There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the la… Read Full Bio ↴There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Both bands mutually decided to use different names while operating different parts of the world:

1) The English two-tone ska band The Beat known as The English Beat in North America and The British Beat in Australia.

2) The American power-pop band became known as Paul Collins' Beat in Europe.

1. The Beat are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.
The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (1930 – 2017) (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".[3]
Although the group’s main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country’s college radio.

After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.

Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as “Free Nelson Mandela”. In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.

Ranking Roger’s son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys’ single “Boys Will Be Boys”. In 2003, The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).

The Beat’s lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Saxa died on 3 May 2017, Ranking Roger died on 26 March 2019.

2. The Beat (known in Europe as The Paul Collins Beat or Paul Collins' Beat), were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat. Frontman Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.

Monkey Murders
The Beat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

At the center, no one warns you

When that moment might turn the corner

Stand the test of extreme position

Remember monkey murders always love ambition

Collect black masks when you try too hard

Not to treat her like another toy

It makes you mad as you sleep so badly

Because you're out every Saturday night

For what you can't get, boy

Is it a problem?

Let's be kind to one another

Shoot your sister, you could eat your brother

Who cares when it's only fashion

Remember monkey murders always come with passion

Remember that night when you tried too hard

Not to treat her like another toy

It made you mad, you slept so badly

Now you're out every Saturday night

For what you can't get, boy

Is this a problem?

So obsessive, drinking in the spotlight

He's standing still but of course he's taking all night

Says "There is no love and there is no trust"

Said, "Bite your lip or keep your mouth shut"

Keep your mouth shut, keep your mouth shut

Keep your mouth shut"

Boy, is this a problem?

Boy, is this a problem?

Boy, yes, it's a problem

Overall Meaning

The Beat's song "Monkey Murders" is a reflection on the dangers of obsessive love and consuming ambition. The lyrics suggest that people will go to extreme lengths to achieve their lustful desires, even if it means behaving like monkeys and committing murder. The first stanza warns that nobody can predict when they will be consumed by these dark desires, and that it takes great strength to resist them. The line "remember monkey murders always love ambition" suggests that these extreme acts are often driven by a desire for power and status.

In the second stanza, the lyrics describe a situation in which a man tries to resist treating his lover like a toy, but ultimately fails and becomes consumed with jealousy and ambition. He is unable to sleep and spends every Saturday night out, hoping to satisfy his insatiable desires. The line "remember monkey murders always come with passion" reinforces the idea that the singer's dark desires are driven by intense emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

At the center, no one warns you
When you're caught in the middle of things, no one will tell you when things will take a turn for the worse.

When that moment might turn the corner
At any point, things could go bad.

Stand the test of extreme position
Try to handle difficult situations.

Remember monkey murders always love ambition
If you want to succeed, you must be ambitious and driven.

Collect black masks when you try too hard
When you pretend to be something you're not, you're wearing a mask that hides your true identity.

Not to treat her like another toy
Don't treat women as objects.

It makes you mad as you sleep so badly
When you treat people poorly, it can cause guilt and lead to sleepless nights.

Because you're out every Saturday night
Trying to compensate for something you lack in your life.

For what you can't get, boy
Trying to fill a void that can't be filled by material things or pursuits.

Is it a problem?
Are you aware of the issues in your life and willing to face them?

Let's be kind to one another
We should treat each other with respect and compassion.

Shoot your sister, you could eat your brother
Metaphorically suggesting that people will do anything for power or money, even harm their own family members.

Who cares when it's only fashion
People shouldn't be concerned with following trends or appearances.

Remember monkey murders always come with passion
When people are driven by their ambitions and desires, they'll stop at nothing to attain them, even if it means hurting others.

Remember that night when you tried too hard
Reflecting on a past experience where you were trying too hard to impress someone and it led to negative consequences.

So obsessive, drinking in the spotlight
Being consumed by fame and wanting to be the center of attention.

He's standing still but of course he's taking all night
Someone is in a situation where time seems to be moving slowly and they are stuck in one place.

Says "There is no love and there is no trust"
Being cynical about relationships and other social connections.

Said, "Bite your lip or keep your mouth shut"
Told to not speak up or say anything controversial.

Boy, is this a problem?
Asking if the issues mentioned are really a problem or if they're being blown out of proportion.

Boy, yes, it's a problem
Acknowledging that yes, the problems are real and need to be addressed.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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