Pop Rock

The song “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees is one of the great examples of popular Sixties music. If you have Neil Diamond write a song, Jeff Barry produce it, a TV show with a Beatles-like group of cute fun-loving guys, and 1, 051,280 advance orders for the record, what do you get? You get an RIAA gold record within two days of its release. “I’m a Believer” was #1 around the world, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 11 and in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Norway. It was the #1 hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling record for all of 1967.

The Monkees were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by Robert “Bob” Rafelson and Bert Schneider specifically for the television show The Monkees. The series aired from 1966 to 1968. They were to be an imaginary band who wanted to be The Beatles but were not that successful. Strangely enough, they  sold more than 75 million records worldwide, and at the point in 1967 when The Monkees were at the height of their fame, they had outsold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined. Of course, time moved on and things changed. The Monkees were Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith.

Here are the lyrics to “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees:

“I thought love was only true in fairytales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That’s the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams

Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love, I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her if I tried

I thought love was more or less a givin’ thing
Seems the more I gave the less I got
What’s the use in trying?
All you get is pain
When I needed sunshine I got rain

Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love, I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her if I tried

Love was out to get me
Now that’s the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams

Oh then I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I’m in love, I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her if I tried

Yes I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
Said I’m a believer, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(I’m a believer)
(I’m a believer)
Said I’m a believer, yeah
(I’m a believer)
Said I’m a believer, yeah
(I’m a believer)”

For more songs by The Monkees: “Daydream Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville.”

For an album of music by The Monkees, please click on the photo below:

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees.