What Am I Doin` Hangin` `Round Michael Martin Murphey Intro D Just a loud mouth Yankee A D I went down to Mexico I didn`t have much time to spend A D About a week or so G C I lightly took advantage there G C Of a girl who loved me so G Em Am7 I found myself a-thinkin` Am A7 D D7 When the time had come to go
G Em7 Am7 B What am I doin` hangin` `round C D# I should be on the train and gone Em7 G Em Am7 I should be riding` on that train to San Antone D G What am I doin` hangin` `round D She took me to the garden A7 D Just for a little walk I didn`t know much Spanish A D And there was no time for talk G C She told me that she loved me G C Not with words but with a kiss G Em C I found myself a thinkin` G Am7 A D Of some ol` train I could not miss G Em7 Am7 B What am I doin` hangin` `round C6 D#maj7 I should be on that train and gone Em7 G Em Am7 I should be riding` on that train to San Antone D G What am I doin` hangin` `round D A7 D D7 G6 C6 G6 C6 Am7 A7 D D7 G Am7 B C D# G Em7 D G D It`s been a year or so A D And I wanna` go back again And if I had the money A D D7 I`d ride the same old train G C But I guess your chances come but once G C And I sure had missed mine G Em Am Still I find myself a thinkin` Am7 A7 D7 When I hear some whistle cry....in` yeah G Em7 Am7 B What am I doin` hangin` `round C D# I should be on the train and gone G Em C I should be ridin` on that train to Mexico D G Gm C D# F G What am I doin` hangin` `round........
Michael Martin Murpheys cover of an old Monkees song. Michael Nesmiths rural Texas roots and future musical paths crossed with Michael Martin Murphey and Owen Castlemans brisk ballad `What Am I Doing Hangin Round?` The authors were the Monkees labelmates at Colgems under the Lewis & Clarke Expedition moniker, and Murphey and Nesmith had actually been acquaintances prior to the Monkees project.
There is a discernible Bakersfield flavor to the selection, as Doug Dillards exemplary banjo picking is coupled with Nesmiths twangy narrative and some effervescently rhythmic contributions from bassist Chip Douglas, together creating a feisty countrified rocker in the vein of latter-era Byrds and/or the Flying Burrito Brothers. This song provides one of the rare post-Headquarters occasions that all four Monkees played on the same studio cut.
In addition to solid background vocals from Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones, Peter Tork joins Nesmith on guitar. Murpheys version can be found on the Wildfire 1972-1984 compilation issued in 1998, while both the Side of the Road Gang and Clinton River included readings on their respective self-titled LPs. The curiously named Those Big Belt Buckles also covered `What Am I Doing Hangin Round?` on 1992s multi-artist Here No Evil: A Tribute to the Monkees.