Mike Nesmith was born in 1942. In the early 50's, his mom Bette invented Liquid Paper in her kitchen, and continued refining her product using her kitchen blender and fulfilled orders there, until the mid 60's. In 1966, Mike became a MONKEE. Also in 1966, he wrote a song called "Different Drum" for a band called The Stone Poneys, whose lead singer was Linda Ronstadt. His mom sold her little Liquid Paper company in 1979, for $47.5 million dollars. She died six months later in 1980 at the age of only 56.
Robert Michael Nesmith has been a very successful singer, songwriter, and philanthropist all his life. Among other pursuits, he is the head of a foundation which was begun by his mother, called Gihon Foundation.
Mike wrote this song in 1970. Don't know why, but it brought a tear to my eye then and it still does.
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow
By a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me
Of her sweet love.
Then the woman that she was
Drove her on with desperation
And I saw, as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man
And the time that made them both run
She was only a girl
I know that well, but still I could not see
That the hold that she had
Was much stronger than the love
She felt for me
But staying with her
And my little bit of wisdom
Broke down her desires
Like a light through a prism
Into yellows and blues
And the tune that I could not have sung
Though the essence is gone
I have no tears to cry for her
And my only thoughts of her
Are kind
Her name was Joanne
And she lived in a meadow by a pond
And she touched me for a moment
With a look that spoke to me
Of her sweet love
Then the woman that she was
Drove her on with desperation
And I saw as she went
A most hopeless situation
For Joanne and the man
And the time that made them both run
For Joanne and the man
And the time that made them both run