Though born in Dayton, Ohio, Barlow was raised in Jackson, Michigan and then Westfield, Massachusetts. He is widely considered to be among the most prolific and ground-breaking indie musicians of the 1990's. He's best known for his work with Sebadoh, The Folk Implosion and Dinosaur Jr.'s original and current lineup. Many labels have been applied to his unique brand of acoustic rock, including lo-fi, folk-pop and folkcore. Barlow's latest album, his second official solo effort under his own name, is titled Goodnight unknown.
Monkey Begun
Lou Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I monkey, am I man?
One finger holding back the dam
Confusion was alright, until it kept me up at night
Heavy breathing ok, until you took my breath away
Now I feel like I've just begun
I feel I've just begun
I feel I've just be.. feel I've just begun
Am I ever overconfident?
Have I ever been untrue?
I've been over and under and through
Nothing much at all, oh there's so much more to do
Now I feel like I've just begun
I feel I've just begun
There's no hurry, no race to run
I feel I've just be.. life has just begun
Something ended, before it ended
(Feel a sunset in your eyes)
We're alright
The song "Monkey Begun" by Lou Barlow is a reflection on the internal battle between reason and impulse. The lyrics convey the idea that we all have an animalistic nature that we must learn to tame in order to achieve balance and control. The opening line "For balance and control, a battle rages in my soul" suggests that the struggle for self-control is ongoing and never-ending. Barlow then poses the rhetorical question "Am I monkey, am I man?" to explore the blurred line between our primal and rational selves.
The second verse touches on the consequences of giving in to impulsive behavior. "Confusion was alright, until it kept me up at night. Heavy breathing ok, until you took my breath away." Here, Barlow portrays confusion and heavy breathing as instinctual reactions that are harmless until they escalate and become overwhelming. The bridge of the song ("Now I feel like I've just begun... There's no worry, we're all undone") represents a moment of clarity for the singer. He feels as though he has just figured out how to manage his impulses and live life to its fullest.
"Monkey Begun" is a raw and authentic song that highlights the artist's talent for insight into the human experience. Lou Barlow's unique perspective and personal struggles with addiction and mental health make this song all the more poignant and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
For balance and control, a battle rages in my soul
I am struggling to find an equilibrium in my life and it's causing a conflict within me.
Am I monkey, am I man?
I question my identity and whether I am more animalistic or more human.
One finger holding back the dam
I feel like I am barely keeping myself together and holding back a flood of emotions with just one finger.
Confusion was alright, until it kept me up at night
Being confused was okay until it started to impact my sleep and well-being.
Heavy breathing ok, until you took my breath away
I was alright with heavy breathing until someone took my breath away, making me feel overwhelmed and anxious.
Now I feel like I've just begun
I feel I've just begun
There's no worry, we're all undone
I feel I've just be.. feel I've just begun
I feel like I am just getting started in life, but that's okay because we are all unfinished and always moving forward.
Am I ever overconfident?
Have I ever been untrue?
I've been over and under and through
Nothing much at all, oh there's so much more to do
I question if my confidence is justified and wonder if I've ever been dishonest. Despite my experiences, I still feel like I have a long way to go and much to learn.
There's no hurry, no race to run
I remind myself that there's no need to rush through life, and I am not in competition with anyone.
Something ended, before it ended
(Feel a sunset in your eyes)
We're alright
Although something may have ended before it was supposed to, we are still okay, and I can see the beauty in things, like a sunset in someone's eyes.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
flasholicious
saw him yesterday at festsaalkreuzberg, berlin -the last show of his eurotour. tempting and brilliant. for me, he is definitly one of the best. I kind of belive his words and his performance appears very authentic. no drama. just pure as it sometimes feels for everyone of us, I guess.
beautifulherrlich
I´ve never heard from Lou Barlow before, but now he play next week in Cologene... I will be there for sure !!! He is now one of my best musicans!
ludvik199t
this versíon is soo good :) Lou is great :D
Montivagant One
wow, thank you for sharing this!
thebalance888
WHAT ALBUM IS THIS FROM? plz let me kno, this is a cool tune THANX for bringing it here : - ) Peace and Love to ALL
Shayu
probably just a separate microphone hooked up to an effect pedal, either that or some odd megaphone.
Colm McDonnell
Can anyone post 'forever instant'? I cant find it anywhere.....
Kindrid Parker
Jesus Buddha! I'm so sorry. This is the first I've seen of this Fox Rox thing so I must post another comment. Okay, so dig his playing that Am I monkey or man? song with its connotations: divinity vs. evolution. Way to be poignant and unsaid. Does anyone get that the orgiginal Sebadoh line-up reunited and played Noise Pop? Why aren't there floods of videos?
thebalance888
Thanku BNM :-)
BigNoseMusic
from EMOH