T.S. Monk is the son of the late jazz pianist and co-founder of bebop, Thel… Read Full Bio ↴T.S. Monk is the son of the late jazz pianist and co-founder of bebop, Thelonious (Sphere) Monk. T.S. is a drummer with a hard-bop sound. While he does cover some of his father's material, Monk Jr.'s sextet tended to focus on more obscure jazz tunes such as Clifford Jordan's "Middle of the Block" or Kenny Dorham's "Philly Twist". Their sound is sharp and tight, hewing close to arrangements by trumpeter Don Sickler, but with "consistently inventive" solos (AMG).

Monk's most recent album was released in 2002.

Can't Keep My Hands to Myself
T.S. Monk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can't keep my hands to myself
No matter how hard I'm trying to
I want you all to myself
Your metaphorical gin and juice
So come on, give me a taste
Of what it's like to be next to you
Won't let one drop go to waste
Your metaphorical gin and juice

Ohh cause all of the downs and the uppers
Keep making love to each other
And I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
All of the downs and the uppers
Keep making love to each other
And I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying

Can't keep my hands to myself
My hands to myself
Can't keep my hands to myself
My hands to myself

The doctor say you're no good
But people say what they wanna say
And you should know if I could
I'd breathe you in every single day

Ohh cause all of the downs and the uppers
Keep making love to each other
And I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
All of the downs and the uppers
Keep making love to each other
And I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying

Can't keep my hands to myself
My hands to myself
Can't keep my hands to myself
My hands to myself

Can't keep my hands to myself
I want it all, know nothing else
Can't keep my hands to myself
Give me your all and nothing else
Oh, I, I want it all
I want it all, I want it all
Can't keep my hands to myself
I mean I could, but why would I want to?

My hands to myself
Can't keep my hands to myself
My hands to myself
Can't keep, keep my hands to myself
I want it all, know nothing else
Can't keep my hands to myself

Give me your all and nothing else
Can't keep my hands to myself

Overall Meaning

This song by T.S. Monk titled "Can't Keep My Hands to Myself" is a soulful confession of a desire to be with someone the singer finds irresistible. The opening line reveals the struggle of the singer to resist his/her craving to be with the person, despite attempts made to suppress this urge. The metaphorical reference to "gin and juice" illustrates how the person is seen as an intoxicant that the singer simply can't get enough of. The singer appears to be willing to try everything possible to get just one taste of what it could feel like to be with the person.

The chorus suggests that while the singer is putting in every effort to stay away, there is something about this person that keeps pulling him/her closer. The downs and uppers referred to in the lyrics symbolize the highs and lows of a relationship. The irony of these two opposite sides continuously making love to each other seems to imply that despite the problems in the relationship, the attraction between the singer and the person remains strong.

Overall, "Can't Keep My Hands to Myself" is an honest expression of an internal battle to resist temptation by someone desirable. It illustrates the struggle of giving in to a relationship that might not be suitable despite the intense attraction.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't keep my hands to myself
I can't help but touch you

No matter how hard I'm trying to
Despite my attempts to resist my impulses

I want you all to myself
I desire your exclusive attention and affection

Your metaphorical gin and juice
Your irresistible appeal and alluring qualities

So come on, give me a taste
Let me experience what it's like to be with you

Of what it's like to be next to you
To feel your presence and intimacy

Won't let one drop go to waste
I won't miss out on any opportunity to have you

Ohh cause all of the downs and the uppers
The good and the bad

Keep making love to each other
Are always present and intertwined, just like our feelings for each other

And I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying
Even though it's a struggle to resist my impulses, I will keep trying

The doctor say you're no good
Others may criticize you and judge you harshly

But people say what they wanna say
But I won't listen to them because my attraction to you is too strong

And you should know if I could
If I had the choice, I would be with you all the time

I'd breathe you in every single day
I would savor and cherish every moment with you

