"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 being pulled by 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, string 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 as the star of 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 moments in recorded history" in a 2016 interview with the Detroit Free Press.
Chart history
"Porpoise Song" was released as a single in 1968 and reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Covers by other artists
1987: Steaming Coils on the album Never Creak
1988: Bongwater on the 7" limited-edition single "You Don't Love Me Yet", Shimmy 7-98 1995: Trouble on the album Plastic Green Head 1996: Wondermints on the album Wonderful World of The Wondermints 1997: The Lightning Seeds as a B-side to the single "Sugar Coated Iceberg" 1999: The Church on the album A Box of Birds 2000: The Grapes of Wrath on the album Extended Field Trip 2003: DJ Nobody (also known as Elvin Estela, later of Blank Blue) on the album Pacific Drift: Western Water Music, Vol. 1 2004: ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, both live and on their 2004 EP Worlds Apart 2010: Andrew WK, live 2014: Django Django, as part of the "Late Night Tales" series 2014: Progressive rock band Glass Hammer, on the album Ode to Echo 2014 - 2015: The Polyphonic Spree, Live
Popular culture
The song was featured in Vanilla Sky, a 2001 film starring Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. The song was also heard during the Mad Men Season 6 episode "The Quality of Mercy."