Monkee's Theme
The Monkees Lyrics


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Pleasant Valley Sunday
The Monkees

Your local rock group down the street
Is trying hard to learn this song
To serenade the weekend squire
Just came out to mow his lawn
Another pleasant valley sunday
Charcoal burnin everywhere
Rows of houses that are all the same
And no one seems to care

See Mrs. Gray she's proud today
Because her roses are in bloom
And Mr. Green he's so serene
He's got a TV in every room

Another pleasant valley sunday
Here in status symbol land
Mothers complain
About how hard life is
And the kids just don't understand

Creature comfort goals
They only numb my soul
And make it hard for me to see
My thoughts all seem to stray
To places far away
I need a change of scenery

(Ta ta ta ta....)

Another pleasant valley sunday
Charcoal burning everywhere
Another pleasant valley sunday




Here in status symbol land
Another pleasant valley sunday (repeat)

Overall Meaning

The Monkees's song "Pleasant Valley Sunday" seems like an ordinary, cheerful song about a lazy Sunday afternoon, but it is rich in metaphors and critiques the superficiality of middle-class suburban life. The first stanza describes a rock band practicing music for the "weekend squire," who is portrayed as a wealthy man who doesn't have to work on Sundays. The image of a lawn being mowed enhances the idea that he has nothing to worry about, and the band is trying to please him. The second stanza describes the suburbs as a dull, monotonous place where people live in identical houses that all look the same. Although it seems like a "pleasant valley," there's a sense of unease in the air, as "no one seems to care."


In the third stanza, the lyrics start to take a more critical tone. Mrs. Gray is praised for her beautiful roses, while Mr. Green is described as serene because he has a TV in every room. These characters represent the aspirations and attractions of suburban life, which are superficial and hollow. The fourth stanza deepens this critique, with the line "Mothers complain about how hard life is, and the kids just don't understand," pointing out the disconnection and lack of understanding that exists in suburban life. The fifth stanza expresses the singer's desire for something more than creature comforts and a change of scenery.


Line by Line Meaning

Your local rock group down the street
The band near your locality is attempting to learn this tune


Is trying hard to learn this song
They are making attempts to master this melody


To serenade the weekend squire
The objective is to entice the homeowner who only tends to his lawn on weekends with song


Just came out to mow his lawn
His outward appearance implies that he is content with tending to his lawn and nothing else


Another pleasant valley sunday
This is yet another day amidst the sameness of society


Charcoal burnin everywhere
Aroma of barbecues is all over the neighborhood


Rows of houses that are all the same
An unexciting monotonous existence prevails all over the community due to uniformity of houses


And no one seems to care
Nobody is bothered enough or willing to do anything about it


See Mrs. Gray she's proud today
Mrs. Gray is overjoyed today as her flowers have bloomed well


Because her roses are in bloom
Her roses are currently in a state of full bloom and she's proud of it


And Mr. Green he's so serene
Mr. Green is very calm and collected


He's got a TV in every room
Mr. Green has a television in every part of his home


Here in status symbol land
This place is a prime example of a locality with conventional-class association


Mothers complain
Females responsible for raising children always whine


About how hard life is
Their state of despair is due to the challenges they face every day


And the kids just don't understand
Children are much too naive to comprehend parental trouble


Creature comfort goals
Our existence has become primarily centered around indulging in worldly pleasures


They only numb my soul
Pursuit of these materialistic desires causes soul numbness


And make it hard for me to see
Luxuriating in these pleasures has made it difficult for me to see


My thoughts all seem to stray
My mind frequently wanders


To places far away
I often think about places that are very different from where I am


I need a change of scenery
I have a strong inner craving to move out of this tedious place




Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@pidginprepper8087

RIP Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and now Micheal Nesmith.
Wonderful memories watching The Monkees.

@MRKeema-vc6lv

Mickey is the only one left.

@jonathancue1584

Oh man I didn't know he passed DAMN

@cocoaorange1

One of the producers Bob R., passed away recently.

@scottdavidson526

I didn't know Peter Tork had passed.

@geraldgivens674

Rest In Peace.

2 More Replies...

@scottlahti1252

"Here we come ...", as Davy Jones's gunslinger, his belt hitting the ground, launches one of the most indelible opening-credit sequences in all the annals of American television history.

@oneman1812

https://youtu.be/96A0uyFWQHs

@exclamationpointman3852

ALL THESE YEARS LATER, ALL THESE YEARS LATER, ALL THESE YEARS LATER:

I STILL GET THAT KID RUSH WITH THAT DRUM ROLL!!!

GOD BLESS THE MONKEES!!!........

@timothya.olmeda7299

@EXCLAMATIONPOINTMAN!!!!!!!!!!

The drummer…..Hal Blaine.

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