Freelon had a part in the Mel Gibson movie What Women Want.
Straighten Up And Fly Right
Nnenna Freelon Lyrics
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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"
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
The lyrics of Nnenna Freelon's "Straighten Up And Fly Right" use animal personifications in order to impart valuable life lessons. The story is about a buzzard that takes a monkey for a ride in the air. The monkey assumes that everything is okay until the buzzard tries to shake him off his back. The monkey responds with a cool head and tells the buzzard to straighten up and fly right. The monkey explains to the buzzard that there's no use in panicking and that they should fly calmly. The buzzard eventually agrees to take the monkey wherever he wants to go, and the song concludes with the monkey reminding the buzzard to stay on course.
A possible interpretation of this song is that it's a metaphor for life. The monkey represents a person trying to navigate through life, while the buzzard symbolizes the challenges and obstacles that people face in their lives. The monkey's advice to the buzzard to straighten up and fly right, remain calm, and don't panic can be applied to any situation in life. The song has a timeless quality to it, and its message is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
Line by Line Meaning
The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air
The buzzard deceived the monkey into flying with him
The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The monkey believed everything was fine and fair
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The buzzard attempted to betray the monkey's trust and harm him
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, 'Now, listen, Jack'
The monkey took action and confronted the buzzard directly
Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and fly right
Do the right thing and behave properly
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Calm down and don't lose your temper
Ain't no use in divin'. What's the use of jivin'?
There's no point in being dishonest or insincere
The buzzard told the monkey, 'You're choking me'
The buzzard made another false statement to the monkey in an attempt to escape
Release your hold and I'll set you free
Let go of your suspicion and trust me to do the right thing
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
The monkey was no longer fooled and confronted the buzzard head on
'Your story's touching, but is sounds like a lie'
Your excuse may sound emotional, but it's probably not truthful
Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and stay right
Do what's right and continue to behave properly
Cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Don't get angry and lose your cool
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills, Nat King Cole
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind