Words by The Monkees

Album: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967)

Charted: 11

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song was a departure from the Monkees' typical work, and they had to put up a fight with their management to get it recorded. They long had felt some of the songs foisted on them were bubblegum pop, and they wanted a more mature and relevant sound as musical tastes were dramatically changing. "Words," written by Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce, is a rather dark breakup song sung by Micky Dolenz. It's about a man discovering his girlfriend is a deceitful player who will lie to him just as easily as look at him. He's badly conflicted by this, as she really had him wrapped around her finger but is now tired of him. The song was a gamble that paid off, as it reached #11 on the Billboard Top 100, but The Monkees broke up less than a year later. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Santa Barbara, CA

Comments: 21

Captaindave from Tucson, AzListening to the words closely, I can see how it was stated to go against the record company.
Rick from CaliforniaMikey Dolenz was the Monkees' lead vocalist, Davy Jones was not. Count the number of songs sung by each and that's easy to determine. Also, with about three exceptions (Valleri, Daydream Believer and Cuddly Toy), Dolenz was lead vocalist on the hits.
Mc from Upstate NyTo Meemo1024: There was a rather bizarre song by Todd Rundgren called "Onomatopoeia". It was on his "Hermit of Mink Hollow" album and is on YouTube. Is that the song you're thinking of?
Meemo1024 from UsaWhat is the song by the monkees that has the word onomatopoeia in it.... it seems that it was a "round" type of song.
Monkeefan from California No, most of their songs were sung by Micky Dolenz. He was the voice of the band no question
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenLady Kate: The band members proved themselves with "Headquarters" and no one should have doubted their abilities after that. They made some of the best music in the 60s.
Lady Kate from Dante's 7th Aka Reading Pa First I want to thank the creators of this site. I accidentally found this and Wow! Also most posts are from passionate intellectuals with brilliant experiences and stories. I've learned many things most recently about The Monkees. Actors, musicians, artists, evil doers duping the American people and millions of other titles blah blah blah. What college degree do the sanctimonious ones have to prove their credibility? If I remember correctly there was 2 guys in the 90's making millions lip sinking their concerts. If you ask me The Monkees have proven their credibility and Characters in more ways than some. Instead of bandying words around think about that. Sticks and stones people won't remember the details but they will remember how they felt. How did you feel listening and watching the guys? I still get energized singing the wrong words to those wonderful songs. I still feel hurt about a rejection letter I got from them. I was in love with Micky after all. Still would give 1/2 my soul to hang out with him. ..hohum... Feelings
last forever and that's my final fact from
my uni - verse.
Bill from West Chester, PaMicky was the lead singer; Monkees Theme, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a believer, Pleasant Valley Sunday, For Pete Sake, Stepping Stone, etc, Davy had a few, Daydream Believer, a little bit me, a little bit you and Vallarie. Mike didn’t have the biggest hits but was great and sang some of my favorite Monkee songs. They were all great, but Micky was the lead singer, and the reason we still have Monkees tours.
Chris from SomewherePeter did sing lead on a song that was mainly used on the show. He sang "Your Auntie Grizelda" which was on the "Captain Crocodile" episode, when the guys were being chased by the children in the audience.
Dave from IlShocked to learn that's Peter on vocal- I always assumed he could not sing.
Esskayess from Dallas, TxAgreed with Sandi...Micky sang the solid majority of their songs. This one was unusual because Peter does the background vocals and his voice was, by far, the weakest of the 4. Works here, though, as it did on my favorite Monkee song of all, "Shades of Gray."
Mike from Mill Valley, CaDavy sang "Day Dream Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" both singles and hits... so lead vocals were more or less evenly distributed between Micky and Davy as far as hits...
Hilda from Chicago, IlCool song, sad of Davy passing away. I did not know this was a cheating women. I did notice their later songs like "She Hangs Out", and " Sometimes In The Morning" had sexual undertones. I was surprised they could sing those songs on a kiddie program.
George from Belleville, NjI think this song is a very interesting piece of music.The words,music,and vocals were handled very well.I agree with Tommy from Chicago,the Monkees were an under rated band.They sang some of the coolest songs in pop music.
Dan from Towson, MdThis is a really good song. It would have been nice if Peter would have been allowed to sing on a few more. "Shades of Grey" and "Do I Have to Do This All Over Again", are also great ones from Peter. Also, the fact that the Monkees were able to make an album as good as Headquarters, shows they really were talented. Too bad it got buried by Sgt Pepper.
Tommybeachbum from Chicagoland, IlI think the Monkees are a phenomenally under-rated band, pre-fab or not, listen to their songs, they definitely made their mark on music history. Peace Man!
Da Bill from Chicaga, IlMickey and Davy pretty well split the lead vocals for the group. Mike sang a few songs, mostly ones that he had written. What's interesting about this song is that Peter sang second-lead vocals in a call and answer style with Mickey. Peter was usually relegated to background vocals only.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyThree other completely different songs titled "Words" have made the Top 100; The Bee Gees peaked at #11 in 1968, Missing Persons reached #42 in 1982, and Pat Boone topped out at #94 in 1960!!!
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI didn't know this song was about women who are evil,deceptive and dangerous.
Sandi from Hendersonville, TnSorry, Mike in Santa Barbara. Most Monkees songs were sung by Micky, not by Davy. Just think about "Last Train to Clarksville", "I'm a Believer", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", etc.
Linc from Beaumont, TxI think the Monkees had a lot of potential to be a better band than they were. This song is an example of that potential. But since the show was cancelled and the problems that created for the guys caused them to break up, we never got to find out.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Ur So GayKaty Perry

Katy Perry says her 2008 song "Ur So Gay" is about "guys who wear the guyliner, steal your jeans, and that whole almost hipster emo scene."

Do They Know It's Christmas?Band Aid

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band-Aid was the first big group charity single. It was organized by Bob Geldof, who a year later put together "We Are The World" and Live Aid.

AnacondaNicki Minaj

"Anaconda" was originally recorded by Missy Elliott in 2012, but she decided to shelf the track so it went to Nicki Minaj, who released it two years later.

StanEminem

Thanks to Eminem's song, the word "stan" was added to the Oxford American Dictionary in 2017. It means an obsessive fan.

Heat Of The NightBryan Adams

Bryan Adams' 1987 song "Heat Of The Night" has the distinction of being the first commercially released cassette single in the US.

One of the first teenage stars of the Rock Era was Lesley Gore, who was just 16 when she recorded "It's My Party," a huge hit in 1963. It gave us the iconic phrase, "It's my party, I'll cry if I want to."