A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
11 Monkey Man
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell you baby, you huggin' up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin' up the big monkey man
I never saw you, I only heard of you
Huggin' up the big monkey man
I never saw you, I only heard of you
It's your lie, it's your lie
Huggin' up the big monkey man
It's your lie, it's your lie
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Huggin' up the big monkey man
I never saw you, I only heard of you
Huggin' up the big monkey man
I never saw you, I only heard of you
Huggin' up the big monkey man
It's your lie, it's your lie
Huggin' up the big monkey man
It's your lie, it's your lie
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand
Huggin' up the big monkey man
La la la la la la la
Huggin' up the big monkey man
La la la la la la la
Huggin' up the big monkey man
The lyrics of "Monkey Man" by Amy Winehouse tells the story of a woman who has been unfaithful to her partner. She is caught hugging up with the "big monkey man" and the singer confronts her about it. The woman tries to deny it, but the singer knows the truth and accepts it. She repeats the phrase "now I know that, now I understand" as if to say that the truth has set her free from the lies that the woman was telling her.
The monkey is often used in popular culture to represent our primal desires and instincts, specifically sexual. Therefore, the "big monkey man" referred to in the song could be seen as a metaphor for the woman's lover, who has tempted her with his primal sexual appeal, and she fell for it. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's acceptance of the situation as she makes peace with the fact that the woman was unfaithful.
In Amy Winehouse's signature soulful style, "Monkey Man" is a typical witty and humorous song that tells a story of infidelity. However, the deeper meaning behind it can be interpreted as a message of acceptance, forgiveness, and moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Expressing surprise, shock or other emotional reaction
Tell you baby, you huggin' up the big monkey man
Accusing someone of being unfaithful or deceitful
I never saw you, I only heard of you
Acknowledging a lack of direct experience or evidence
Huggin' up the big monkey man
Being physically and romantically involved with someone else
It's your lie, it's your lie
Asserting that someone else is responsible for dishonesty
Now I know that, now I understand
Realizing the truth or accepting a difficult reality
La la la la la la la
Filling space with nonspecific vocalizations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnps30
Lyrics
Ay ay ay, ay ay ay,
Tell you baby,
You huggin' up the big monkey man
You huggin' up the big monkey man
I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man
I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man
Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man
Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me
Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me
Songwriters: FREDERICK HIBBERT
© Universal Music Publishing Group,BMG Rights Management
For non-commercial use only.
@crowjanesghost
I like this because it is so real. She is bored and high and trying to remember some moves and she hits every note. The band is spot on and rock-steady.
@zoimpas1266
exactly!!
@Zombywoof92553
Right on
@katinkas100
yeah but actually it isnt fun to her that she is high. When I look at her concerts i see a very beautiful woman with a great voice, but also a very unhappy person who had very much troubles with het self esteem, a person who was pushed too far by the media, and a person who just needed someone to give her love and attention. Like in Rehab said "I just need a friend"
@powlobo.m.b.
Most shows we watch are re-recorded later to correct mistakes. Am a fan of her but hard to say 100% sure if she nailed it live..
@katinkas100
Paolo Borelli what do you mean?
you think they've cut in the recording?
@beatifulbrowneyes8767
I love her because she wasn't trying to be a star she just sang
@katinkas100
so true
@florinmelcul
i love her because she was a crack whore <3
@RyDawg084
florinmelcul Your 2 Beer queer go too bed kid