Monophonics were formed in 2005; originally a instrumental ensemble comprised of guitarist Ian McDonald, bassist Myles O’Mahony, saxophonist Alex Baky, trumpeter Ryan Scott, and drummer Austin Bohlman, the band has recently added the dynamic soul vocals of keyboardist Kelly Finnigan. The result is a psychedelic soul & heavy funk sound, which harks back to the stylings of the late 60’s and early 70’s, all while keeping its feet planted in the present.
As a mainstay of San Francisco venues such as The Independent, Brick and Mortar & Boom Boom Room, the Monophonics have created a national buzz and fervent local following, sharing the stage & bill with such names as The Budos Band, Orgone, Lonnie Smith, Kings Go Forth, Soulive, and many many more. Their touring schedule has brought their signature rowdy, hard-hitting live set to over 400 dates from California up to Motown and down to Louisiana establishing themselves as yearly residents at the legendary New Orleans Jazz Festival. The band has also played some of the major music festivals on the west coast including High Sierra, Joshua Tree, Blacksheep Family Reunion, and Las Tortugas.
Already in 2012 the band has signed on with top booking agency Intrepid Artists Int’l and has seen their touring schedule triple fast and has helped get them get in big festivals like Wakarusa in Arkansas and the Portland Waterfront Blues Fest in Oregon. Other big news in 2012 is the bands new record In Your Brain which was released and distributed worldwide May 15, 2012 by legendary label Ubiquity Records (Orgone, Shawn Lee, Breakestra, Connie Price, & The Keystones). It was recorded & produced by Ian McDonald and Kelly Finnigan in San Francisco and was mixed by Sergio Rios from ORGONE at Killion Sound in LA. With a transformation of the group in the last 18 months, they have matured and found our own sound. This new record sits on the fuzzy psychedelic side of Soul and Heavy Funk! Taking a cue from their San Francisco roots and greats like Norman Whitfield, George Clinton's Funkadelic, David Axelrod, and Sly Stone, the group has found their path which has taken on a direction that focuses on great tones using analog equipment, a simpler and more spontaneous songwriting approach and trying to always catch a vibe that brings back thoughts of the 1969 psychedelic movement!
Foolish Love
Monophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We rode on horses made of sticks
He wore black and I wore white
He would always win the fight
Bang bang, she shot you down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Seasons came and changed the time
When I grew up, I called him mine
He would always laugh and say
Remember when we used to play?
Bang bang, she shot you down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down.
Oh my baby
She shot me down
Now she's gone, I don't know why
I didn't even say goodbye
Oh sometimes I see him crying
didn't have the time to lie.
Bang bang, she shot you down
Bang bang, I hit the ground
Bang bang, that awful sound
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Oh She shot me down
Bang Bang
Oh I hit the ground
Bang Bang
Bang Bang
The Monophonics’ song “Foolish Love” is a poignant depiction of lost love and nostalgic memories. The song opens with a description of a childhood crush, with the singer reminiscing about playful horse rides and innocent competition. The lyrics then shift to a darker tone with the repetition of “Bang bang, she shot you down” - this line serves as a metaphor for the abrupt and painful ending of a relationship. The tone of the song is melancholic, with the singer reflecting on a love that seems to have been reckless and short-lived.
As the song continues, the lyrics turn back to happier memories, with the singer recalling the time when they were finally able to be together. However, this happiness is short-lived, as the lyrics reveal that the relationship eventually fell apart. The final lines of the song express regret and sorrow over the lost love, with the singer acknowledging that they didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye.
What makes this song so powerful is that the lyrics are simultaneously nostalgic and tragic. The contrast between the joyful memories of the past and the painful ending of the relationship highlights the complexity of love and the inevitable pain that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was five and he was six
The singer is reminiscing about a childhood memory when she and a boy would play together.
We rode on horses made of sticks
The two children used their imagination to have fun by pretending to ride horses made of sticks.
He wore black and I wore white
The singer and the boy had opposite outfits when they played together, with the boy wearing black and the girl wearing white.
He would always win the fight
The boy always came out victorious when they played fight games.