Can't keep my hands to myself
I am overwhelmed by my desire for you

My hands to myself
I am trying to restrain myself, but it's difficult

I want it all, know nothing else
I want to have everything that comes with being with you

Give me your all and nothing else
I want your undivided attention and devotion

Can't keep, keep my hands to myself
I can't help but reach out to you

I mean I could, but why would I want to?
I could resist my urges, but I don't want to because I want you too much

Contributed by James C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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01Bon Bon Vie

02Candidate For Love4:48

03Hot Night in the City4:05

04The Last Of The Wicked Romancers4:35

05Can't Keep My Hands to Myself3:26

PT3M26S

T.S. Monk

06Stay Free of His Love4:10

07House of Music5:31

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Comments from YouTube:

Ultimate Workout Mania

2y↑7

Totally Awesome!!!! Still rocking to this in 05--2022.

True talent...❤

JUANITA JONES

2y↑1

👍🏽 October 10, 202 🎺🎺📽️🥁🥁🎼🎶🎶🎶👠👠🎼🎵🎵🎵

Marcelo Mendoza

2y↑3

Que recuerdos tan hermosos..!!! Vivan los 80..!!

Eric McCamury

Keep reliving the golden 80s, never see anything else like it.💥💥

Laurie Wolfe

2y↑1

This song just popped in my head. ALWAYS SLAMMING.👍💯👍

Lawrence Davis

4y↑10

Loved this jam back in the day, still sounds nice today December 9th 2019 !!!

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

@Supreme 10

You're welcomed!

Supreme 10

2y↑1

@CG ALLAH Thank you for sharing this information with me.

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

@Supreme 10

The two women pictured on the album cover passed away not long after making that song.

Supreme 10

2y↑2

@Virgil Wyatt This song brings me back to the days of roller skating in The Bronx, NY Skate Key. Ahh, the memories.

Virgil Wyatt

My first time hearing it: Friday night, January 17th, 2020. Clicked the "like" after the 1st 3 bars! "Lets all skate!"

Leeshorn franklin

2y↑8

This is the side. A lot of my friends would do the six step 🕺off of this. Brings back great memories. This is when you could have a party in the park. Old school forever ❤❤

DJ Clovi SA

3y↑6

I was looking at the classics and this one still makes it to my playlist

Ray Ward

5y↑18

Classic All my 80's music always made it feel like Summet.

Ray Ward

5y↑4

SUMMER.

Ramirez Abel

2y↑2

Lindas voces...!!

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

The two lady vocalists of that song pictured on the album cover have both passed away not long after making it.

Niko Romih

2y↑4

Wow! When music used to be THE MUSIC !

Laurie Wolfe

RIGHT. I 👍💯💖💯👍

jeanettesdaughter

2y↑1

“A living dream! “ 🤩 Happy music. Wonderful, “shines like a precious jewel.”

LiberalSoldier1

3y↑4

Found this after so many years. A girlfriend dedicated this song on the radio to me the day I left Fort Sill, OK. i should have married her before I left. Oh well. Memories.

Suzie Whitfield

3y↑4

Oooooo..I'm bopping around in my bed love it love it ...classic....

Charles Hunter

3y↑2

Classic T.S. Monk (Can't keep my hands 2 Myself) Rockin N this Plandemic 2021

Shahed Akber

2y↑2

Beautiful!

jade

2y↑2

Can't keep my hands too myself 🎵🎶🎶🎵

ruth gonsalves

2y↑2

GOOD MUSIC BACK IN THE DAY

Laurie Wolfe

Nothing like it.

Gods love child

3y↑1

My jam!

Mark Elliott

6y↑9

Back In The Day Jam!

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

@Leeshorn franklin

Do not be sad. This song 🎵 will be with u for as long as u live.

Remember! Be happy.

Leeshorn franklin

@CG ALLAH Sad to hear this

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

@Leeshorn franklin

The two women vocalists that are on the album cover have passed away not long after making that song.

