Bobby Pickett co-wrote the song along with Leonard Capizzi. It became a million seller, as well as reaching Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was styled as being by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kicker 5. In Britain it took until October 1973 for the tune to become popular, but it then pinnacled at Number 3 in the UK singles chart.
A Christmas themed follow-up, "Monster's Holiday", was also released in 1962, and it became a minor hit. After releasing a variety of other Halloween-based songs as well as trying his hand at script-writing, Bobby died on April 25, 2007 of leukemia. He's deeply missed by a cult audience of fans.
Monster Rap
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My eyes grown used to eerie sights
I′ve created a monster who can dance and walk
But I couldn't teach him how to talk
My faithful assistant, that hunchback fool
Who wastes his time in DJ school
Said, "Master, get hip! Don′t be a sap!
You gotta- shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock... RRRRRR!
Igor, you idiot!
"Yes, Master?"
Bring me some vocal cords!
"Yes, Master!"
'Cause I just want to hear him speak
And tonight the storm will reach it's peak
Connect electrodes, turn on the power
We operate within the hour
The kites went up without a hitch
Then Igor screamed, "I′ll pull the switch!"
The bolt came down, his head went zap
Now he′s doing the Monster Rap
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock... RRRRRR!
I've given you a voice, now rap for Daddy.
Well, they shot a million volts into my brain
Now I′m ready to rap like a runaway train
If you get in my way, we're bound to clash
′Cause I'm the same dude that did the Monster Mash
That′s my boy!
Shock the body body
So we invited the zombies, creeps and ghouls
And turned them into rapping fools
Drac woke up from his nap and said,
"Teach me how to Monster Rap!"
You gotta- shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock the body
Shock the body body
Shock... RRRRRR!
Igor, you fool!
"Yes, Master?"
He's breaking loose!
We've reached a goal
Undreamed of by science!
Listen, he′s going to rap again...
I got bolts in my neck, a flattop head
I′m eight feet tall and I'm back from the dead
Y′see I can break rappers down to tears
'Cause I′ve been monster rappin' for a hundred years
They all light up the torches,
Chase me through the town
(Pickett: Get down, Frankie)
They do everything to try to track me down
But they can′t keep up; they can't compete
'Cause I′ve got the rap with the monster beat
Y′see North, East, West and South
I'm the cat they call ′Monster Mouth'
When I start to rap, I control the room
I can get the werewolves howlin′ at the moon
Y'see, I′m and big and bad, scarred and mean
I'm the cool range howla Dr. Frankensteen
I said rap, bap, another zap! (BZZZZT!)
Can't stop the rappin′ now...
He won′t stop rapping...
Strap him down, Igor
He must be heavily sedated
"Yes, Master"
"RRRRRRRR!"
Oh, shut up!
The lyrics for Bobby 'Boris' Pickett's song Monster Rap depict a mad scientist who has created a monster that can dance and walk but cannot talk. The scientist's assistant suggests that they teach the creature how to rap, and after the scientist connects some electrodes to the monster, the creature begins to rap with an electrifying energy. The lyrics portray that the creature is a skilled rapper and that it can control the room and make werewolves howl at the moon. However, the creature is heavily sedated and is restrained by the scientist's assistant after his rap performance.
The song's lyrics are a playful parody of horror movies and mad scientist tropes that were popular in the mid-1980s. The lyrics present a humorous take on a classic horror movie plot, with the "monster" becoming a rapper instead of a mindless killing machine. The song also references Bobby Pickett's previous hit song "Monster Mash," in which the lyrics also depicted a mad scientist creating a monster.
Line by Line Meaning
Still working in the lab, late these nights
I'm working in the lab until late at night.
My eyes grown used to eerie sights
I'm accustomed to strange and frightening things.
I′ve created a monster who can dance and walk
I've made a monster with the ability to dance and walk.
But I couldn't teach him how to talk
Unfortunately, I couldn't teach him how to speak.
My faithful assistant, that hunchback fool
Igor is my loyal but physically flawed helper.
Who wastes his time in DJ school
He's been wasting his time attending DJ school.
Said, "Master, get hip! Don′t be a sap!
He told me to become cool and not be ignorant.
Teach the creature to Monster Rap!"
Teach the creature how to rap in the monster style.
You gotta- shock the body
You need to shock the body.
Shock the body body
Zap the body with electricity continually.
Shock... RRRRRR!
Zap... with a loud noise.
Because I just want to hear him speak
I just wish to hear him speak.
And tonight the storm will reach it's peak
The storm is reaching its climax tonight.
Connect electrodes, turn on the power
Attach the electrodes and turn on the power.
We operate within the hour
We will do it within an hour
The kites went up without a hitch
Everything worked fine with the kites.
Then Igor screamed, "I′ll pull the switch!"
Igor exclaimed that he would pull the switch.
The bolt came down, his head went zap
The bolt descended, and his head sizzled.
Now he′s doing the Monster Rap
Now, he is rapping like a monster.
I've given you a voice, now rap for Daddy.
Since I gave you a voice, please rap for me.
Well, they shot a million volts into my brain
They electrified my brain with a million volts.
Now I′m ready to rap like a runaway train
I'm ready to rap uncontrollably.
If you get in my way, we're bound to clash
If you confront me, we'll get into a fight.
′Cause I'm the same dude that did the Monster Mash
I am the one who made the classic hit - Monster Mash.
So we invited the zombies, creeps, and ghouls
We invited the undead, strange people, and devils.
And turned them into rapping fools
We made them into foolish rappers.
Drac woke up from his nap and said,
Drac woke up and spoke after his slumber.
"Teach me how to Monster Rap!"
Teach me how to rap like a monster!
Igor, you fool!
Igor, you are a fool!
"He's breaking loose!
The monster is escaping!
We've reached a goal
Our goal has been accomplished.
Undreamed of by science!
Science couldn't even dream of this!
Listen, he′s going to rap again...
Listen, he's going to rap again.
I got bolts in my neck, a flattop head
I have bolts in my neck, and my head is flat.
Y′see I can break rappers down to tears
I can make rappers cry.
'Cause I′ve been monster rappin' for a hundred years
Because I have been rapping like a monster for a century.
They all light up the torches,
They all light up torches.
Chase me through the town
They pursue me in the city.
"Can't stop the rappin′ now...
I cannot stop rapping now...
Strap him down, Igor
Tie him down with the straps, Igor.
He must be heavily sedated
He must be sedated heavily.
"RRRRRRRR!"
Grrrrrr!
Oh, shut up!
Oh, be quiet!
Contributed by Charlotte Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.