Though his name is sometimes assumed to be a pseudonym due to its similarity to German composer Kurt Weill, it is in fact his birth name, as given by his parents Donna and Charles Vile.
Vile began his musical career in 2003 creating lo-fi home recordings with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel. The duo subsequently formed the indie rock band The War on Drugs in 2005. Vile departed following the release of their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008.
Vile's music has been likened to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty. His first album for Matador, titled Childish Prodigy was released in October 2009. Prior to signing with Matador, Vile released two albums, God Is Saying This To You and Constant Hitmaker, on Mexican Summer and Woodsist, respectively. He plays both solo shows as well as shows with a backing band called The Violators.
Smoke Ring For My Halo, released in March of 2011, is Kurt Vile's fourth album and second official release for Matador Records. Uncut placed the album at number 14 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" and garnered Vile the iTunes #Rewind2011 Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year. Vile followed up the widely acclaimed album with the six-song EP release, So Outta Reach, in November of the same year. The EP was composed of tracks originating from the same sessions that birthed Smoke Ring for My Halo. So Outta Reach includes the single 'The Creature', acknowledged as one of Vile's best, and a driving rock cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'Downbound Train'.
Monkey
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born when I met you
If you don't mind now would
I lie could I get you to redesign
And redeliver me again
I'll be your baby
And I'll be your father
Won't be no bother
Just born in autumn
Came and I am here
I see you saw me
In the mirror in half
It's so exciting that we both
Just laugh and laugh
The other night you were away
I missed you so bad
I found me doing something
Desperate, I was so sad
I swear I held my own hand
Pretending it was yours
Oh, my monkey love is funny
When it's so strong
It's so strong and it goes on
For so, so long
And it's long and strong
And funny and it pours
The song "Monkey" by Kurt Vile appears to be about a deep and enduring love. The opening lines suggest that meeting this person changed the singer's life in a significant way and he now wants to be "redesigned and redelivered" by them. This may refer to a desire to become a better version of himself, inspired by the love and support of his partner. "I'll be your baby / And I'll be your father / Your little brother / Won't be no bother" - these lines suggest that the relationship is nurturing and caring, that his partner serves as a source of guidance and support for him, and that the singer is willing to play different roles in the relationship. The mention of autumn as the season of his birth may symbolize a new beginning.
The stanza about the singer seeing himself and his partner in the mirror is intriguing - it suggests a deep connection and soulmate-like understanding between the two, expressed through humor and mutual enjoyment. However, the following lines about missing the partner and holding his own hand in desperation suggest a darker and more vulnerable side of the singer, indicating that the love he feels is not without challenges and difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, my darling
Addressing a loved one
I was born when I met you
Meeting the loved one gave the singer a new lease on life
If you don't mind now would
Asking for permission
I lie could I get you to redesign
Asking loved one to change speaker's life for the better
And redeliver me again
Asking for a fresh start
I'll be your baby
Offering to be the loved one's partner
And I'll be your father
Offering to take care of the loved one
Your little brother
Offering to be company
Won't be no bother
Assuring that it will not cause any trouble
Just born in autumn
Speaker was born in autumn
Came and I am here
The singer is present due to the loved one
I see you saw me
Noting a mutual glance
In the mirror in half
Details of the mutual glance
It's so exciting that we both
The mutual glance produced excitement for both parties
Just laugh and laugh
They laughed together
The other night you were away
When the loved one was not present
I missed you so bad
The artist yearned for the loved one's presence
I found me doing something
Speaker did something unexpected when lonely
Desperate, I was so sad
The singer was in a negative emotional state
I swear I held my own hand
Speaker was looking for comfort
Pretending it was yours
Finding comfort in the idea of the loved one being present
Oh, my monkey love is funny
Describing the unique nature of the love between the artist and loved one
When it's so strong
Despite being unique, the love between the singer and loved one is strong
It's so strong and it goes on
The strength of the love between the artist and loved one persists
For so, so long
The love between the singer and loved on has lasted a long time
And it's long and strong
The love remaining persistent and durable
And funny and it pours
Further emphasizing the unique yet strong nature of the love between the singer and loved one
Writer(s): Kurt Samuel Vile Copyright: Mattitude Music LLC
Contributed by Mateo F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gren Marton
on Wheelhouse
Sometimes I talk too much but I gotta get it out
But I don’t wanna talk, I only wanna listen
My baby talks soft, my ears are always ringing now
Humming a sad song when I’m alone
But you gotta be alone to figure things out sometimes
Be alone, when even in a crowd of friends and not so
Sometimes of whom you just can’t distinguish but
Thank god for the former, yeah
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside
There’s a desert down below the earth’s core
A hidden staircase in the house that you reside in
A little something from the cupboard over there
A little medicine, it’s a medication situation
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside