Porpoise Song


"Porpoise Song" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and performed by the Monkees as the theme song for their 1968 film Head and its accompanying soundtrack album. The single version contains an extended instrumental outro not included on the album version or in either of the song's appearances in Head. The song also appears on several Monkees greatest-hits albums.

Film appearance

In the Monkees' 1968 feature film Head, the song appears at the beginning and end of the production in two variations on the same scene. At the start of the film, the group are being chased, running onto a bridge. In an attempt to escape, Dolenz jumps from the bridge as the others look on in shock. As Dolenz sinks, he is saved from drowning by a couple of beautiful mermaids. At the end of the film, the other members follow Dolenz and jump or fall from the bridge. As they appear to swim to shore, the camera zooms out, revealing them to be trapped in a large glass tank of water which is driven away on the back of a truck. Footage in both sequences is extensively solarized.

Background

Micky Dolenz provides the double-tracked vocals, except for the "goodbye, goodbye" part of the chorus which is sung by Davy Jones. A mix of organ riffs, cello, double bass, woodwinds, and horns float in and out of the song. Chimes, tubular bells and various aquatic sound effects can also be heard. The lyrics call into question the Monkees' prefabricated image and reflect their desire for creative freedom and authenticity, including a veiled reference to Dolenz’ childhood work on the television series Circus Boy.
The song was recorded on February 26, 28 and 29 of 1968, with Goffin producing. Andrew Sandoval, author of The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, considered it "the most elaborate production ever for a Monkees recording."
Bob Rafelson, the co-creator of the Monkees television series and director of Head, recalled:
Cash Box described the song as having a "'progressive' feel" and "a thundering rhythm line akin to the Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus.'"
Noel Gallagher of Oasis called "Porpoise Song" "an amazing song" and "one of the great psychedelic moments in recorded history" in a 2016 interview with the Detroit Free Press.

Personnel

Chart history

"Porpoise Song" was released as a single in 1968 and reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chart Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 10062

A special edit, made for AM stations, was released as a promotional single. This edit is 2:31 in duration. It was also released by RCA Victor in the UK in August 1969 as the B-side to Daddy's Song.

Covers by other artists

In popular culture