Album: The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees (1967)

Charted: 34

License This Song 

• One, two, three, four, five
  Four, three, two, one, zero
  Ah-ah
  
  Reasoned verse, some prose or rhyme
  Lose themselves in other times
  And waiting hopes cast silent spells
  That speak in clouded clues
  It cannot be a part of me
  For now it's part of you
  
  Careful plays on fields
  That seems to vanish
  When they're in between
  And softly as I walk away
  In freshly tattered shoes
  It cannot be a part of me
  For now it's part of you
  
  Sunshine, ragtime
  Blowing in the breeze
  Midnight, looks right
  Standing more at ease
  
  Silhouettes and figures stay
  Close to what he had to say
  And one more time the faded dream
  Is saddened by the news
  It cannot be a part of me
  For now it's part of you
  
  Well, Sunshine, ragtime
  Blowing in the breeze
  Midnight, looks right
  Standing more at ease
  
  Sunshine, ragtime
  Blowing in the breeze
  Midnight, looks right
  Standing more at ease
  
  Silhouettes and figures stay
  Close to what he had to say
  And one more time the faded dream
  Is saddened by the news
  It cannot be a part of me
  For now it's part of you Writer/s: Michael Nesmith
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 18

• Lloyd Haines from South HadleyNesmith talked about the meaning of Tapioca Tundra before performing it live. It’s about an artist who has become successful, a natural theme for him to be pondering while recording The Birds, the Bee and the Monkees after their rapid rise to fame. Tapioca Tundra is about an artist realizing that the cost of success if that the work you have created is no longer fully yours. “Silhouettes and figures stay, Close to what he had to say,” he thinks as he plays the song again, supposing it is still his. But then he becomes aware that this is merely a “faded dream” and he’s saddened by the news that the song now belongs to the fans who love it.
  
  Describing this phenomenon, Nesmith quoted from an interview of Mark Twain by a young Rudyard Kipling. In response to Twain’s proposal to hang Tom Sawyer, Kipling informs Twain that “he isn’t your property anymore. He belongs to us.”
  
  The makers of Better Call Saul were specifically aware of this connection when they included Tapioca Tundra in the “Breaking Bad” episode.
• Papawolf from North Vacouver, Bc, CanadaHi, does anyone know who thebasist is on this song?
• Gloria Sunshine from Far Out45s from the 20s & 30s? I think you mean 78s!
• Steven A Philpott from North CarolinaAs a singer from the 60's and 70's, Mike was my greatest influence on my musical journey, which includes, hendrix, joplin and dylan. His songs were complex yet had hidden meanings .... save the Texas prairie chicken
• Hal from Los GatosI may have some excerpts of these lyrics on my epitaph. They're enchanting. Remember Yeats: "Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by!"
• Randall from Las VegasNez rejoined the band in 2012, 2013 and a couple of appearances in 2016. During those shows he mentioned that the song was about the fans. He said he noted that he could perform but in the end the translation of the song, the music, etc. would be in the lap of the listener. "It cannot be a part of me for now it's part of you." He also occasionally performs this much slower and with only an acoustic guitar.
  
• Richard Pandolfo from NcI think "Tapioca Tundra" is Nesmith's worst effort as a vocalist and songwriter. To me, this track sounds like it was done badly on purpose, strictly as a joke. From start to finish, the song is plagued with unnecessary stupidity, ranging from off-key whistling in the intro to, worst of all, Nesmith's HORRIBLE moaning and groaning at the end. It sounds like someone falling to his death. This was totally uncalled for and it sounds terrible, especially in stereo. As for the rest of the song, Nesmith staggers through the verses and choruses sounding like a drunken, babbling idiot. The lyrics are absurd and so is the title (how on earth could a faded dream be saddened by news?!)
• - from ----, AfghanistanI don't think this song has any sexual connotations at all. A group whose main fan base at the time would be teenagers, aren't going to write songs with sexual connotations like the commentator at the top says. I think he's over thought the lyrics some what.
• Esskayess from Dallas, TxOne of Mike's many songs where the title appears nowhere in the lyrics. He said he did that to get under people's skin a bit.
• David from Boerne, TxI think "Tapioca Tundra" has a sexual connotation. As in: semen ejaculated onto pubic hair... "tapioca" into "tundra". "It cannot be a part of me for now it's part of you."
• George from Belleville, NjI remember having the original 45 single back in the 60's.I always thought this was a weird but interesting record.I think it is a briiliant idea for a pop song.Music was more inovative and creative back then.This is another example.A very entertaining tune.
• Sean from Chicago, IlOK, are we listening to the same "Tapioca Tundra"?? I've never heard a version of it with hiss and scratch...I think you're all thinking of "Magnolia Simms."
• Dennis from Kalamazoo, MiI remember listening to this on '45 as a kid (I still have it, too!), and wondering what the heck it was about - and I loved the descending "ah" in the coda. Considering the context of the Monkees, this song was almost as "psychedelic" as "I am the Walrus."
• Linc from Beaumont, TxI love the old hiss and scratch on this song - I love old jazz and ragtime and band music too.
• Amy from Rockville Centre, NyThere are songs like "Circle Sky" from the Head Soundtrack that do mention the song title
• Mike from Escondido, CaSadly, the Monkees will never be recognized as producing progressive music, like "Tapioca Tundra."
  Their resume is full of gems such as "Randy Scouse Git," "Aunties Municipal Court," and the "Head" soundtrack, just to mention a few.
• Anna from Berkeley, CaWhile "waiting ghosts" might make a lovely lyric too, "waiting hopes cast silent spells" really is the original. Nez does kind of a guttural thing on the 'h' that makes it a little hard to hear.
• Cheryl from Hollywood, FlShouldn't the lyrics in the first verse read, "Waiting ghosts cast their silent spells?" (Referring to the 'ghosts' of the music of 'yesterday?')? Just a guess, here...

More Songfacts:

The CaveMumford & Sons

"The Cave" by Mumford & Sons is based on the philosophy of Plato and his work called "Allegory of the Cave."

London CallingThe Clash

"London Calling" by The Clash was written amid widespread fears that the Thames River was going to flood the city.

Detroit Rock CityKiss

Kiss sing about "movin' fast on 95" in "Detroit Rock City," but I-95 doesn't go through Detroit (I-75 does) so they published the lyric as "Movin' fast, doin' 95."

RelaxFrankie Goes to Hollywood

The Frankie Goes To Hollywood hit "Relax" is, as the band says, about "shagging." It was banned by the BBC, which sent it to #1 in the UK as listeners flocked to record stores to buy it.

We Built This CityStarship

Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote the original lyrics for Starship's "We Built This City." It was the first Hot 100 Top 10 hit Taupin wrote without John.

Dark HorseKaty Perry

Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" was co-written by Sarah Hudson, who was a member of the pop group Ultraviolet Sound. Though Sarah isn't related to Katy (whose real name is Katy Hudson), she is the first cousin of another famous person with the same name, the actress Kate Hudson.

Editor's Picks

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.