Bang bang, she shot you down
The singer is now describing a sad event where her lover shot her down with a gun.
Bang bang, I hit the ground
The singer fell to the ground after being shot by her lover.
Bang bang, that awful sound
The sound of the gunshot was terrible and sent the singer falling to the ground in pain.
Bang bang, my baby shot me down.
The singer repeats that her lover, her 'baby,' shot her down with a gun.
Seasons came and changed the time
Time passed, and the seasons changed. The singer is referring to the progression of time after the traumatic event.
When I grew up, I called him mine
As the singer grew older, she and the boy she played with in her childhood became romantically involved. The 'He' from the first verse is now her lover.
He would always laugh and say
Even after their innocent past, the boy still had a playful demeanor and made the singer laugh by reminiscing about their childhood memories.
Remember when we used to play?
The boy would bring up their happy memories of playing together as children.
Oh my baby
The singer refers to her lover as 'my baby,' indicating strong feelings of love and affection.
She shot me down
The singer reiterates that her lover shot her down with a gun.
Now she's gone, I don't know why
The singer is reflecting on the loss of her lover and the confusion surrounding why they would do such a thing to her.
I didn't even say goodbye
The singer is filled with regret that she never had a chance to say goodbye to her lover before they were gone forever.
Oh sometimes I see him crying
Even though her lover is the one who hurt her, the singer sympathizes and sometimes sees him crying over their shared memories.
Didn't have the time to lie
The singer reflects on the fact that the events surrounding her lover's shooting left no time for lies or deception.
Oh She shot me down
The singer reiterates that her lover, the one she referred to as 'my baby,' shot her down with a gun.
Bang Bang
The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the tragic and violent ending to the singer's relationship.
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@forisbanmedia
I feel your touch, but you've been gone some time
I see your face, but that's only in my mind
So I do what I can, just to get you back
Cause just can't shake the you so get my life on track
Oh my my, I miss you so much
and the way you held me tight
Oh why why, is it so tough?
Cause I can't seem to break away from your foolish love
Oh you got me where you want me
Oh I can't stop this feeling
I'm just a fool for you woman
These games got me dizzy
Girl I won't down
I can't take anymore of this love merry-go-round
I don't know what else to do, just to get you back
Cause you don't love me no more and that's a fact
Oh my my, I miss you so much
And the way you held me tight
Oh why why, is it so tough?
Cause I can't seem to break away from your foolish love
Oh you got me where you want me
Oh I can't stop this feeling
Oh I'm just a fool for you baby
And you got me where you want me
No I can't stop this feeling
I'm just a fool for you woman
No I can't help my heart, no no See how I'm doing with you and I'm groovin' on
I've had enough of heartbreak for far too long
but no man would ???
Even in fifty years it's quite the choice I've made
Oh my my, I miss you so much
And the way you held me tight
Oh why why, is it so tough?
Cause I can't seem to break away from your foolish love
Oh you got me where you want me
Oh I can't stop this feeling
I'm a fool for you baby
Yeah you got me where you want me
No I can't stop this feeling I got
I'm a fool for you honey baby
Ain't nothing gon' help my heart, no no
@phunkeehone
I'm too young to have experienced the 70's (born in 82), but I grew up with music from the 60's and 70's.
And this make me think about my dad's vinyl collection, and made me wish I had seen the 70's.
That funky, groovy sound.
Damn good!
@chouchenejawhar
10 year later, still a monumental song
@FaustoIntilla
With this sound you back straight to 70s...I thought they were a band of 70's, till I went into wikipedia: formed in 2005! ...amazing group!
@Tomsuth
I did the same... I think that is credit to the band for sure!
@autumnsiler1137
Same!!!!
@ibreakandskate
Glad I found this band
@DJZofPCB
His voice resonates the lyrics lived, and it's him on keys!! Indeed
@joannietrotter2344
Can't get enough of this band at the moment. Love it!
@venzore
Kim wild
@johnnygreeneyesluciano3947
so official!!! just saw them perform at the water street music hall in rochester ny they left me speechless and we enjoyed a few drinks!! Monophonics keep it up !! timeless music!