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)
Shorty Blackwell
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be friends with me, be friends with me
Shorty Blackwell, Shorty Blackwell
Be friends with me, be friends with me
I'm feeling very bad today
Another cat came into stay
He's eating all my food
He's gonna change the mood
I'm feeling very bad today
A red balloon got in my way
It followed me around
But never touched the ground
What can I say?
He built a house upon a hill
Ask him if he's happy and then give him a pill
He's going mad
He bought another car today
Ask him if he's happy, then turn the other way
He's going mad (repeat over and over)
I'm feeling very bad today
Another cat came into stay
He's eating all my food
He's speaking very rude
He's gonna change the mood
Black and shiny now you've finally
Gotten everything you've wanted
And you're taunted by the power
That you really don't want anymore
Everybody's talking faster
Hurry up get me a master
I don't have much time to lose
And besides I'm polishing my shoes
Crossing the street
Watching your feet
Or you'll die in a thunderbird light
Wishing with all of your might
That you read the newspaper that
You forgot to buy today
How will you know what they do when they say
Say(repeat over and over)
I'm feeling very bad today
Another girl came by to stay
I can't think of a word
To tell you what I've heard
I've been away [Repeat x10]
I am my?
The Monkees's "Shorty Blackwell" is a whimsical song that tells the story of a man who is feeling down and out because of a new cat that has come to stay with him, and a red balloon that is following him around. The song features a chorus that repeats the name "Shorty Blackwell" over and over again, as if the singer is calling out to someone who could make him feel better. The lyrics are filled with nonsensical phrases and silly rhymes, giving the song a childlike playfulness.
The verse about Shorty Blackwell building a house on a hill and buying another car is a commentary on the idea that material possessions do not bring happiness. The lyrics suggest that Shorty may be going mad because he is chasing after things that he doesn't really want. The song takes a surreal turn in the third verse, with lines about hurrying to get a master and polishing shoes. This verse seems to be a commentary on the pressures of modern life and the constant need to be productive.
Overall, "Shorty Blackwell" is a lighthearted tune that mixes humorous imagery with a deeper message about the futility of chasing after material possessions. It is a reminder that sometimes all we need is a friend to make us feel better.
Line by Line Meaning
Shorty Blackwell, Shorty Blackwell
The singer is repeating their request to be friends with Shorty Blackwell.
Be friends with me, be friends with me
The singer wants to establish a friendship with Shorty Blackwell.
I'm feeling very bad today
The singer is having a bad day.
Another cat came into stay
A cat is staying with the artist.
He's eating all my food
The cat is consuming the artist's food.
He's speaking very rude
The cat is behaving rudely towards the singer.
He's gonna change the mood
The cat's behavior is negatively affecting the singer's mood.
A red balloon got in my way
A red balloon is impeding the artist.
It followed me around
The balloon is following the artist.
But never touched the ground
The balloon is not touching the ground.
What can I say?
The singer is expressing confusion over the balloon's behavior.
He built a house upon a hill
A person built a house on a hill.
Ask him if he's happy and then give him a pill
The singer suggests giving the person a pill to help them be happy.
He's going mad
The person is becoming insane.
He bought another car today
The person purchased a car.
Ask him if he's happy, then turn the other way
The artist suggests avoiding the question of the person's happiness.
Black and shiny now you've finally
Something has become black and shiny.
Gotten everything you've wanted
The singer implies that the thing has achieved its desires.
And you're taunted by the power
The thing is being teased by its own power.
That you really don't want anymore
The power is no longer wanted.
Everybody's talking faster
People are talking more quickly.
Hurry up get me a master
The artist is requesting a master.
I don't have much time to lose
The singer is pressed for time.
And besides I'm polishing my shoes
The artist is shining their shoes.
Crossing the street
The singer is crossing a street.
Watching your feet
The singer is watching their feet.
Or you'll die in a thunderbird light
The singer warns that not watching your feet could be fatal.
Wishing with all of your might
The artist is urging the listener to put effort into their wishes.
That you read the newspaper that
The artist is suggesting reading the newspaper.
You forgot to buy today
The listener has forgotten to buy the newspaper.
How will you know what they do when they say
The singer is questioning how the listener will know what is happening.
I'm feeling very bad today
The artist is still having a bad day.
Another girl came by to stay
A girl is staying with the artist.
I can't think of a word
The artist is unable to find a word to express how they feel about the situation.
To tell you what I've heard
The singer is hesitant to reveal what they have heard.
I've been away [Repeat x10]
The artist has been absent for some time.
I am my?
The singer leaves an incomplete thought which the listener must interpret.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICKY DOLENZ
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.