Porpoise Song

The Monkees

About Porpoise Song

"Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and performed by pop/rock quartet The Monkees on their album Head. The song was commissioned by Bob Rafelson, the director and producer of the film Head. The song was released as a single in 1968, and reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single version runs over a minute longer than the album version. The song's lyrics and melody echo the psychedelic vibe of mid-1960s rock music. Micky Dolenz provides the vocals, which are distorted by echoing effect, and a mix of organ riffs, cello, string-bass, woodwinds and horns float in and out of the tune. The lyrics call into question the order of the world and one's place therein, and there are also veiled in-joke references to Dolenz's childhood work as the star of the television series Circus Boy. The song was produced by its co-writer Gerry Goffin on 26, 28 and 29 February 1968. The track includes chimes, tubular bells and aquatic sound effects. "Without a doubt, this is the most elaborate production ever for a Monkees recording."According to Bob Rafelson: 


Year:
2005
68 
#2

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My, my, the clock in the sky
Is pounding away
And 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
S'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

The porpoise is waiting
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

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The Monkees

The Monkees are an American pop band that released music under their original incarnation between 1966 and 1970, with subsequent reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1965 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966–1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, and Englishman Davy Jones. The band's music was initially supervised by producer Don Kirshner. more »

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Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artists
"Porpoise Song" is a track by The Monkees, a pop-rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1966, known for their major influence on pop culture and the music scene in the late 60s.
Songwriters
The song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, two of the most prolific songwriters of the period.
Album release
"Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)" was featured as the lead single from The Monkees' sixth studio album, "Head," released in 1968.
Sound style
Notable for its psychedelic sound, the song differs from many of The Monkees' other tracks which are primarily pop and rock.
Film appearance
"Porpoise Song" was used as the theme song for the band's movie, "Head," a surreal comedy-adventure film, directed by Bob Rafelson.
Commercial performance
Despite now being recognized as a classic Monkees song, the single did not perform well commercially upon release, peaking at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Song meaning
The song's lyrics have been interpreted as reflecting the band's frustration with their manufactured image and restrictions placed on their creative freedom.
Unconventional Arrangement
The single version of "Porpoise Song" is a different edit from the album version, with the single being shorter and the album version including an extended instrumental intro and outro.
Notable Cover Version
"Porpoise Song" was covered by The Church, an Australian psychedelic rock band, and their version appeared on the 2002 Monkees' tribute album, "Monkee Business."
Use in Popular Culture
The song was prominently featured in the opening of the 2001 film "Vanilla Sky," starring Tom Cruise.

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    Porpoise Song

    22,006
    343     21

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

    Billboard #62


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