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
And I must see you again
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
A good Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
What a great song by The Monkees.
@AdrianoPedrasPreciosas
Muito legal as vozes
@mrgakozak
These guys were no joke. They had some seriously great talent, and created some fabulous pieces of music.
@richard40x
Yes, management thought they needed a mostly pretend group, for the TV show. But they made themselves into a real group, with some pretty good songs.
@GravesRWFiA
how many people know this is a vietnam song? clarksville ky is where a lot of draftees were processed. the song is the guy asking the girl to come down and see him before he ships out "We'll have one more night together..."
@ThatBoomerDude56
@@GravesRWFiA "... and I don't know if I'm ever coming home ..." 😮
@forestdweller8164
They never wrote any of their best songs. They were a company product. Once they tried to write their own stuff, the music turned to shit.
@DanGanev
Their songs are really cool and fun to listen
@josephconner3742
I was Davy Jones's bodyguard for a show he did in NYC 15 months before he passed away. He was extremely kind with a great sense of humor!