just the time
You can temporarily save yourself
It takes to pay the dancer
By paying a performer
And once again, such anxious men
And yet, anxious people
Find questions, but no answers
Still find themselves lost
The night has gone
The night has ended
And taken its infractions
And taken its sins
While reddened eyes
With eyes still tired
Hope there will be a next one
Hope for another night
Sahara signs look down upon
Desert landmarks overlook
A world that glitters glibly
A world that superficially sparkles
And mountainsides put arms around
And the mountains embrace
The unsuspecting city
An unaware urban area
Second hands that minds have slowed
Ticking clocks, which slow down our thoughts
Are moving even faster
Are moving faster than expected
Toward bringing down someone who's found
Leading to the downfall of someone who has discovered
The questions, but no answers
The questions, without the answers
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Michael Nesmith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Words
A good and catchy song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on D.W. Washburn
A good song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
A good song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on That Was Then, This Is Now
This is a great Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on Last Train to Clarksville
A good Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
An excellent Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on Daydream Believer
A great Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm a Believer - 2006 Remaster
This song is amazing.
Philip Kassabian
on Listen to the Band
Yet another classic song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on Pleasant Valley Sunday
I've always loved this song ever since I heard it when I was a kid.