Daydream Believer by The Monkees is a 1967 single written by John Stewart of the Kingston Trio.
Colgems released it on October 25, 1967.
It spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 that December.
Table of Contents
The Story Behind Daydream Believer by The Monkees
A Wasted Day
John Stewart was a member of the Kingston Trio from 1961 to 1967.
He wrote this song just after leaving the group.
It was the third in a trilogy of songs about suburban life.
Stewart said he went to bed thinking, "What a wasted day," because he had only daydreamed, and the song grew from there.
Two Rejections
Stewart first offered the song to the We Five, then to Spanky and Our Gang.
Both turned it down.
He later said he never thought it was one of his best songs.
A Party at Hoyt Axton's House
Stewart met the Monkees' producer Chip Douglas at a party at the singer Hoyt Axton's home.
Douglas asked whether he had any songs for the new group.
Stewart played this one, and Douglas asked for a tape right away.
Stewart hand-delivered it.
Recording the Single
The Sessions
The Monkees cut the track on June 14 and August 9, 1967, at RCA Victor Studio in Hollywood.
It came out of the sessions for Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., but it did not make that album.
Shorty Rogers wrote the string arrangement.
Who Played on It
Classic Song of the Day lists the lineup:
- Davy Jones on lead vocals
- Micky Dolenz on backing vocals
- Michael Nesmith on lead guitar
- Peter Tork on piano, including the intro
- Chip Douglas on bass
- "Fast" Eddie Hoh on drums
That makes it one of the few Monkees tracks with all four members playing or singing.
It was meant as the B-side of "Love Is Only Sleeping," but the European masters for that song were not ready, so it became the A-side.
The B-side was "Goin' Down."
The Funky Lyric
One word in the second verse had to change.
Stewart's original line said "funky," and RCA asked for "happy" instead.
Stewart objected because the swap flipped the meaning of the line.
He gave in, and later said the song's earnings "kept me alive for all these years."
How It Charted
In the US
It was number one on the Hot 100 for the weeks of December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 1967.
It replaced "Incense and Peppermints" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye" took over on December 30.
Around the World
It topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa, and reached number five in the UK.
It was the group's third and last US number one.
| Measure | Detail | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Charts dated Dec 2 to Dec 23, 1967 | No. 1 (4 weeks) |
| Cash Box | Peak, 1967 | No. 1 |
| Canada RPM | Peak | No. 1 |
| Ireland | Peak | No. 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | Peak | No. 5 |
Legacy and Covers
Certifications
The single is certified Gold in the US and Platinum in the UK.
It later appeared on the 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees.
Covers
Other versions include:
- John Stewart's own recording, on his 1971 album The Lonesome Picker Rides Again
- Anne Murray's 1979 cover, which reached No. 12 on the Hot 100, No. 3 on the country chart and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart
- A 1986 remix released by Arista, which peaked at No. 79
Where It Fits
The record closed out the group's run of chart toppers, after Last Train to Clarksville and I'm a Believer.
It belongs to 1967, and it is on our 100 best 60s songs list.
The band's full story is in our Monkees biography, and the genre is covered in the Pop and Brill Building hub.
FAQ
Who wrote Daydream Believer?
John Stewart wrote it, shortly after he left the Kingston Trio.
Chip Douglas produced The Monkees' version.
Who sang lead on Daydream Believer?
Davy Jones sang lead, with Micky Dolenz on backing vocals.
Peter Tork played the piano intro and Michael Nesmith played guitar.
What was the original lyric?
The second verse said "funky" instead of "happy."
RCA asked for the change, and John Stewart agreed after objecting.
How long was Daydream Believer at number one?
It held number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, on the charts dated December 2, 9, 16 and 23, 1967.
"Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles replaced it.
Who else recorded Daydream Believer?
John Stewart cut his own version in 1971.
Anne Murray took her cover to number 12 on the Hot 100 and number 3 on the country chart in 1979.
A folk singer's wasted afternoon became the sweetest number one of 1967.
Wikipedia's entry on the song covers its history and charts in more depth.
Press play above and hear that piano intro.