“Last Train to Clarksville” as a Protest Song?

The Monkees

One of the biggest hits recorded by The Monkees is “Last Train to Clarksville,” which was released in 1966.  Many of us grew up singing along to the song without realizing it was written as a protest against the Vietnam War.

Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station,
You can be here by four-thirty,
‘Cause I’ve made your reservation, don’t be slow,
Oh, no, no, no,
Oh, no, no, no.

If you listen closely to the lyrics sung by Micky Dolenz, you can hear that The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” is actually in the voice of someone frightened about going off to war.

Now I must hang up the phone,
I can’t hear you in this noisy railroad station,
All alone, I’m feeling low.
Oh, no, no, no,
Oh, no, no, no,
And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home.

The song does not specifically mention the war, but songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart explained that they kind of “snuck in” the Viet Nam references.  They noted, “We couldn’t be too direct with the Monkees.”

And that is the story behind the song.

What is your favorite song about the Vietnam War or about trains? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Author: chimesfreedom

    Editor-in-chief, New York.

    5 thoughts on ““Last Train to Clarksville” as a Protest Song?”

    2. Some of my favorites: “Hello Vietnam” (from Full Metal Jacket)–“Universal Soldier” (Donovan)–Where Have All The Flowers Gone’ (Kingston.Trio)–and last, but certainly not least: “The Star Spangled Banner” (Jimi Hendrix). Peace Out!!!

      Reply

    3. 2 Favorite Vietnam war songs (both sung from the perspective of the girlfriend/wife waiting for her soldier to return to her): Roberta Flack’s heartfelt rendition of Janice Ian’s “Jesse,” and the Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier.”

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    4. My favorite was “Leaving on a jet plane”. I enlisted at 17 in June of 1972 so was on the tail end of Vietnan.

      Reply

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