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)
Never Tell a Woman Yes
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a dusty caravan
Was a girl with a golden tan
And she asked me if I was headed to the east
I politely stepped a side and said I did not need a ride
That I'd rather take my chances with the heat
Well, when she turned and walked away
I saw my big mistake
Had it been another day I just might have rode away
With that woman riding off to God-knows-where
So the years they came and went
And found me living in a tent
Far above a little marble stream
And it may have been the light that shone out through the night
That attracted the hand scratching on my screen
When I cautiously looked out through the night
There was no doubt
That the owner of that hand was that girl
So I bid her do come in
And I'll open up a tin
If you'll tell me 'bout your trip around the world
Well, she said,"If you think back
To the first time that we passed
I'm sure you'll picture me in all my jewels
It was shortly after then that I ran into another man
And I asked him the same question I asked you
But now he he didn't refuse
And he took off of both his shoes
And climbed aboard mu east-bound caravan
In the twinkling of the night
He knocked me off the side
And left me there for dead upon the sand
And I thought I was done
Lying naked in the sun
When much to my surprise, who should pass?
But this old friend of yours
He said he knew you from the wars
And I told him that I thought you'd headed west
Well, he said he should have known
'Cause you like to be alone
And that's the time I knew you were my one
So I asked him for a ride
Just to get here by your side
And stay here above this stream
Out of the sun"
Well, we sat quite for a while
And I began to smile
Well it's strange but I don't care
And some nights when I'm at rest
I wonder if I'd said, "yes"
Would she have come to me from God knows where
Or would I have been the one to leave her lying in the sun
And then ended up with only precious stones
Or would the woman in my arms be giving me her charms
If the answer that I gave her wasn't "no"
The Monkees' song "Never Tell a Woman Yes" tells the story of a man who meets a woman in a caravan and declines her offer for a ride. He later realizes his mistake, as she was covered in rare jewels and he could have gone on an adventure with her. Years later, the same woman appears at his doorstep, having been left for dead by another man. They have a conversation about what might have happened if he had said yes to her offer, and the man wonders if he would be with her now if he had not refused. The song showcases the theme of regret and missed opportunities, as well as the idea of fate bringing people together.
The lyrics also highlight the role of jewelry as a symbol of wealth and extravagance, conveying the woman's sense of mystery and allure. The caravan is also a recurring element, suggesting a sense of wanderlust and adventure. The song's bittersweet tone and introspective lyrics showcase the Monkees' ability to create emotionally resonant music amidst the poppy, upbeat singles they were known for.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my, my, my-
Expressing surprise or excitement
In a dusty caravan
In a dry, uncomfortable and sometimes insecure lifestyle
Was a girl with a golden tan
A woman with well-tanned skin
And she asked me if I was headed to the east
She asked the artist if he was traveling towards the east direction
I politely stepped a side and said I did not need a ride
The artist politely declined her offer for a ride
That I'd rather take my chances with the heat
The singer prefers to travel in the heat instead of accepting her ride
Well, when she turned and walked away
After she walked away
I saw my big mistake
The artist realized he made a mistake in rejecting her offer
There were jewels on her body oh-so-rare
She was wearing rare and valuable jewelry
Had it been another day I just might have rode away
If it were a different day, the artist might have accepted her offer for a ride
With that woman riding off to God-knows-where
The woman could have been heading anywhere, unknown to the singer
So the years they came and went
The artist fast forwards to several years later
And found me living in a tent
The singer is living in a tent, indicating he has given up on his previous lifestyle
Far above a little marble stream
The singer is located high above a small stream
And it may have been the light that shone out through the night
The singer is describing a light shining from his tent
That attracted the hand scratching on my screen
Someone outside his tent is trying to get his attention
When I cautiously looked out through the night
The artist carefully looks out of his tent at night
There was no doubt
The singer immediately recognizes the person outside his tent
That the owner of that hand was that girl
The woman from the dusty caravan wanted to see the singer
So I bid her do come in
The artist invites the woman into his tent
And I'll open up a tin
The artist offers her something to eat from his tin
If you'll tell me 'bout your trip around the world
The artist asks her to tell him about her travels
Well, she said, "If you think back
She starts her recollection of her past encounter with the singer
To the first time that we passed
Referring to their first encounter in the dusty caravan
I'm sure you'll picture me in all my jewels
She assumes that the singer will remember her wearing all her valuable jewelry
It was shortly after then that I ran into another man
After their meeting, she encountered another man
And I asked him the same question I asked you
She asked the same question to the other man
But now he didn't refuse
The other man accepted her offer for a ride
And he took off of both his shoes
The other man was comfortable enough to take off his shoes during the ride with her
And climbed aboard mu east-bound caravan
The other man joined her on her journey heading eastward
In the twinkling of the night
Suddenly, during the night
He knocked me off the side
The other man pushed her off the caravan, causing her to fall
And left me there for dead upon the sand
He left her to die on the sand
And I thought I was done
She thought she was going to die at that moment
Lying naked in the sun
She was left naked under the sun
When much to my surprise, who should pass?
To her surprise, someone passed by
But this old friend of yours
The person passing by was an old friend of the singer
He said he knew you from the wars
The old friend knew the singer from their military service
And I told him that I thought you'd headed west
She told the old friend she thought the singer was heading westward
Well, he said he should have known
The old friend expressed that he should have known the artist's destination
'Cause you like to be alone
The old friend thinks the artist prefers being alone
And that's the time I knew you were my one
From that moment on, she knew the singer was the one for her
So I asked him for a ride
She asked the old friend of the singer for a ride
Just to get here by your side
She asked for a ride to reach the artist
And stay here above this stream
She wants to stay with the artist
Out of the sun"
Avoiding the heat and sun
Well, we sat quite for a while
After telling her story, they sat quietly for a while
And I began to smile
The artist smiled during the silence
Well it's strange but I don't care
The singer acknowledges that their situation is unconventional, but is content
And some nights when I'm at rest
When the singer is resting at night
I wonder if I'd said, "yes"
The singer wonders what might have happened if he had accepted her offer for a ride
Would she have come to me from God knows where
She may have traveled from some unknown place to be with him
Or would I have been the one to leave her lying in the sun
The artist might have left her behind like the other man did
And then ended up with only precious stones
The singer would have ended up only getting her valuable jewelry
Or would the woman in my arms be giving me her charms
The singer would have ended up with her love
If the answer that I gave her wasn't "no"
If the artist had not refused her ride, he might have ended up with her
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.