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)

P.O. Box 9847
The Monkees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Handsome, single, young man, well respected in his town
Seeks a fine, young lady from a similar background
Generous, responsible, respectful man of means
Socialize with presidents and queens

Reply
P. O. Box 9847
P. O. Box 9847

I've described me very poorly
Better try again

Quiet, sincere, gentleman, well rounded and mature
Fond of music and the arts, loves the theater
Educated, sensitive, a traveler of the world
Wants to meet an eligible young girl

Reply
P. O. Box 9847
P. O. Box 9847

I've been writing, advertising
That's not really me

Lonely, understanding man, affectionate and true
Looking for girl to share his dreams and make them true
Humble, loving, sensitive, considerate and shy
Only sincere ladies need reply

Reply
P. O. Box 9847
P. O. Box 9847

I'm not liking what I'm typing
Throw it all away

Overall Meaning

The Monkees' song P. O. Box 9847 is a humorous take on a lonely hearts ad, where a handsome, wealthy, and respected man seeks an equally desirable woman from a similar background. The lyrics are divided into three sections, where the singer describes himself and his characteristics in detail, then realizes he has painted an inaccurate picture of himself and needs to try again, and finally describes himself as a more humble and sincere person looking for a soulmate.

In the first section, the man presents himself as a well-respected individual with financial means who has the opportunity to socialize with presidents and queens. This persona is undermined in the second section, where he admits that he's described himself poorly and tries again, only to realize that it's not really him. The third section presents a more genuine and heartfelt description of the man as someone who is lonely, loving, and sensitive, seeking a sincere and genuine lady to share his dreams and make them come true.

Overall, the song is a light-hearted commentary on the art of self-presentation and the realities of dating, where we often present ourselves in the best light possible, only to realize that being genuine and honest is what connects us with other people.

Line by Line Meaning

Handsome, single, young man, well respected in his town
I want to make myself sound appealing and successful by emphasizing my looks, marital status, and local reputation.

Seeks a fine, young lady from a similar background
I want to find a romantic partner who shares my values, education, and social status.

Generous, responsible, respectful man of means
I want to stress that I am financially stable and morally upright, with a willingness to share my wealth with those in need.

Socialize with presidents and queens
I want to boast about my connections to powerful and influential people, which may impress potential suitors.

Reply P. O. Box 9847 P. O. Box 9847
Please respond to my personal ad by sending a letter to this specific address.

I've described me very poorly Better try again
I recognize that my initial description may not have been impressive enough, so I'm inviting myself to revise it.

Quiet, sincere, gentleman, well rounded and mature Fond of music and the arts, loves the theater Educated, sensitive, a traveler of the world Wants to meet an eligible young girl
I want to expand on my personal qualities, interests, and experiences to attract attention from a cultured and sophisticated woman.

I've been writing, advertising That's not really me
I'm acknowledging that my attempts to sell myself through writing and ads may not accurately reflect who I truly am.

Lonely, understanding man, affectionate and true Looking for girl to share his dreams and make them true Humble, loving, sensitive, considerate and shy Only sincere ladies need reply
I'm expressing my desire for a deep, meaningful relationship with someone who shares my values and emotions, and I'm looking for someone who's honest and serious about forming a genuine connection.

I'm not liking what I'm typing Throw it all away
I'm admitting that my attempts to portray myself in writing may not be effective, and I'm deciding to start over to create a better impression.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HART, TOMMY BOYCE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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