The Monkees assembled to be the stars of an American television series of t… Read Full Bio ↴The Monkees assembled to be the stars of an American television series of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1966 to 1968. The original lineup was: Micky Dolenz (drums, vocals), Michael Nesmith (guitar, vocals), Davy Jones (percussion, vocals) and Peter Tork (bass, keyboards, vocals) . The Monkees were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California and initially disbanded in 1970 at the conclusion of their recording contract. At their peak they were competing with The Beatles for the top spot on album charts.

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)

Mommy and Daddy
The Monkees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ask your mommy and daddy, "What happened to the Indian?
How come they're all living in places
With too much snow or too much sand?"
Tell your mommy, "I got a funny feeling deep inside of me"
Ask your daddy, "Is it really as bad as people make it seem?"

Wa ta tick it ta too too
Ask your mommy why everybody swallows all those little pills

Ask your daddy why that soldier doesn't care who he kills
After they've put you to sleep and tucked you safely down in your bed
Whisper, "Mommy and Daddy would you rather that
I learned it from my friends, instead?
Do you think I'm to young to know, to see, to feel, or hear
My questions need an answer or a vacuum will appear"

Don't be surprised if they turn and walk away
And tell your mommy and daddy that you love them anyway
That you love them anyway
Give them a kiss

Love will set you free
Kings of EMI

Overall Meaning

The Monkees's song Mommy And Daddy is a commentary on the issues and social turmoil of the late 1960s. The lyrics encourage children to question their parents about the state of the world and the problems faced by marginalized communities such as Native Americans. The first verse urges children to ask their parents why Native Americans are living in places with extreme weather, suggesting that they are forced to live in undesirable lands due to colonization and displacement. The second verse references pharmaceuticals and the Vietnam War, questioning why people take pills and why soldiers don't care about the lives they take.

The chorus warns that parents may not be willing to answer their children's questions and may even walk away, but it's important to express love for them regardless. The final line, "Love will set you free," is a reminder that even in times of social upheaval, love and compassion are powerful tools for creating positive change.

Line by Line Meaning

Ask your mommy and daddy, "What happened to the Indian?
Inquire of your parents regarding the history and current state of indigenous peoples in America

How come they're all living in places With too much snow or too much sand?"
Wonder why Native Americans are often forced to reside in less desirable locations with extreme climates

Tell your mommy, "I got a funny feeling deep inside of me"
Confide in your mother that you have a sense of unease

Ask your daddy, "Is it really as bad as people make it seem?"
Inquire of your father whether the situation is truly as dire as it is portrayed

Ask your mommy why everybody swallows all those little pills
Question your mother about the rampant use of medication in society

Ask your daddy why that soldier doesn't care who he kills
Inquire of your father why some soldiers seem to have little regard for the lives of others

After they've put you to sleep and tucked you safely down in your bed
Once your parents have bid you goodnight and ensured your comfort and safety

Whisper, "Mommy and Daddy would you rather that I learned it from my friends, instead?
Quietly express to your parents that you would prefer to learn about these topics from them rather than from peers with potentially incomplete or biased information

Do you think I'm too young to know, to see, to feel, or hear My questions need an answer or a vacuum will appear"
Pose the question to your parents whether you are too young to understand and explore these issues, stressing that unanswered questions could give rise to confusion and misinformation

Don't be surprised if they turn and walk away
Do not be taken aback if your parents are unable or unwilling to engage in this conversation

And tell your mommy and daddy that you love them anyway
Reassure your parents of your love for them even if they cannot or will not provide satisfactory answers to your inquiries

That you love them anyway Give them a kiss Love will set you free
Further emphasize your love for your parents and the notion that love is ultimately the most powerful force in the world

Kings of EMI
This line is not applicable to the song's meaning and may be interpreted as a reference to the record label or an inside joke among the band members

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICKY DOLENZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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