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)
Tear Drop City
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know that I did a wrong at the wrong time
It's plain to see, she's down on me
And I know she'll feel that way for a long time
I was high on top but I didn't know it
Tell me, why did I have to go and blow it?
I used my lines too many times
Took me too long to discover
How much I really love her
How'd I ever end up in this bind?
What a drag
There she goes looking for pretty clover
No one knows what it's like until it over
Without a doubt, I just found out
And I suppose I never did get to know her
Tear drop city, Tear drop city
Took me to long to discover
How much I really love her
How'd I ever end up in this bind
What a drag
About as low as I felt in a long time...
The Monkees' song Tear Drop City explores the aftermath of a breakup and the singer's regret for not realizing how much he loved his partner until it was too late. The lyrics express the singer's regret for his mistakes and acknowledge the pain he has caused his partner, represented by the line "And I know she'll feel that way for a long time." He recognizes that his behavior was the cause of the breakup and wonders why he had to "go and blow it" by using his previously successful pickup lines and not realizing their relationship's importance.
The chorus of the song, "Took me too long to discover how much I really love her" showcases the singer's regret and highlights a significant theme in the song which is the discovery of one's feelings for someone else after it's too late. The line "There she goes looking for pretty clover, No one knows what it's like until it's over" conveys another significant theme that the singer was unaware of his partner's feelings and starts to realize what he has lost.
The song's title, Tear Drop City, seems to refer to a place or state of mind populated by people who have experienced emotional turmoil, grief, and heartbreak, symbolized by tears. The overall lamenting tone and emotional depth of the lyrics make Tear Drop City a poignant ballad that many can relate to, especially those who have experienced regret after the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
About as low as I felt in a long time
I am feeling extremely down and unhappy.
And I know that I did a wrong at the wrong time
I made a mistake at a critical point, and I am aware of it.
It's plain to see, she's down on me
I can tell that she is unhappy with me.
And I know she'll feel that way for a long time
I expect that she will remain unhappy with me for a while.
I was high on top but I didn't know it
I was in a great position, but I didn't realize it.
Tell me, why did I have to go and blow it?
Why did I have to mess things up?
I used my lines too many times
I relied too much on my usual methods, and they failed me.
And now I've got a badly hurt heart to show it
My heart is badly hurt from the consequences of my actions.
Took me too long to discover
It took me too much time to realize something important.
How much I really love her
I love her deeply.
How'd I ever end up in this bind?
How did I ever get myself into this difficult situation?
What a drag
This is really unpleasant.
There she goes looking for pretty clover
She is out looking for something beautiful in the world.
No one knows what it's like until it's over
Nobody can understand what something is truly like until it is experienced.
Without a doubt, I just found out
I am completely certain that I have discovered something new.
And I suppose I never did get to know her
I don't think I really understood who she is.
Tear drop city, Tear drop city
This is a very sad and emotional place.
Took me too long to discover
I took too much time to figure something out.
How much I really love her
I am deeply in love with her.
How'd I ever end up in this bind
How did I get myself into this difficult situation?
What a drag
This is really unpleasant.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HART, TOMMY BOYCE
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.