Up & Down
Millenium Lyrics


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The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air
The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now, listen, Jack
Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Ain't no use in divin'. What's the use of jivin'?
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top"
The buzzard told the monkey, "You're choking me
Release your hold and I'll set you free"
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
"Your story's touching, but is sounds like a lie"




Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Millenium's song "Up & Down" contain a reference to the classic jazz song "Straighten Up and Fly Right" by Nat King Cole. The lyrics describe a scenario where a buzzard takes a monkey for a ride and tries to throw him off his back. The monkey responds by grabbing the buzzard's neck and telling him to "straighten up and fly right". This phrase is repeated several times throughout the song as a metaphor for staying on the right path and not getting distracted by temptation or negative influences.


The buzzard and monkey in the song can be seen as symbolic figures representing the struggle between good and evil or right and wrong. The monkey's ability to hold onto the buzzard and force him to listen to reason can be seen as a victory for the moral code of the song. The overall message of the song is one of self-discipline and self-control, urging the listener to resist the temptation to give in to negative influences and instead choose the right path.


Overall, the lyrics of Millenium's song "Up & Down" can be interpreted as a modern take on the classic jazz standard "Straighten Up and Fly Right", using metaphor and symbolism to convey a message of self-discipline and staying on the right path.


Line by Line Meaning

The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air
The buzzard deceived the monkey by offering to take him for a ride


The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The monkey believed that everything was fair and honest


The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The buzzard attempted to betray the monkey by removing him from his back


The monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now, listen, Jack
The monkey took action to protect himself by grabbing the buzzard's neck and giving him a warning


Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and fly right
The monkey advised the buzzard to behave well and fly straight


Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
The monkey encouraged the buzzard to calm down and not get angry


Ain't no use in divin'. What's the use of jivin'?
The monkey questioned the buzzard's motives and asked why he bothered to deceive him


The buzzard told the monkey, "You're choking me
The buzzard claimed that the monkey was causing him trouble


Release your hold and I'll set you free"
The buzzard tried to negotiate with the monkey by promising to let him go if he let him go first


The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
The monkey stood firm and confronted the buzzard directly


"Your story's touching, but is sounds like a lie"
The monkey didn't believe the buzzard's story and accused him of lying


Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and stay right
The monkey repeated his advice to the buzzard to behave properly and fly straight


Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
The monkey again urged the buzzard to calm down and not lose his temper




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills, Nat King Cole

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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