After taking a brief recording hiatus in the mid-1990s to start a family with her husband, songwriter Doug Crider, Bogguss returned to the country music scene to find that her charting power had already faded. Although she last appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1999, Bogguss continues to record and perform around the country to a loyal following.
Her most recent recordings have ventured into swing and jazz variations of country. These albums really showcase the tremendous talent in her voice. Suzy is a true singer, and her voice has so much versatility.
In 2014, Suzy added an album of Merle Haggard songs entitled "Lucky". The country & western flavor dominates this album, unlike some of her other recent work. To promote this new album, Suzy has embarked on a nationwide tour.
Straighten Up And Fly Right
Suzy Bogguss 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 song "Straighten Up and Fly Right" by Suzy Bogguss is a cover of a popular jazz song that was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1943. The lyrics of the song tell a story about a buzzard that takes a monkey for a ride in the air. The monkey thinks everything is on the square, but the buzzard tries to throw him off his back. However, the monkey grabs the buzzard's neck and tells him to straighten up and fly right. The monkey keeps advising the buzzard not to blow his top and to cool down.
The lyrics of "Straighten Up and Fly Right" can be interpreted as a metaphor for life. The buzzard can represent challenges or obstacles that we face in our lives, and the monkey can represent our attitude and behavior towards those challenges. The monkey's advice to the buzzard to straighten up and fly right can be seen as a call to face our challenges with a positive attitude and to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the air
The buzzard gave the monkey a ride in the sky
The monkey thought that ev'rything was on the square
The monkey believed everything was fair and honest
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
The buzzard attempted to get rid of the monkey from his back
The monkey grabbed his neck and said, "Now, listen, Jack
The monkey held on tight and spoke to the buzzard
Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Fly correctly and stay focused, relax and don't get upset
Ain't no use in divin'. What's the use of jivin'?
There's no point in panicking or arguing
The buzzard told the monkey, "You're choking me
The buzzard claimed that the monkey was choking him
Release your hold and I'll set you free"
Let go of me and I'll let you go
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
"Your story's touching, but it sounds like a lie"
The monkey called the buzzard out for lying, despite his sad story
Straighten up and fly right, straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right, cool down papa, don't you blow your top
Fly straight, focus and stay steady, and stay calm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills, Nat King Cole
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind