Different Drum

Michael Nesmith

About Different Drum

"Different Drum" is a song written by Michael Nesmith in 1965 and first recorded by the northern bluegrass band the Greenbriar Boys and included on their 1966 album, Better Late than Never!. Nesmith offered the song to the Monkees, but the producers of the TV show, who had wide control over the group's musical output early on, turned him down. The song became popular in 1967 when recorded by the Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt, who took their version of "Different Drum" to #12 on the Cash Box Top 100, #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #16 in Record World magazine. The song did best in New Zealand, where it reached #5. In 1972, Nesmith recorded his own version of his song. "Different Drum" has since been covered by other artists over the years. 


Year:
1972
3:03
73 
#1

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You and I travel to the beat of a diff'rent drum.
Oh, can't you tell by the way I run
Ev'ry time you make eyes at me. Wo oh.
You cry and you moan and say it will work out.
But honey child I've got my doubts.
You can't see the forest for the trees.

Oh, don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm knockin'.
It's just that I'm  not in the market
For a girl who wants to love only me.
Yes, and I ain't sayin' you ain't pretty.
All I'm sayin's I'm not ready for any person,
Place or thing to try and pull the reins in on me.
So Goodbye, I'll be leavin'.
I see no sense in the cryin' and grievin'.
We'll both live a lot longer if you live without me.

Oh, don't get me wrong. It's not that I'm knockin'.
It's just that I'm  not in the market
For a girl who wants to love only me.
Yes, and I ain't sayin' you ain't pretty.
All I'm sayin's I'm not ready for any person,
Place or thing to try and pull the reins in on me.
So Goodbye, I'll be leavin'.
I see no sense in the cryin' and grievin'.
We'll both live a lot longer if you live without me.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Michael Nesmith

Robert Michael Nesmith (born December 30, 1942) is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and co-star of The Monkees TV series (1966-1968). Nesmith is notable as a songwriter, including "Different Drum" (sung by Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys), and as executive producer of the cult film Repo Man (1984). He also is credited with creating the genre of the music video. In 1981, Nesmith won the first Grammy Award given for Video of the Year for his hour-long television show, Elephant Parts. more »

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Written by: Michael Nesmith

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

`Composition and Release`
"Different Drum" was written by Michael Nesmith in 1965, a member of the music group "The Monkees." It was first recorded and released by a bluegrass band called "The Greenbriar Boys."
`Cover Versions`
One of the most popular versions of the song was covered by a band called The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt in 1967. It became a huge hit and propelled Ronstadt into fame.
`Music Genre`
Even though the song was first recorded by a bluegrass band, it does not adhere strictly to this genre. Over time, "Different Drum" has been recorded in a wide variety of genres, including folk, rock, pop, and country.
`Song Inspiration`
Michael Nesmith allegedly wrote "Different Drum" after being inspired by a folk song he heard in a Texas nightclub. He wrote the song on a typewriter, using an unconventional song structure that didn't follow the typical verse-chorus-repeat pattern.
`Michael Nesmith’s Role`
Although Nesmith wrote the song, he never actually recorded it with his own band, The Monkees. In fact, the Monkees' record label refused Nesmith's request to record the song, leading to its release by The Greenbriar Boys.
`Chart Success`
The version of "Different Drum" performed by The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 12 on the Cash Box pop singles chart in 1967.
`Cultural Impact`
The song's defiant and nonconformist lyrics made it a countercultural anthem during the late 1960s. It has been praised for encouraging individuality and rejecting societal norms.
`Influence on Nesmith's Career`
Despite the initial refusal from his label to let The Monkees record the song, the success of "Different Drum" allowed Nesmith to establish himself as a solo artist after leaving the band in the late 1960s.
`Other Notable Covers`
Susanna Hoffs, the Bangles lead singer, released a cover of "Different Drum" in 1997 on her self-titled solo album. Bluegrass artist Alison Krauss also covered the song in 1998 on her album "So Long So Wrong."
`Use in Media`
"Different Drum" has been used in several films, including "The Dish" in 2000 and "Cardinal Matter" in 2016. It was also featured in a 2016 episode of the television show "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life."

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