| "D.W. Washburn" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Monkees | ||||
| B-side | "It's Nice to Be With You" | |||
| Released | May 27, 1968 | |||
| Recorded | February 17 and March 1, 1968 | |||
| Label | Colgems 66-1023 / RCA 1706 | |||
| Writer(s) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | |||
| The Monkees singles chronology | ||||
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| "D.W. Washburn" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Coasters | ||||
| B-side | "Everybody's Woman" | |||
| Released | July 1968 | |||
| Recorded | October 31, 1967 | |||
| Label | Date Records 1617 | |||
| Writer(s) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | |||
| The Coasters singles chronology | ||||
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"D.W. Washburn" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Two famous recordings of the song are by The Coasters and The Monkees. It was also included in the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe.
The lyrics tell a story of a derelict (Washburn), chosen by a well-meaning charity for a wash-up and a meal. Washburn rejects the offer, though, being jobless and preferring drunkenness to having to go to work.
The Monkees' version of "D.W. Washburn" was the first single they released after the second and final season of their series on NBC concluded. All their previous singles reached the #1, #2, or #3 positions from strong promotion through their use in various episodes; without this boost, the song became the band's first to miss the Top Ten in the U.S. Billboard charts. Competition from the Coasters version also cut into sales.
The Monkees continued to perform the song, during their 1980s and later reunions. One performance was on Nashville Now; a country music showcase.