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Listen to the Band
The Monkees Lyrics


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Hey, hey, mercy woman plays a song and no one listens
I need help, I'm falling again

Play the drum a little louder
Tell me I can live without her
If I only listen to the band

Listen to the band

Weren't they good, they made me happy
I think I can make it alone

Oh, mercy, woman plays a song and no one listens
I need help, I'm falling again

Play the drum a little bit louder
Tell them they can live without her
If they only listen to the band

Listen to the band

Now weren't they good, they made me happy
I think I can make it alone

Oh, woman plays a song and no one listens
I need help I'm falling again

Come on, play the drums just a little bit louder
Tell us we can live without her
Now that we have listened to the band

Listen to the band

Overall Meaning

The Monkees's song "Listen to the Band" is a plea to a woman who hasn't been paying attention to the singer's struggles. He feels like he's falling and needs help, but she's not listening. He asks for the drum to be played louder and for her to tell him he can live without her, but ultimately decides that by just listening to the band, he can make it on his own. This song is a celebration of the power of music and the way it can bring people together and help them cope with difficult situations.


The opening line "Hey, hey, mercy woman plays a song and no one listens" sets the tone for the song, with the singer feeling ignored and in need of assistance. The repetition of the lines "Play the drum a little louder/Tell me I can live without her" reinforces his desperation for some kind of reassurance. However, as the song progresses, the focus shifts to the power of music to bring people together and provide comfort, as evidenced by the lines "Weren't they good, they made me happy/I think I can make it alone."


The overall message of "Listen to the Band" is one of hope and resilience in the face of hardship. By simply listening to the music, the singer is able to find the strength to carry on. This is a song that celebrates the transformative power of music and the way it can bring people together to help them overcome life's challenges.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, hey, mercy woman plays a song and no one listens
The singer is calling attention to the fact that despite the woman's plea through her music, people are not paying enough attention to the message she is trying to convey.


I need help, I'm falling again
The singer is acknowledging his own personal struggle and seems to be seeking comfort, perhaps from the woman and the music she's playing.


Play the drum a little louder
The singer is requesting for the music to be played more emphatically or energetically, possibly to draw more attention to it and make it more impactful.


Tell me I can live without her
The singer seems to be experiencing heartache and longing for a lost love, and is asking for reassurance that he'll be alright on his own without her.


If I only listen to the band
The singer believes that by immersing himself in the music and really paying attention to it, he can find solace and strength to overcome his heartache.


Listen to the band
The singer is emphasizing the importance of really listening and paying attention to the music being played, as he believes it can have a powerful effect on the listener.


Weren't they good, they made me happy
The singer is expressing his appreciation for the band's music and the joy it brings him when he listens to it.


I think I can make it alone
The singer is feeling more confident and self-reliant now, perhaps as a result of finding solace in the music.


Oh, mercy, woman plays a song and no one listens
The singer is reiterating the central message of the song - that despite the power of the music being played, people are still not paying enough attention to it.


Tell them they can live without her
The singer is directing the plea for reassurance that he can live without his lost love to others who may be experiencing the same heartache.


Now that we have listened to the band
The singer is emphasizing the transformative power of really paying attention to and immersing oneself in the music - as he and his listeners have done - and perhaps implying that this can help heal emotional wounds.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL NESMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Philip Kassabian

Yet another classic song by The Monkees.

Comments from YouTube:

@dorisdarmanin4274

So Sad to hear that Mike Nesmith has passed away, l remember the times that l wants to rush home after school to see The Monkees Show every afternoon at 4 pm in the 60’s , l would watch the show with so much joy as a teenager listening to their music , Mike was my favourite, May he RIP 🌹🌹🌹

@denniskennedy9288

Same as me , growing up in Australia in the Seventies …..even Afternoon after school . Great times

@4string59

Just found out that Mike Nesmith passed away today. So sad. So much talent in that man. RIP Mike. Thank you so much for the wonderful music you gave us.

@allingtonmarakan1436

Very sad to hear that. Does that mean that they have all passed now?

@4string59

@@allingtonmarakan1436 Only Micky is left.

@allingtonmarakan1436

@@4string59 Yes, I saw on other video comment threads that he is still going. All the best to him.

@jackkerrigan3983

And how!

@jleoneleone8760

I met all four davey 3 times Peter and Mickey 4 and mike once I think I’ll be one of the last people ever to have met all 4 and I say that proudly at the age of 2

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@captainfantastic9158

Hell, hell, HELL of a song. Even though The Monkees' chart fortunes were dwindling in 1969, "Listen To The Band" was strong enough to climb the charts on it's own simply because it was a damn good song. Well done, Michael.

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