Malay, producer of the song, answered this on a Reddit AMA:
"Intro to monks was done all with arturia stuff and a moog voyager"
“Monks” is, among other things, about Frank’s relationship with a series of women attending his concerts. He positions each concert as a religious experience. Worship is baked into the text of “Monks.” Frank is on a literal pedestal: the stage. The women of the track are inclined to see him as holier than, simply because he is an artist. And as Frank alludes (“African girl speaks in English accent / Likes to fuck boys in bands”), the women of the track are no strangers to this exchange of energy. Power imbalances aside, “Monks” rests on the power of lust. Frank is forthright about the sex: “Likes to watch Westerns / And ride me without the hands.” But it is within the subtext of “Monks” that we find our meaning. That is, we discover “Monks” is a warning on the perils of worship through the lens of lust.
For one, the mention of “Westerns” sets us up to understand the dynamic of groupie and artist and as an indictment of American ideals. Our society is responsible for propping Frank up on his pedestal simply because we see him on the stage. Capitalism has manufactured the cult of celebrity to sell us the narrative the talented are inherently better than us. True, Frank is using sex instead of sales, but in a nation where sex and money are linked in more ways than one, we’re not exactly stretching our reading.
Monks
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stage diving sky diver
Spray the crowd with cold water
Now its mosh pits and wet tits
I think I need a cold shower
Cool waters
African girl speaks in English accent
Likes to fuck boys in bands
And ride me without the hands
Show me her passport
She's on her own tour
But you're beautiful to me
Wave 'em high girl to the sky
But you're beautiful to me
We're in the clouds
Wave 'em high girl to the sky
But you're beautiful to me
Life in the clouds
Keep em high y'all
Beautiful stars
In the sky
Monks in the mosh pit
Stage diving Dahli Lama
Feet covered in cut flowers
They mosh for enlightenment
Clean chakra good karma
One with the water
Indian girl sleeps above the temple
Planning a run away young at heart
You found a boyfriend
And now you wanna get away, get away
Just a virgin lover on a getaway, get away
And at sunset they're gonna try and get away, get away
Abhaya Mudra
I never ask for much
But please keep up lover
We've got no choices left
The running's fast
Run run run run
You're beautiful to me
Run run run run you'd better run
You mean so much to me
In my world, in my world
We made it safely
Even with your father's army trailing us
We escaped him
Even with his archer's bows at our backs
What a great escape
But there's a long way still in fact
We're lost in a jungle underneath these clouds
There's a monsoon that never ends
A coke white tiger woke us from our slumber
To guide and protect us til the end
We're in the clouds
Wave 'em high now, to the sky
But you're beautiful to me
Keep em high y'all, show you right
But you're beautiful to me
Beautiful
In Frank Ocean's song Monks, the lyrics describe a scene of a lively concert with mosh pits, stage diving, and spraying the crowd with water. The artist captures the energy and adrenaline of the moment by describing wet shirts, the need for a cold shower, and the beauty of the crowd cheering and waving their arms in the air. The lyrics then shift to introduce an African girl who speaks English and is attracted to musicians, loves westerns, and enjoys being in control in sexual situations. The song continues with a reference to a group of Monks in the mosh pit, moshing for enlightenment and good karma, accompanied by an Indian girl sleeping above the temple. The song ultimately ends on a note of escape, with the line "We're in the clouds" describing a new beginning and a renewed sense of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Mosh pits and bare chest
People are moshing and dancing energetically with their bare chest exposed
Stage diving sky diver
Someone is leaping from the stage and crowd surfing like a skydiver
Spray the crowd with cold water
Water is being sprayed on the crowd to cool them down
Now its mosh pits and wet tits
People are still moshing, but now their shirts are wet and see-through
I think I need a cold shower
The singer is feeling hot and bothered and needs to cool off
Cool waters
The singer is longing for a refreshing body of water
African girl speaks in English accent
An African girl is speaking with an English accent
Likes to fuck boys in bands
The girl enjoys having sex with guys in bands
Likes to watch westerns
The girl enjoys watching western movies
And ride me without the hands
The girl enjoys having sex with the singer without using her hands
Show me her passport
The singer is asking to see the girl's passport
She's on her own tour
The girl is traveling on her own tour and is not interested in a long-term relationship
But you're beautiful to me
The singer finds someone beautiful despite their flaws
Wave 'em high girl to the sky
The singer encourages someone to raise their hands up high to the sky
We're in the clouds
The singer feels like they are in the clouds and on top of the world
Life in the clouds
The artist reflects on the allure of living high above everyone else
Keep em high y'all
The artist is encouraging everyone to keep their hands raised high
Beautiful stars in the sky
The singer compares the people in the crowd to beautiful stars in the sky
Monks in the mosh pit
Monks are seen participating in the mosh pit dancing
Stage diving Dahli Lama
A person dressed as the Dalai Lama dives into the crowd from the stage
Feet covered in cut flowers
People have decorated their feet with cut flowers
