Zor and Zam

The Monkees

About Zor and Zam

"Zor and Zam" is a song written by Bill and John Chadwick and recorded by The Monkees for their 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. It was also featured in the final episode of season 2 of the band's popular television series, entitled "The Frodis Caper". The song involves the preparations for a war between two monarchs of rival kingdoms; however, when it comes time to fight, no one shows up and the war never happens. The song appeared in a markedly different mix on the television show than it did on The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees.  


Year:
2001
2:08
115 
#1

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By Bill Chadwick and John Chadwick
The king of Zor, he called for war
And the king of Zam, he answered.
They fashioned their weapons one upon one
Ton upon ton, they called for war at the rise of the sun.

Out went the call to one and to all
That echoed and rolled like the thunder.
Trumpets and drums, roar upon roar
More upon more.
Rolling the call of "Come now to war."

Throughout the night they fashioned their might
With right on the side of the mighty.
They puzzled their minds plan upon plan
Man upon man
And at dying of dawn the great war began.

They met on the battlefield banner in hand.
They looked out across the vacant land.
And they counted the missing, one upon one,
None upon none.
The war it was over before it begun.

Two little kings playing a game.
They gave a war and nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.

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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: BILL CHADWICK, JOHN CHADWICK

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


9 facts about this song

Band
"Zor and Zam" was performed by The Monkees, a famous American rock and pop band that was formed in 1966 and continues to be an iconic group even today.
Songwriter
The song was written by Bill Chadwick and John Chadwick. They were collaborators with the Monkees on several songs during their career.
Album Details
"Zor and Zam" is part of The Monkees' final album with the original line-up, before Peter Tork left the band. The album is called "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees," released in 1968.
Theme
The song delivers a strong anti-war message. It's about two kings ("Zor" and "Zam") who call for a war, but none of their subjects show up to fight. The kings are left to fight the battle themselves, which, of course, they don't want to do.
Style
Unlike many of The Monkees' other songs, "Zor and Zam" is performed in an orchestral style and is considered a "ballad-style" track. This track showcases the diversity of music that the band could produce.
Narration
The song was used as the final number in the Monkees' television series and was introduced with a narration by Peter Tork.
Influence
"Zor and Zam" is an example of the band's later work which was more thematically mature and experimental, showing the growth and evolution of their musical style.
Usage
This song was also used in the twelfth episode of the second series of The Monkees, which aired on December 11, 1967.
Uniqueness
"Zor and Zam" remains a stand-out song in The Monkees' discography, primarily due to its anti-war message conveyed in the form of a monologue and its orchestral style, which was unusual for the band.

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