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)
My Share of the Sidewalk
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If your the chick I saw in the tall grass looking at someone through tinted blue glass, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
Cause I've never been this close before, to someone who didn't seem to mind. I've never found hellos before, I've only found goodbyes.
If your the girl I met in my daydreams, handing out flowers and chocolate ice cream, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If your the girl that I talked to and said do you mind if I love you, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If your the girl I met in my daydreams, handing out flowers and chocolate ice cream, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If your the girl that I talked to and said do you mind if I love you, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
The Monkees' song "My Share of the Sidewalk" is a simple, yet heartfelt love song. The lyrics speak to the singer's desire to be close to someone, specifically a woman he has seen in several different scenarios. The singer says that if this woman is the one he knows, the one he saw in the tall grass, the one he met in his dreams, or the one he talked to about love, she is more than welcome to his share of the sidewalk.
The song conveys a sense of longing and vulnerability, as the singer admits that he has never been this close to someone who didn't run away. He has only known goodbyes, but he is hopeful that this woman will be different. He is willing to share his space and his life with her, if she will have him.
Overall, "My Share of the Sidewalk" is a sweet and simple declaration of love. It speaks to the universal desire for connection and companionship and captures the feeling of falling in love for the first time.
Line by Line Meaning
If your the girl that I know this (the rest of this line is unclear),
If you're the girl that I recognize or remember, even if it's unclear how we know each other,
Than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
Then you're welcome to share the sidewalk with me.
If your the chick I saw in the tall grass looking at someone through tinted blue glass, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If you're the woman I saw once hiding amongst tall grass peering through blue-tinted glass at someone, then I'd be happy to share the sidewalk with you.
Cause I've never been this close before, to someone who didn't seem to mind.
Because I've never been this close to someone who didn't appear to object or resist my presence.
I've never found hellos before, I've only found goodbyes.
I've only experienced farewells in the past, never introductions.
If your the girl I met in my daydreams, handing out flowers and chocolate ice cream, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If you're the imaginary woman who visits me in my daydreams who hands out flowers and chocolate ice cream, I'm happy to walk on the same sidewalk as you.
If your the girl that I talked to and said do you mind if I love you, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If you're the woman I spoke to previously and asked if it was alright for me to love you, you're welcome to walk with me on the sidewalk.
Cause I've never been this close before, to someone who didn't run and hide.
Because I've never been this near to someone who didn't flee or hide from my presence.
I've never found hellos before, I've only found goodbyes.
I've only known how to say goodbye in the past, never say hello.
If your the girl I met in my daydreams, handing out flowers and chocolate ice cream, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If you're the woman I've conjured up in my mind who gives me flowers and ice cream, you're welcome to walk with me on the sidewalk.
If your the girl that I talked to and said do you mind if I love you, than your more than welcome to my share of the sidewalk.
If you're the woman I've spoken to about loving you and you didn't mind, then I'm happy to share the sidewalk with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL NESMITH
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.