They mosh for enlightenment
People are moshing and dancing to find inner peace and enlightenment
Clean chakra good karma
The people dancing are cleansing their chakras and generating good karma
One with the water
The artist feels connected to the water around them
Indian girl sleeps above the temple
An Indian girl is sleeping on the roof of the temple
Planning a run away young at heart
The girl is planning to run away from home because she is young and adventurous
You found a boyfriend
The girl has found a boyfriend
And now you wanna get away, get away
Despite having a boyfriend, the girl still wants to get away
Just a virgin lover on a getaway, get away
The girl is still young and inexperienced but wants to go on a getaway
And at sunset they're gonna try and get away, get away
The girl and her boyfriend plan to run away together at sunset
Abhaya Mudra
A hand gesture that represents fearlessness and protection from fear
I never ask for much
The artist is not demanding much from anyone
But please keep up lover
The artist is asking their lover to keep up with them
We've got no choices left
The artist feels like they have run out of options
The running's fast
The pace is getting faster
Run run run run
The artist is urging someone to run faster
You're beautiful to me
The singer finds someone beautiful despite their flaws
Run run run run you'd better run
The singer is urging someone to run away faster and not be caught
You mean so much to me
The singer cares deeply for someone
We made it safely
The artist and others have safely escaped from danger
Even with your father's army trailing us
The artist and others are being pursued by the father's army
We escaped him
The singer and others have successfully escaped the father's army
Even with his archer's bows at our backs
The father's army is still threatening them with arrows
What a great escape
The artist is reflecting on their successful escape and feeling relieved
But there's a long way still in fact
There is still a long journey ahead before they reach safety
We're lost in a jungle underneath these clouds
The artist is lost in a jungle and surrounded by clouds
There's a monsoon that never ends
It is raining heavily and without end
A coke white tiger woke us from our slumber
They have been startled awake by a white tiger
To guide and protect us til the end
The tiger is protecting and guiding them to safety
Wave 'em high now, to the sky
The singer is encouraging everyone to raise their hands high to the sky
Keep em high y'all, show you right
The singer is encouraging everyone to keep their hands raised high and be proud of who they are
Beautiful
The artist finds everything around them beautiful
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: James Ryan Wuihun Ho, Christopher Breaux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
900533356.+6
++6
5.33.*9
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
Introductory line, no real meaning behind it.
Every day is unpredictable, and we have no control over it.
No matter how hard we try, the future is always uncertain and out of our control.
The environment is always changing, and we can only adapt to the changes.
No matter the circumstances, life will always be what it is.
Our experiences in life shape us and influence how we react to certain situations.
Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and face your adversity head-on.
Life can be slow and monotonous, but it's important to keep moving forward.
Sometimes we wish things were different, but we have to work with what we have.
Change is constant and inevitable, and we must adapt accordingly.
We are confined to our natural surroundings and must find ways to thrive within them.
I will be there for you and remain reliable through thick and thin.
Stay calm and composed when things are going well.
I will not abandon you when things fall apart.
I learned how to remain dependable and support others from your example.
My upbringing and past taught me how to love and connect with others.
There is a power or higher force that we cannot control but can find solace in.
I have respect and admiration for the person who has influenced me so deeply.
Things will become easier once we've overcome certain obstacles.
In the aftermath of a disaster or tragedy.
Referring to the black community and the beauty of darker skin tones.
Going underwater.
Represents makeshift arrangements that still offer a sense of stability.
Taking risks and enjoying life, despite the danger.
The inspiration and influence of those older and more experienced than us.
An allusion to reincarnation, a second chance starting over.
Coming back to the surface after experiencing hardship.
Showing gratitude for the world that has allowed us to survive and thrive.
Being thankful for everything that we have and acknowledging our place in the universe.
Our environment and experiences offer an opportunity to learn and grow in order to survive.
We must persevere even when things get tough.
Reflecting on our lives and past experiences.
Referring to the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood.
Giving a shout-out to friends or individuals who have impacted their life.
Acknowledging people they love or admire.
Showing appreciation for the promise of eternal life or a legacy that will live on after death.
Preparing to take action, possibly to run or escape.
Trying to escape the pain and hardship of life through various vices or addictions.
Engaging in reckless behavior or coping through unhealthy means.
Looking for comfort or pleasure in the face of adversity.
Jokingly considering the benefits of eternal life or a lasting legacy.
Accepting that life, with all its joys and hardships, is finite and will eventually end.