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)
If I Knew
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would run to your side
I don't know why
I would just die if you left me
Can't you see
What you're doing to me
Are you playing a game
Am I to blame?
Or is anyone?
I don't want to settle down
With any other girl, but you
So I'm just gonna wait around
'Til you decide what you're gonna do
Can't you see
What you're doing to me?
Are you playing a game?
It's always the same?
Am I to blame?
Or is anyone?
I don't want to settle down
With any other girl, but you
So I'm just gonna wait around
'Til you decide what you're gonna do
If I knew, what was bothering you,
I would run to your side, I don't know why,
I would just die, if you left me.
Can't you see, what you're doing to me?
Are you playin' a game? It's always the same.
Am I to blame, or is anyone?
[Chorus]
I don't want to settle down with any other girl but you,
So I'm just gonna wait around,
'Til you decide what you're gonna do. (do)
Can't you see, what you're doing to me?
Are you playin' a game? It's always the same.
Am I to blame, or is anyone? (anyone, anyone)
[Chorus]
Oh.
The Monkees’s song “If I Knew” is about a man who is hoping to understand what is bothering the woman he loves. He expresses his love for her and his willingness to be by her side if she let him know what the problem is. He questions if she is playing a game with him or if there is someone else to blame. He declares his loyalty to her and insists on waiting for her to make a decision while he remains faithful and devoted to her.
The song is most likely about the struggles and complications that come with relationships, as well as the importance of communication and trust. It's about the desire to be there for one another through hard times and being loyal to someone even when they're distant or struggling. The song essentially talks about the difficulties that come with relationships and begins a conversation about communicating your feelings and the challenges that come with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
If I knew, what was bothering you,
If I knew the problem that you are facing,
I would run to your side, I don't know why,
I would immediately come to support you, it's just my instinct,
I would just die, if you left me.
I would feel incredibly hurt and devastated if you ever left me.
Can't you see, what you're doing to me?
Can't you see the negative impact your actions are having on me?
Are you playin' a game? It's always the same.
Are you toying with my emotions? It feels like this situation always happens.
Am I to blame, or is anyone?
Am I solely responsible for this situation or are others also involved?
I don't want to settle down with any other girl but you,
I want to be with you and only you, nobody else will do.
So I'm just gonna wait around, 'Til you decide what you're gonna do. (do)
I'll be patient and wait until you make a decision on what you want to do next.
Oh.
A vocal expression of emotion following the previous lyrics.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL CHADWICK, DAVID JONES
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.