Monks are a rock n roll band, primarily active in Germany in the mid to late sixties. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made. The Monks stood out from the music of the time, and have developed a cult following amongst many musicians and music fans. One band to have acknowledged The Monks is The Fall who covered Shut Up (Shut Up) on their 1994 album Middle Class Revolt, and both I Hate You and Oh, How To Do Now on their 1990 album Extricate.
All the members were American GIs stationed in Germany in the mid-sixties. They began playing together in 1964, calling themselves the Torquays. The Torquays differed little from countless other bands of the time: they covered Chuck Berry songs and played music inspired by the British Invasion bands. But the band experimented together musically - Gary Burger said:
"It probably took us a year to get the sound right. We experimented all the time. A lot of the experiments were total failures and some of the songs we worked on were terrible. But the ones we kept felt like they had something special to them. And they became more defined over time."
And upon their discharge from the army the band had an extremely distinctive musical style, and took up a distinctive name and image to go with it. At the beginning of 1965, Dave Day and Roger Johnston, on a whim, got their heads shaved into monks' tonsures. The rest of the band followed their lead, and to complete the image, the band took to wearing a uniform - all black, sometimes in cassocks, with nooses worn as neckties. Eddie Shaw later claimed in his band autobiography "Black Monk Time" that the nooses were symbolic of the metaphorical nooses that all humanity wear. His explanation of the symbolism is unclear and confusing, but regardless, dressed as black monks, The Monks undoubtedly made a shocking visual impression.
Shut up
Monks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a fool among foxes
Holdin' Debbie in my arms I though it'd never change
Walkin' through the park and we felt something strange
All she ever wanted was to sing in tune
Now the spring has come and it is early June
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
Lovin' every time he stops to be alone
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
Packin' Debbie's stuff in boxes cause she's moving home
And I don't even care because I'm better off alone
All I ever wanted was to tell the truth
Now I know that that's impossible in youth
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
Lovin' every time I get to be alone
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
The lyrics of Monk's song "Shut Up" appear to be about a breakup and the difficulties of communication in a relationship. The singer seems to be addressing someone else, referred to as "kid," telling them to be quiet and stop talking. The phrase "fool among foxes" is used to describe this person, indicating that they are out of place or naive. The singer then goes on to reminisce about a past relationship with a woman named Debbie, which has now ended and she is moving out. The singer reflects on how they both had different aspirations, with Debbie wanting to sing and the singer wanting to tell the truth. However, their youthful naivety prevented them from achieving these goals, and they are now left alone.
The line "runnin' from the man with a megaphone" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the pressures of society and not wanting to conform to expectations. The singer is "lovin' every time he stops to be alone," indicating a desire for solitude and introspection. The repeated phrase "shut the hell up kid" could be seen as the singer projecting their own insecurities and frustrations onto someone else, as they are unable to effectively communicate their feelings to those around them. The final lines of the song, "I didn't mean to be what you wanted/I didn't mean to be where you been," could be interpreted as a self-reflective admission of fault and regret over the failed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Shut the hell up kid
Be quiet and stop talking, you are acting foolish among others who are more cunning in their words and actions.
You're a fool among foxes
You are not as intelligent as those around you, who are sly and able to deceive others easily.
Holdin' Debbie in my arms I though it'd never change
I once held my significant other, Debbie, close to me and felt like our relationship would never falter or come to an end.
Walkin' through the park and we felt something strange
As we were strolling through the park, we sensed that something was different or off about the environment around us.
All she ever wanted was to sing in tune
Debbie's desires were simple, as she only wished to be in harmony with herself and her surroundings, possibly through music.
Now the spring has come and it is early June
The season has changed, and it is now early June, representing a new beginning or fresh start.
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
I am escaping the authority figure who wields a megaphone, possibly representing an oppressive force or individual.
Lovin' every time he stops to be alone
I find enjoyment in moments where the aforementioned authority figure leaves me alone or is occupied elsewhere.
Keep your voice down
Lower your speaking volume, as to not cause unwanted attention or confrontation.
Or I'll kick you around
If you do not comply with what I am asking, I may resort to physical violence to assert my dominance or authority.
Packin' Debbie's stuff in boxes cause she's moving home
Debbie is packing her belongings into boxes to relocate to her home, representing the end of our relationship.
And I don't even care because I'm better off alone
I am indifferent towards Debbie's departure as I feel that I am better off without her presence in my life.
All I ever wanted was to tell the truth
My desire was to always be honest, and speak the truth regardless of consequences and obstacles.
Now I know that that's impossible in youth
Realizing that speaking the truth at a young age can be difficult, and may not always be possible to do so.
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I did not intend to be the person that you desired or expected me to be.
I didn't mean to be where you been
My presence or words were not my intention to reflect or intersect with the people or places in which you interacted with.
You're a fool among foxes
You are not as intelligent as those around you, who are sly and able to deceive others easily.
Shut the hell up kid
Be quiet and stop talking, you are acting foolish among others who are more cunning in their words and actions.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Michael DiBiase, Samuel Sullivan-Moore, Zebadiah Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind