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)
Teeny Tiny Gnome
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feelin' d-dejected and all alone
When I looked up ahead thought my mind I'd blown
On a giant toadstool sat a teeny tiny gnome
He was all involved in a game of solitaire
Said "hello" with a smile just like I wasn't there
I kicked dirt some more
Found a church key in his pocket, he opened up his pipe
He blew some silver circles,
Wound his fingers in his beard
And from that pipe came magic music
Like I'd never heard
As the notes came floatin' in I pricked up both my ears
I walked up to the drive-in, hadn't felt so starved in years
A rabbit waiter took my order and quickly disappeared
He said "the party's over,
Please come back in a thousand years."
The Monkees's song "Teeny Tiny Gnome" is a whimsical and surreal tale about a chance encounter with a magical creature. The singer is walking down an old dirt road, feeling lonely and dejected, when he sees a giant toadstool and on top of it, a teeny tiny gnome. The gnome seems to be playing solitaire, and when the singer greets him, he responds with a friendly smile. The singer kicks some dirt, but the gnome asks him not to start a fight, and then proceeds to open up his pipe and blow some silver circles. From the pipe comes magic music that entrances the singer.
As the music plays, the singer's senses come alive, and he walks to a drive-in, where a rabbit waiter takes his order and disappears. The music seems to transport the singer to another world, and when the magic ends, the waiter tells him that the party is over and to come back in a thousand years.
The song is a metaphor for the power of music to transport us to another world and make us forget our troubles. The teeny tiny gnome represents the childlike wonder and magic that we sometimes forget as adults. The lyrics are full of surreal imagery, and the music itself is a trippy blend of psychedelic rock and pop. Overall, "Teeny Tiny Gnome" is a fun and playful song that encourages us to embrace our imaginations and let the music take us away.
Line by Line Meaning
Kickin' stones on an old dirt road
I was wandering alone, aimlessly and without purpose
Feelin' d-dejected and all alone
I was feeling down and lonely
When I looked up ahead thought my mind I'd blown
I was surprised and confused by what I saw
On a giant toadstool sat a teeny tiny gnome
I saw a small gnome sitting on a huge mushroom
He was all involved in a game of solitaire
The gnome was fully engaged in a game of cards
Said "hello" with a smile just like I wasn't there
The gnome greeted me but it seemed like he didn't really acknowledge my presence
I kicked dirt some more
I continued to feel restless and unsure
He said "please don't start a fight."
The gnome urged me to avoid causing trouble
Found a church key in his pocket, he opened up his pipe
He pulled out a bottle opener and used it to open his smoking pipe
He blew some silver circles,
He exhaled smoke in the form of shiny rings
Wound his fingers in his beard
He played with his beard while smoking
And from that pipe came magic music
The smoke that came out of the pipe created enchanting music
Like I'd never heard
It was a unique and wonderful sound that I had never experienced before
As the notes came floatin' in I pricked up both my ears
I became more alert and focused as the music grew louder
I walked up to the drive-in, hadn't felt so starved in years
I made my way to a nearby restaurant feeling very hungry
A rabbit waiter took my order and quickly disappeared
A peculiar rabbit acted as my server, then left quickly
He said "the party's over, Please come back in a thousand years."
The rabbit informed me that the festivities had come to an end and asked me to return in a thousand years
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LYNN CASTLE, WAYNE ERWIN
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.