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)
Saturday
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always feeling low down,
Tuesday had a dream child
She's always on the go
Now I'm in love with Saturday's child
She drives me wild
Gonna spend my time
Makin' sure that Saturday's child is mine.
If you love a Wednesday
You'll live your life apart now
And if you love a Thursday
She's gonna break your heart,
So I'm in love with Saturday's child
She drives me wild
Gonna spend my time
Makin' sure that Saturday's child is mine.
Seven days of the week made to choose from
But only one is right for me
I know that Saturday's got what it takes, babe.
I can tell by the way she looks at me
Friday likes the good life
She'll take you for a ride now
And Sunday makes a good wife
But she wants to be a bride
So I'm in love with Saturday's child
She drives me wild
Gonna spend my time
Makin' sure that Saturday's child is mine.
The Monkees's song Saturday's Child is a catchy tune about the singer's pursuit of love with a girl who represents the spirit of Saturdays. The song taps into the superstition that people born on certain days of the week have different personalities and characteristics. The song starts with the singer explaining how Monday's child is inherently sad, while Tuesday's child is a dreamer who always strives for more, and henceforth the days of the week are associated with different characteristics. The singer, however, is in love with Saturday's child, who he describes as a wild and free spirit, and he is determined to make her his.
The song goes on to say that loving someone born on a Wednesday or a Thursday is doomed to fail. The singer explains that Friday and Sunday also have different personalities, and while Friday likes the good life and may take you on a ride, Sunday is an ideal wife but is determined to be a bride. The singer thus reinforces the idea that Saturday is the best day to be born because it represents liberty, and that is what the singer finds most attractive in Saturday's child.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday had a sad child
There was a child on Monday who was always sad and down.
Always feeling low down,
This child was constantly feeling down and depressed.
Tuesday had a dream child
On Tuesday, there was a child who was always dreaming and optimistic.
She's always on the go
This child is always active and busy.
Now I'm in love with Saturday's child
The singer is now in love with a child born on Saturday.
She drives me wild
The singer is highly attracted to this child and is swept off his feet.
Gonna spend my time
The singer plans to use his time to court and woo Saturday's child.
Makin' sure that Saturday's child is mine.
The singer wants to make sure that he ends up with Saturday's child as his partner.
If you love a Wednesday
If you fall in love with someone born on Wednesday.
You'll live your life apart now
You will have a long distance relationship and not be together very often.
And if you love a Thursday
If you fall in love with someone born on Thursday.
She's gonna break your heart,
This person will end up hurting you emotionally.
Seven days of the week made to choose from
There are seven days of the week to choose a partner from.
But only one is right for me
However, only Saturday's child is the right partner for the singer.
I know that Saturday's got what it takes, babe.
The singer is sure that Saturday's child is the best match for him.
I can tell by the way she looks at me
The singer can sense that Saturday's child is also interested in him.
Friday likes the good life
A person born on Friday likes to enjoy the finer things in life.
She'll take you for a ride now
This person will lead you into an exciting adventure.
And Sunday makes a good wife
A person born on Sunday would make a good wife.
But she wants to be a bride
However, this person wants to get married soon.
So I'm in love with Saturday's child
Again, the singer reiterates that he is in love with Saturday's child.
She drives me wild
He is still deeply and passionately in love with her.
Gonna spend my time
The singer is willing to dedicate his time and energy to winning over Saturday's child.
Makin' sure that Saturday's child is mine.
Once again, he wants to make sure he ends up with her as his partner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID GATES
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.