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)
Last Train To Clarksville
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll meet you at the station
You can be here by four thirty
'Cause I've made your reservation, don't be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
'Cause I'm leaving in the morning
We'll have one more night together
'Til the morning brings my train and I must go
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
Take the last train to Clarksville
I'll be waiting at the station
We'll have time for coffee-flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
Take the last train to Clarksville
Now I must hang up the phone
I can't hear you in this noisy railroad station all alone
I'm feeling low
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
Oh
(Ah)
Take the last train to Clarksville
And I'll meet you at the station
You can be here by four thirty
'Cause I've made your reservation, don't be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
The Monkees's song "Last Train to Clarksville" tells the story of a man who is leaving town and wants to see his lover one last time before he goes. He's urging her to take the last train to Clarksville and meet him at the station. He's made her a reservation, and he's hoping she won't be slow in arriving. The urgency in his voice is clear; he's leaving in the morning and he's not sure if he'll ever come back. They'll have one more night together to enjoy each other's company and share some coffee-flavored kisses and conversation, but as the morning brings his train, he must go. In the last chorus, he repeats his request for her to take the last train to Clarksville, but this time, he's feeling low and powerless.
The lyrics of "Last Train to Clarksville" tell a compelling story, but the song's appeal also lies in its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm. These elements make it hard to resist singing and dancing along, despite the bittersweet tone of the lyrics. The song was released in 1966, during a time when many young Americans were being drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. The song's message of separation and uncertainty resonated with many listeners who were facing similar challenges in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
And I'll meet you at the station
I will be waiting for you at the train station
You can be here by four thirty
You should be able to arrive by 4:30 pm
'Cause I've made your reservation, don't be slow
I have secured your spot on the train, so don't be late
Oh, no, no, no
Expression of concern or urgency
'Cause I'm leaving in the morning
I am departing the next day
And I must see you again
I need to see you again before I go
We'll have one more night together
We will spend one more night together
'Til the morning brings my train and I must go
Until the morning when my train departs and I have to leave
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
I am uncertain if I will ever return
We'll have time for coffee-flavored kisses
We will have time to share intimate moments
And a bit of conversation
We will also be able to talk
Now I must hang up the phone
I need to end our phone call
I can't hear you in this noisy railroad station all alone
It is too loud at the train station, and I can't hear you well
I'm feeling low
I am feeling down or unhappy
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home
I am uncertain if I will ever return
Oh
Expression of emotion or emphasis
(Ah)
Expression of emotion or emphasis
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Catch the final train to the town of Clarksville
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby Hart, Tommy Boyce
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.