The Essentials (2002)

  1. “(Theme From) The Monkees” (Boyce, Hart) (2:19)
  2. “Last Train to Clarksville” (Boyce, Hart) (2:45)
  3. “I Wanna Be Free” (Boyce, Hart) (2:25)
  4. “I’m a Believer” (Diamond) (2:41)
  5. “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” (Boyce, Hart) (2:25)
  6. “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You” (Diamond) (2:35)
  7. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (Goffin, King) (3:30)
  8. “Words” (Boyce, Hart) (2:48)
  9. “Daydream Believer” (Stewart) (2:57)
  10. “Valleri” (Boyce, Hart) (2:20)
  11. “Porpoise Song (Theme from “Head”)” (Goffin, King) (4:02)
  12. “For Pete’s Sake” (Tork, Richards) (2:10)

Here we come
Walkin’ down the street
We get the funniest looks from
Everyone we meet

Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees
And people say we monkey around
But we’re too busy singin’
To put anybody down

We go wherever we want to
Do what we like to do
We don’t have time to get restless
There’s always something new

Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees
And people say we monkey around
But we’re too busy singin’
To put anybody down

We’re just tryin’ to be friendly
Come and watch us sing and play
We’re the young generation
And we’ve got something to say, ah

Any time
Or anywhere
Just look over your shoulder
Guess who’ll be standin’ there

Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees
And people say we monkey around
But we’re too busy singin’
To put anybody down

[break]
Waaah!
One time!

Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees
And people say we monkey around
But we’re too busy singin’
To put anybody down

We’re just tryin’ to be friendly
Come and watch us sing and play
We’re the young generation
And we’ve got something to say
Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees
Hey, hey, we’re The Monkees

Track: 1

Length: 2:19

Writers:

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Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by four-thirty
’Cause I’ve made your reservation
Don’t be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no

’Cause I’m leaving in the morning
And I must see you again
We’ll have one more night together (Train)
’Til the morning brings my train
And I must go
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no

And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home

Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)
I’ll be waiting at the station (Train)
We’ll have time for coffee-flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation, oh
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no

Di-di di-di di-di di-di
Di-di di-di di-di di-di
Di-di di-di di-di di-di di

Di-di di-di di-di di-di
Di-di di-di di-di di-di
Di-di di-di di-di di-di di

Take the last train to Clarksville
Now I must hang up the phone
I can’t hear you in this
Noisy railroad station all alone
I’m feelin’ low
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no

And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home
Oh

(Ah)

Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by four-thirty (Train)
’Cause I’ve made your reservation
Don’t be slow
Oh, no, no, no
Oh, no, no, no

And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home

Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)
Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)
Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)
Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)
Take the last train to Clarksville (Train)

Track: 2

Length: 2:45

Writers:

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I wanna be free
Like the bluebirds flying by me
Like the waves out on the blue sea
If your love has to tie me
Don’t try me
Say goodbye

I wanna be free
Don’t say you love me, say you like me
But when I need you beside me
Stay close enough to guide me
Confide in me
Whoa, whoa

I wanna hold your hand
Walk along the sand
Laughing in the sun
Always having fun
Doing all those things
Without any strings
To tie me down

I wanna be free
Like the warm September wind, babe
Say you’ll always be my friend, babe
We can make it to the end, babe
Again, babe, I’ve gotta say
I wanna be free
I wanna be free
I wanna be free

Track: 3

Length: 2:25

Writers:

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I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me (Di di-di, di-di)
That’s the way it seemed (Di di-di, di-di)
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 tryin’? (Di di-di, di-di)
All you get is pain (Di di-di, di-di)
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, ah

[break]

Oh, love was out to get me
Now, 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

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, yeah (I’m a believer)
Said I’m a believer, yeah (I’m a believer)
Said I’m a believer, yeah

Track: 4

Length: 2:41

Writers:

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I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone
I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone

You’re tryin’ to make your mark in society
You’re usin’ all the tricks that you used on me
You’re readin’ all them high-fashion magazines
The clothes you’re wearin’, girl, are causin’ public scenes

I said I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone
I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone (No!)
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone

I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone (No!)

When I first met you, girl, you didn’t have no shoes
But now you’re walkin’ ’round like you’re front page news
You’ve been awful careful ’bout the friends you choose
But you won’t find my name in your book of Who’s Who

I said I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone (No, girl, not me!)
I, I, I, I, I’m not your steppin’ stone (No!)
Not your steppin’ stone
I’m not your steppin’ stone

Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
No, I, girl, I’m not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone
Not your steppin’ stone

Track: 5

Length: 2:25

Writers:

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Walk out, girl, don’t you walk out
We’ve got things to say
Talk out, let’s have it talked out
And things’ll be okay

Girl, I don’t want to fight
I’m a little bit wrong
You’re a little bit right
I said girl, you know that it’s true
It’s a little bit me
It’s a little bit you, too

Don’t know just what I said wrong
But girl, I apologize
Don’t go, here’s where you belong
So wipe the tears from your eyes

Girl, I don’t want to fight
I’m a little bit wrong
You’re a little bit right
I said girl, you know that it’s true
It’s a little bit me
And it’s a little bit you, too

