Shades of Gray
The Monkees
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When the world and I were young Just yesterday Live was such a simple game A child could play It was easy then to tell right from wrong Easy then to tell weak from strong When a man should stand and fight Or just go along But today there is no day or night Today there is no dark or light Today there is no black or white Only shades of gray I remember when the answers seemed so clear We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear It was easy then to tell truth from lies Selling out from compromise Who to love and who to hate The foolish from the wise But today there is no day or night Today there is no dark or light Today there is no black or white Only shades of gray It was easy then to know what was fair When to keep and when to share How much to protect your heart And how much to care But today there is no day or night Today there is no dark or light Today there is no black or white Only shades of gray Only shades of gray
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Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Genre Classification"Shades of Gray" is a pop-rock ballad performed by 1960s American rock band, The Monkees.
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Album RecordThe song is included in the band's third album "Headquarters" which was released in 1967.
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SongwritersThe song was co-written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. They are among the most successful songwriters of the 20th century, known for a number of hits including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "On Broadway."
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VocalizationThe song was shared between two members of The Monkees, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. Jones and Tork both performed lead vocals on different parts of the song. This was one of the rare times Tork sang lead vocals for The Monkees.
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The Song's ThemeIt paints a picture of a regretful adult reminiscing on the simplicity and assurance of childhood, before the world became coloured in "shades of grey."
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Unique FeatureIt has a noticeable waltz-time beat, a relatively uncommon feature in most pop-rock songs.
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Chart PerformanceWhile not released as a single, the album "Headquarters" in which the song featured, peaked at #1 on Billboard 200 in the US in 1967.
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Historical Significance"Shades of Gray" was part of The Monkees' third album, "Headquarters", which marked a turning point in the band's career as it was the first album they produced by themselves without the help of music supervisor Don Kirshner.
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Live PerformanceIn The Monkees' concerts, the song was usually performed by Davy Jones alone with a maracas in hand.
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Music VideoThere’s no official music video for "Shades of Gray," but many fan-made videos and live concert recordings can be found online.
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Influence“Shades of Gray” continues to be an influential song. It is often covered by various artists and used in modern pop culture including films and TV shows, to depict nostalgia and coming of age.
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RediscoveryIt gained a resurgence in popularity during the Monkees’ 50th-anniversary tour in 2016, where it was included in the setlist. Peter Tork, who had largely retired from performing due to health issues, usually sung the lead vocals for the song during these performances.
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HomageThe song was paid homage by The Beatles in their song "A Day in the Life," where John Lennon sings, "
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Citation
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"Shades of Gray Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/189929/The+Monkees/Shades+of+Gray>.
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