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)
I Don't Think You Know Me
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't think I want the love you've got to give
If you think my goals could be so trivial and small
Then, I don't think you know me at all
Born between the covers of your fashion books
You think you can make it, girl, on just your looks
But you could never bring me up
Between us stands a wall
Believing in the promise painted in your smile
I've chased what I was running from, girl, all my life
I've known you a hundred times in memories I recall, but
I don't think you know me at all
I don't think you know me at all.
The lyrics to The Monkees' "I Don't Think You Know Me" speak to a fundamental disconnect and lack of understanding between two people. The singer is addressing someone they have a history with, but who they feel fundamentally misunderstands who they are and what they want. The singer rejects the life and love offered by the other person, viewing it as incompatible with their own goals and desires. They view the other person as existing in a superficial, fashion-centric world that they cannot relate to or participate in. The singer hints at having known the other person in the past, but implies that they have changed and grown beyond their previous understanding of one another. The refrain of "I don't think you know me at all" is a repeated rejection of the idea that the two are still intimately connected or that the other person understands or can relate to them.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Don't Think You Know Me" convey a sense of personal growth and change, as well as the idea that people can grow apart and become fundamentally incompatible over time. The singer is rejecting a vision of life and love that they see as trivial and unfulfilling, and in doing so, asserting their own values and desires. The repeated refrain of "I don't think you know me at all" reinforces the idea that true understanding and intimacy require a deep, mutual understanding and recognition of who the other person truly is.
Line by Line Meaning
If you think I want the life you choose to live
You have a mistaken belief that I desire to live the same life as you.
I don't think I want the love you've got to give
I am unsure if I want to accept your love and affection.
If you think my goals could be so trivial and small
You have an opinion that my goals are insignificant and unimportant.
Then, I don't think you know me at all
Your perception of me is incorrect and shows a lack of understanding about who I really am.
Born between the covers of your fashion books
You were raised with the belief that appearances and fashion are of utmost importance.
You think you can make it, girl, on just your looks
You hold the belief that success can be achieved solely through physical appearance.
But you could never bring me up
Your values and beliefs are not something that would benefit me in any way.
Between us stands a wall
There is a significant divide between us and our beliefs and values are at odds with one another.
No, I don't think you know me at all
You have a flawed understanding of who I am as a person.
Believing in the promise painted in your smile
I have previously held a belief in the positive things that I see in you.
I've chased what I was running from, girl, all my life
I have spent my life trying to escape from something that I fear or am trying to avoid.
I've known you a hundred times in memories I recall, but
I have many memories of you and the interactions we have had in the past.
I don't think you know me at all
Overall, it is clear that your perception of me is flawed and does not accurately reflect who I am as a person.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
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.