Jimmy Down The Well
Monkey Swallows the Universe Lyrics


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In a garden that was once so neat, there's an old well where I take my seat
One day I found that I was not alone – Jimmy had fallen into the well!

Well I'm not sorry that you fell
Give me your hand, Jimmy down the well
Never forget I was the one Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy

You must be legally mine cos I saved you
You'd have been dead and I'd be without you
Now you'll come everywhere I go
Or you're going back – back in the well, Jimmy!

Well I'm not sorry that you fell




Give me your hand, Jimmy down the well
Never forget I was the one Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy

Overall Meaning

The Monkey Swallows the Universe's song "Jimmy Down the Well" is a darkly humorous tale about a person who falls into a well and finds a companion in the form of Jimmy. The well is located in a garden that "was once so neat" but has now been neglected. The singer of the song uses the situation to their advantage, proclaiming that Jimmy is now "legally mine" because they saved him from the well. The singer insists that Jimmy should never forget that they were the one who rescued him and that he must come with them everywhere they go. The song closes with a veiled threat - if Jimmy doesn't obey, he'll be sent back into the well.


The lyrics of the song can be interpreted in a number of ways. Some listeners may interpret it as a commentary on the way some people can become possessive and controlling in relationships, while others may read it as a metaphor for the way people can become trapped in toxic situations. The cheerful melody and upbeat tempo of the song contrast with the dark, twisted subject matter, creating an unsettling atmosphere that is sure to stick with listeners long after the song has ended.


Line by Line Meaning

In a garden that was once so neat, there's an old well where I take my seat
There is a garden that used to be beautiful and orderly, but now there is an old well where I like to sit.


One day I found that I was not alone – Jimmy had fallen into the well!
While sitting by the well one day, I discovered that Jimmy had fallen in and was trapped inside.


Well I'm not sorry that you fell
I don't feel bad about you falling into the well.


Give me your hand, Jimmy down the well
I am reaching out my hand to help Jimmy out of the well.


Never forget I was the one Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy
I want Jimmy to remember that I am the one who saved him from the well.


You must be legally mine cos I saved you
Since I saved Jimmy's life, he legally belongs to me.


You'd have been dead and I'd be without you
If I had not saved Jimmy, he would have died and I would have been without him.


Now you'll come everywhere I go
From now on, Jimmy will follow me wherever I go.


Or you're going back – back in the well, Jimmy!
If Jimmy does not come with me, he will be sent back into the well.




Contributed by Claire T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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