by the Monkees (1968)
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To ask the meaning of “Daydream Believer,” one is actually asking the question: What is meant by the song’s chorus? After all, the song contains, besides the chorus, only two verses, and each is rather straightforward in its meaning. The first verse is:
Oh, I could hide ‘neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings;
The six o’clock alarm would never ring.
But 6:00 rings, and I rise,
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes;
My shaving razor’s cold, and it stings.
Evidently, the song opens on the morning of a man who is getting himself ready for the day, even though he would much rather remain in bed. He dreams a warm dream of never waking, but then, upon waking, he begins his day’s ritual with the cold sting of his razor.
Now, for the song’s second, and only other, verse:
You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed;
Now you know how happy I can be.
Oh, and our good times start and end
Without dollar one to spend,
But how much, baby, do we really need?
Evidently, the song’s second verse details a man reasoning with the woman in his life, assuring her that their limited money should not and will never mean their limited happiness. Now, then, for the chorus:
Cheer up, sleepy Jean;
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?
With the song’s other parts in mind, this chorus, which might otherwise seem obscure, has a clear meaning; for the lyrics are the uplifting, slightly taunting words of the early riser to she staying in bed. After all, when one’s life is a daydream, what of the rigors of the awake?