It’s a misconception that the Monkees completely relied on other people to write all of their songs. They also started playing their own instruments starting with the third album. Michael Nesmith wrote this song before he joined The Monkees. The song was the B side to The Monkees Theme.
Loved this song when I was growing up. I still like the song and the drum sound they recorded. It has been covered by different artists. It was first recorded by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band on their East-West album on Elektra in 1966. The president of Elektra actually caught some flap once the Monkees’ version came out because people couldn’t believe that a Monkee actually wrote it.
Run-D.M.C. also covered this in 1988 on their album Tougher Than Leather.
Micheal Nesmith: Nesmith: “That song was written to be a hit. I knew it would be a hit. I never once thought of me doing the lead on that one. Mickey was my choice for that.”
Mary, Mary
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, Mary, can I go too.
This one thing I will vow ya,
I’d rather die than to live without ya.
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, Mary, tell me truly
What did I do to make you leave me.
Whatever it was I didn’t mean to,
You know I never would try and hurt ya.
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
What more, Mary, can I do
To prove my love is truly yours?
I’ve done more now than a clear-thinkin’ man would do.
Mary, Mary, it’s not over.
Where you go, I will follow.
‘Til I win your love again
And walk beside you,
But until then.
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to
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LOVE the Monkees, and Mike was always my favorite. This has always been a great song, but then again I could be a bit biased because my daughter’s name is Mary. I have to admit that when she was little, I used to sing, “Mary, Mary, why you buggin'” 😉
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In 1975 I was eight and I saw the Monkees on reruns for the first time. That started my music taste there. I begged my mom for a cap like Mike had…
I’ve always liked this one a lot.
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I had no idea that anyone other than the Monkees did this song.
https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/not-exactly-deep/
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That is a great article. I was surprised also.
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Like The Monkees version much better.
Wasn’t Mickey always a drummer, tho?
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No he was an actor as a child.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Boy
He did learn and became a pretty good drummer. Actually, Davy Jones was supposedly a pretty good drummer…but of course he had to be out front for the girls.
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Interesting. I just thought I’d heard that at least one Monkee was an actual musician and the others learned later.
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Michael and Peter were the real musicians…they were both trying to make it in the business.
Stephen Stills tried out to be a Monkee and recommended Peter
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Oh. Dear. God. Stephen Stills as a Monkee…boggles the mind. 🤔🤨😳
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LOL…he told the producers Peter looked like him…and he did.
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I retract the statement. I was thinking of David Crosby. Stephen Stills isn’t weird looking. Crosby is downright scary looking and hard on his own liver.
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May his former liver RIP
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😆
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Nice pop song. I always liked Mike best of the Monkees and probably because of that cap 🙂 I love that song he wrote about Joanne.
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I did also…yea I wanted a cap just like it when I was eight.
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The Monkees were very underrated. They were all musicians and singers. Their creativity was stifled because it did not fit into the mold that was made for them. It was the same with David Cassidy.
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They made me want to play music…which I did when I got older after watching the re-runs. From them I went to the Beatles…and remain a fan.
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I think it is probably one of the best compliments a musician could hear. 🙂
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The “East-West” album was a hit all the way through. The Butterfield Blues Band’s “best of” album, “Golden Butter,” told the story of how they came to be on Elektra Records, which up until then was all acoustic music, and the challenges they had recording this noisy electric blues band. Finally they just put a note on the record to play it as loud as possible. This sounds like it might have been remastered, but the tone is still pretty muddy.
My wife is Mary, by the way. She likes this one…
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I was introduced to their music by a hip friend of mine in the 80s. I’ve listened to some since and need to more.
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