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 Great PretenderThe Platters

The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.

WonderwallOasis

Oasis didn't coin the term "Wonderwall." It's the title of a 1968 movie with a soundtrack by George Harrison. It was Harrison's soundtrack that got the band's attention.

Chelsea DaggerThe Fratellis

The Fratellis song "Chelsea Dagger" was named for their lead singer's wife - it was her burlesque name.

MusclesDiana Ross

Michael Jackson wrote the Diana Ross hit "Muscles," which he named after his pet boa constrictor.

Invisible TouchGenesis

The Genesis song "Invisible Touch" was inspired by the Prince-written Sheila E. track "The Glamorous Life."

No More I Love You'sAnnie Lennox

The Annie Lennox hit "No More I Love You's" is a cover, originally sung by a man.

Editor's Picks

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

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

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."