Psychedelic Pop
The song “Daydream Believer” was written by John Stewart of The Kingston Trio. It was offered to We Five and Spanky and Our Gang, but they turned it down. Chip Douglas, who produced The Monkees, thought it could be a hit for them. All four members of The Monkees were on the track. Davy Jones was on lead vocals, Michael Nesmith was on lead guitar, Peter Tork was on piano, and Micky Dolenz did the backing vocals. The orchestral arrangement was by jazz musician Shorty Rogers It was released as a single in 1967 and became an international hit. It went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in Ireland, #5 on the U.K. Singles Chart, #2 in Australia and Norway, #7 in Austria, #4 in Germany and Japan, #8 in Belgium, and #10 in Switzerland. “Daydream Believer” was also on their 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees.
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.
Here are the lyrics to “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees:
“Oh, I could hide ‘neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings
The six o’clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and I rise wipe the sleep out of my eyes
The shavin’ razor’s cold, and it stings
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
You once thought of me as a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh, and our good times start and end without dollar one to spend
But how much baby do we really need?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer and a homecoming queen?”
For more songs by The Monkees: “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer.”
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+ 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 “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees.