Single:
Different Drum entered the Australian singles chart* on 23 December 1967 and peaked at #7. The song was #48 on the Top 100 of 1968.
Songwriter:
Michael Nesmith
Producer:
Nick Venet
Record label of Australian release:
Capitol
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts:
Mike Nesmith wrote Different Drum in 1964, two years before he joined the made-for-TV group The Monkees. At the time, he was developing his skills as a folk singer – a far cry from the Hollywood-enhanced shenanigans and high-gloss pop songs The Monkees were known for. In 1965, he met John Herald, guitarist for a bluegrass/folk group called The Greenbriar Boys. They played songs for each other, and Herald loved Different Drum. He brought it to his group, slowed down the tempo, and released it on the group’s 1966 album Better Late Than Never! Linda Ronstadt heard this version and recorded it with her group The Stone Poneys (named after the Charlie Patton song Stone Pony Blues), which is by far the best-known version of the song.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/linda-ronstadt/different-drum
Lyrics:
You and I travel to the beat of a different drum
Oh, can′t you tell by the way I run?
Everytime you make eyes at me
You cry and moan and say it will work out
But honey child, I’ve got my doubts
You can′t see the forest for the trees
Click for full lyrics
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