[break]

Oh girl, I don’t want to fight
I’m a little bit wrong
And you’re a little bit right
And I said girl, you know that it’s true
It’s a little bit me
And it’s a little bit you, too

It’s a little bit me
It’s a little bit you
Girl, I’m gone, no no no no no
Girl, I’m gone, no no no no no
Hey, girl!
Hey, girl!
Please don’t go
Please don’t go

Track: 6

Length: 2:35

Writers:

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The local rock group down the street
Is trying hard to learn their song
They serenade the weekend squire
Who just came out to mow his lawn

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Sunday)
Charcoal burnin’ everywhere
Rows of houses that are all the same
And no one seems to care

See Mrs. Gray, she’s proud today
Because her roses are in bloom
And Mr. Green, he’s so serene
He’s got a T.V. in every room

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Sunday)
Here in status symbol land
Mothers complain about how hard life is
And the kids just don’t understand

Creature comfort goals
They only numb my soul
And make it hard for me to see (Ahh)
My thoughts all seem to stray
To places far away
I need a change of scenery

Ta ta-ta ta, ta ta-ta ta
Ta ta-ta ta, ta ta-ta taa
Ta ta-ta ta, ta ta-ta ta
Ta ta-ta ta, ta ta-ta taa

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Sunday)
Charcoal burnin’ everywhere
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
Here in status symbol land

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (Ah, Pleasant Valley Sunday)

Track: 7

Length: 3:30

Writers:

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Girl, don’t you know every time I see you smilin’
(It hurts so bad ’cause when I see you, I start tryin’)
I’ve tried everything to stop, but there’s no denyin’
(That fallin’ in love with you, girl, is just like dyin’)

Oh, don’t walk away
How, how can I make you stay?
Don’t turn away

I can still hear you sayin’ those
Words that never were true
Spoken to help
Nobody but you
Words with lies inside
But small enough to hide
’Til your playin’ was through, ah

Girl, don’t you know we can work it out with talkin’?
(You won’t turn around or slow down your walkin’)
I’ve given you everything with a kiss to seal it
(You had to get your kicks outta tryin’ to steal it)

Now I’m standing here
Strange, strange voices in my ears
I feel the tears

But all I can hear are those
Words that never were true
Spoken to help
Nobody but you
Words with lies inside
But small enough to hide
’Til your playin’ was through, ah

[break]

Now I’m standing here
Strange, strange voices in my ears
I feel the tears

But all I can hear are those
Words that never were true
Spoken to help
Nobody but you
Words with lies inside
But small enough to hide
’Til your playin’ was through

Words that never were true
Spoken to help
Nobody but you
Words with lies inside
But small enough to hide
’Til your playin’ was through

Track: 8

Length: 2:48

Writers:

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Chip: 7A.
Davy: What number is this, Chip?
All: 7A!
Davy: Okay, don’t mean it, don’t get excited, man. It’s ’cause I’m short, I know.

Oh, I could hide ’neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six o’clock alarm would never ring
But six rings, and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shaving 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
Whoa, and our good times starts 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?

[break]

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?…

Track: 9

Length: 2:57

Writers:

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Valleri
I love her
Valleri

There’s a girl I know
Who makes me feel so good
And I wouldn’t live without her
Even if I could

They call her Valleri
I love her
Valleri

Oh yeah
Come on
Wow!

[break]

She’s the same little girl who used to
Hang around my door
But she sure looks different than
The way she looked before

I call her Valleri
I love her
Valleri

[break]

Valleri
I love her
Valleri

I love her
Valleri
I need her
Valleri

Track: 10

Length: 2:20

Writers:

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My, my, the clock in the sky is pounding away
There’s so much to say
A face, a voice, an overdub has no choice
An image cannot rejoice

Wanting to be
To hear and to see
Crying to the sky

But the porpoise is laughing, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Clicks, clacks, riding the backs of giraffes for laughs
Is alright for a while
The ego sings of castles and kings and things
That go with a life of style

Wanting to feel
To know what is real
Living is a, is a lie

But the porpoise is waiting, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Track: 11

Length: 4:02

Writers:

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Love is understanding
Don’t you know that this is true?
Love is understanding
It’s in everything we do

In this generation (In this generation)
In this lovin’ time (This lovin’ time)
In this generation
We will make the world shine

We were born to love one another
This is something we all need
We were born to love one another
We must be what we’re going to be
And all we have to be is free

In this generation (In this generation)
In this lovin’ time (This lovin’ time)
In this generation
We will make the world shine

We were born to love one another
This is something we all need
We were born to love one another
We must be what we’re going to be
And all we have to be is free

Love is understanding we gotta be free (In this generation)
Love is understanding we gotta be free (In this generation)
In this generation (In this generation)
Love is understanding we gotta be free (In this generation)
We gotta be free
We gotta be free (In this generation)
We gotta be free (In this generation)
(In this generation)


  1. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 301.
  2. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 294.
  3. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 293.
  4. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 292.
  5. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 286.
  6. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 297.
  7. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 302.
  8. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 288.
  9. The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the ’60s TV Pop Sensation (2005), Andrew Sandoval, p. 289.