Leeshorn franklin

4y↑2

When i first heard this song it was at a block party in the Bronx in the 80's. Been jamming off of it since then 🙌 ❤

David Gaynor

3y↑3

Original legendary classic 👌 beautiful queen said she was mad in love with me every time she heard that song thought of me

Kwame Johnson

4y↑1

This is great!

Dilia Ortiz

2y↑2

Beautiful song the Best

Scandinavian Man

3y↑5

2021 Love & brightest blessings to one & all. Thankyou, excellent upload.

Sal1675

7y↑6

Tooooooo Sweet

Allen Johnson

3y↑3

Pettibone....... that was the best of times there at the fever , that's where Uptown and the boogie down came together and parteeee

Supreme 10

She Pettibone Kiss FM 98.7 FM

Leroy Petty

3y↑3

I had that on a 8 track back in 1981

CG ALLAH

2y↑1

@Virgil Wyatt

Who cares?

The two women pictured on the album cover passed away not long after making the song.

Leroy Petty

2y↑1

@Virgil Wyatt as a matter of fact I got it pioneer RT 909 reel to reel in my basement I haven't played the thing in about 25 years and 1984 I gave my buddy of mine $400 for it it's a very nice unit

Virgil Wyatt

@Leroy Petty Yep. Agreed. I started buying vinyl albums again in 1983 after being stationed in Fairbanks at Fort Wainwright in December, 1982. I was there for over 2 1/2 years and for a majority of the time there I had my own room in the barracks. I had a black Fisher brand boom box that had a built in 5 band graphic equalizer, and A.M./F.M./SW radio bands and a single cassette deck. The speakers were detachable 6 feet and it had RCA Jacks in the rear. I think that the (analog) dial illuminated. This appliance through the PX was back ordered as it was a very popular item. I later purchased a turntable (I think a Kenwood direct drive), patched it into the boom box and afterwards, I was able to make cassette tapes using vinyl. I would borrow vinyl albums from friends in my unit and make tape recordings. And sometimes, I’d borrow someone else’s boom box, patch it into mine and record tape to tape.
I’d buy new R&B albums without ever having heard 1 track from it and then start recording tracks from them to high quality TDK, Maxell, Scotch, Memorex and BASF audio cassettes. I still have a pack of new blank CrO2 tapes but hell, I listen to so much music on You Tube that I may never get a chance to make another one.
I’ll bet You having been in Germany, had a reel-to-reel recorder and maybe a pair of Bose speakers.

Leroy Petty

2y↑1

@Virgil Wyatt okay I understand that back in the day cuz I used to buy the vinyls to play in the house then we can get a blank and make a 8-track to go in the car, and it was the same way when I want to army we'll buy the vinyl album then we put it on cassette and I still have a lot of my vinyls that I bought when I was in Germany and my turntable still work and it's been almost 40 years and every now and then I'll pull one out and play them, still good old memories, these young guys don't know anything about that

Virgil Wyatt

@Leroy Petty Nothing really. When this album dropped, I was more than likely doing my 1st six months in the Army and so when I bought pre-recorded music, I purchased everything on cassette tape because of their portability. Prior to leaving for the Army and all the while in high school, I purchased mostly everything on vinyl and if not available in that format, then I’d purchase the pre-recorded audio cassette album. I still have over 300 cassette tapes, many of them I made myself. Your comment brought back memories, that’s all. My one and only ever 8 track tape was by Bootsy’s Rubber Band (Bootzilla).

2 More Replies...

Nathan Hubbard Jr

2y↑1

I am good friends with the Rouse family 👪. I knew Charles Rouse, Jr. since elementary school. I helped raise on of
his daughters. I am a renowned percussionist-vocalist. I practice 8 hours a day while at Westinghouse High School in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. The class of 1976 reunion is coming up. I was proud and prevelised to be your under study. I know the group is very good. I want Steve Arlington and Slave, to play at the reunion. We have to start planning.