About the Song

The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The band was created for the NBC television series of the same name, which ran from 1966 to 1968. The band members were Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones.

The Monkees’ debut single, “Last Train to Clarksville,” was released in August 1966. The song was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and it was produced by Don Kirshner. “Last Train to Clarksville” was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. The song was also a critical success, with many critics praising its catchy melody and upbeat tempo.

“Last Train to Clarksville” is a pop rock song with a simple, yet effective, structure. The song begins with a catchy guitar riff, which is followed by the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format. The lyrics of the song are about a young man who is leaving his hometown to go to Clarksville, Tennessee. The song is full of hope and excitement, as the young man is looking forward to starting a new life in Clarksville.

The Monkees’ performance on “Last Train to Clarksville” is energetic and enthusiastic. Micky Dolenz’s lead vocals are strong and clear, and the band’s backing vocals provide a solid foundation for the song. The song’s instrumentation is simple, but effective, with the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards all playing important roles.

“Last Train to Clarksville” is a classic pop rock song that has stood the test of time. The song’s catchy melody, upbeat tempo, and positive lyrics have made it a favorite among fans of all ages. “Last Train to Clarksville” is an important song in the history of the Monkees, and it is a testament to the band’s talent and popularity.

Some additional information about the song:

  • The song was inspired by Boyce and Hart’s experience of being drafted into the United States Army.
  • The song’s title refers to Clarksville, Tennessee, which is home to Fort Campbell, a United States Army base.
  • The song was featured in the first episode of The Monkees television series.
  • The song was covered by many artists, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones.

Video

Lyrics: Last Train To Clarksville

Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by four thirty
‘Cause I made your reservation
Don’t be slow, oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!’Cause I’m leavin’ in the morning
And I must see you again
We’ll have one more night together
‘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 homeTake the last train to Clarksville
I’ll be waiting at the station
We’ll have time for coffee flavored kisses
And a bit of conversation
Oh… Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!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 homeTake the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station
You can be here by four thirty
‘Cause I 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 homeTake the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville
Take the last train to Clarksville…

 

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?