Released: November 6, 1967

Songwriter: Michael Martin Murphey Boomer Castleman

Producer: Chip Douglas

[Verse 1]
Just a loudmouth Yankee, I went down to Mexico
I didn't have much time to spend, about a week or so
There I lightly took advantage of a girl who loved me so
But I found myself a-thinkin' when the time had come to go

[Chorus]
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

[Verse 2]
She took me to the garden just for a little walk
I didn't know much Spanish, and there was no time for talk
Then she told me that she loved me, not with words but with a kiss
And like a fool I kept on thinkin' of a train I could not miss

[Chorus]
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

[Verse 3]
Well, it's been a year or so, and I wanna go back again
And if I get the money, well I'll ride the same old train
But I guess your chances come but once and boy, I sure missed mine
And still I can't stop thinkin' when I hear some whistle cryin'

[Chorus]
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

[Chorus]
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

[Chorus]
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

The Monkees

America’s answer to The Beatles, The Monkees were the brainchild of filmmaker Bob Rafelson. Once Rafelson’s idea for a television show about a struggling rock band was accepted by Screen Gems Television, Davy Jones, a Tony-nominated actor and musician already signed by the company, was shortlisted for auditions as the show’s star, and Rafelson had other aspiring musicians audition to join him. Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith (also already signed to Colpix/Colgems) were ultimately chosen to play fictionalized versions of themselves. The sitcom ran for two seasons (1966-8), a period in which the band released very popular singles such as “Last Train to Clarksville”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”, “Daydream Believer”, and “I’m a Believer”. The Monkees still continued to play for two more years until Tork left the band and their bizarre art film Head lead to a popularity nosedive, after which Nesmith also left.

However, reruns of the show helped create new fans and inspire reunion tours, most memorably in the 1980s with the help of MTV and Nickelodeon.