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)
This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My pillow wrapped 'round my head.
Instead of waking up to find
A nightmare of a different kind.
She went away,
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
She didn't have to say a lot,
'Twas someone else she want more,
And so I walked her to the door.
What can I say?
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
My, oh my, how sad am I.
How I wish she would have stayed
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
My whole world is upside down,
She turned my smile into a frown.
It's such a pity the shape I'm in,
I must get on my feet again.
Can't stay this way
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
The Monkees's song, This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day, is a breakup song with a hopeful tone. The singer sings about waking up to a nightmare of a different kind - coming to terms with his significant other leaving him. He reflects on the fact that he should have stayed in bed, with his pillow wrapped around his head. He reveals that his girlfriend didn't say a lot about leaving him, but her pretty eyes revealed the plot - there was someone else she wanted more. As he walks her to the door, he wishes she would have stayed with him.
The song then takes a reflective turn, as the singer muses about how sad he is and how his whole world is upside down. She turned his smile into a frown, and he's in a sorry state. Still, he knows he must get on his feet again and can't stay this way. The song ends with a hopeful note that things will get better, and there will be brighter days ahead.
Overall, the lyrics of This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day capture the sadness and uncertainty that come with a breakup while maintaining a hopeful perspective on the future. The singer acknowledges his pain but also recognizes that he can't stay in that place forever and must move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess I should have stayed in bed,
I wish I had not woken up today.
My pillow wrapped 'round my head.
I wanted to avoid all the disturbing thoughts.
Instead of waking up to find
Instead of realizing something dreadful.
A nightmare of a different kind.
That I have had a different kind of nightmare.
She went away,
She left me.
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
I feel like everything is going wrong.
She didn't have to say a lot,
She hardly said anything.
Her pretty eyes revealed the plot.
But I could tell what she meant from her eyes.
'Twas someone else she want more,
She wanted someone else more than me.
And so I walked her to the door.
So I had to let her go.
What can I say?
What can I do?
My, oh my, how sad am I.
I feel so sad.
How I wish she would have stayed
I wish she hadn't left.
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
I feel like everything is going wrong.
My whole world is upside down,
I feel like my life is in chaos.
She turned my smile into a frown.
She made me feel unhappy.
It's such a pity the shape I'm in,
It's unfortunate that I feel this way.
I must get on my feet again.
I must try to move on and get better.
Can't stay this way
I can't continue to feel this bad.
This just doesn't seem to be my day.
I feel like everything is going wrong.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HART, TOMMY BOYCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosemary Baker
I don't care what anyone says, it was a lot of fun watching the Monkees. And I love the songs.
Epy Scrivano
This show was so uniquely fun and happy! Those guys did a great job
Barbie Darling
Laughed the whole time! These guys are just total chaos
howie9751
This song, on the Monkees first episode, started me on the road to rock 'n' roll. My life would have been very different if not for this song.
Terry Campbell
I loved it when Mickey was trying his best to climb up to the balloons. the more I look at this the more I love it. Especially when Peter is blowing up the balloon and Davy pops it.
David Mitchell
That look on Davy’s face while Peter was blowing up the balloon was as funny to me as it was to see Peter to continue on like nothing happened! Miss them Both!
ObamaButAsADragQueen
How am I swooning over micky being able to climb his way to the first floor?
Ngl though its pretty impressive
Royal-Tea
Mickey is so athletic! He is a great climber ! Look how he got up to the top floor , just pulling himself up by the top bars!
Elmo Bolan
That's called youth....
bee
Ik lol