daydream believer

The Monkees had their last chart-topper with the cheery optimism of this slice of nostalgia.  Former member of  the Cumberland Three and the Kingston Trio John Stewart wrote 'Daydream Believer' during a creative period in 1967:  “I was writing all day, every day, in a room with Andrew Wyeth prints on the wall. One day I wrote ‘Daydream Believer’ in about half an hour. I remember going to bed and thinking, ‘All I did today was write 'Daydream Believer'. ‘ ... It was a throwback to high school.  I was always the daydream believer, looking out the window. Homecoming queen, that was the fantasy when you’re in high school. ‘Daydream believer,’ ‘homecoming queen,’ it was just euphonious.”
 
He tried the song out for his brother's band We Five and  for Spanky and Our Gang; but no one was interested.  Not until he met Chip Douglas at a party who asked him if he had any songs for the Monkees.  Stewart quickly recorded a demo tape and two days later got the word that the Monkees would do the song; although they wanted to change the line "now you know how funky I can be" to "know you know how happy I can be".  Stewart was there for the sessions Douglas co-produced with the band in New York for their album 'Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.'; although the song was not included on that album.  Once it was released in late November of 1967, it took a month for the song to climb to the top of the charts. 

'Daydream Believer' reached number ten in Switzerland, eight in Belgium, seven in Austria, five in the UK, four in Japan, two in Norway, and number one for three in weeks in the US.  It was the last time they would accomplish that feat. A remixed version of 'Daydream Believer' charted again nineteen years later, making it to number seventy-five on the Billboard hot 100. 




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU615FaODCg




Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings.
The six o'clock alarm would never ring.
But six rings and I rise,
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes.
My shavin' razor's cold and it stings.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.
You once thought of me
As a white knight on a steed.
Now you know how happy I can be.
Oh, and our good times starts and end
Without dollar one to spend.
But how much, baby, do we really need.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo9pi_the-monkees-daydream-believer_music

THE MONKEES - DAYDREAM BELIEVER by huntylch