The band's only appearance on the UK Singles Charts was "I'm the Urban Spaceman", which reached #5 in October 1968. The single was produced by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym "Apollo C. Vermouth". The band disbanded in 1970. The band reunited briefly in 1972 and again in 1988, before reuniting permanently in 2002.
After the initial split, Innes provided songs for "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and the Monty Python troupe's subsequent films, and is often considered to be an "unofficial member" of the troupe. Stanshall died in a house fire in 1995.
The band's six albums are: "Gorilla" (1967), "The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse" (1968, released as "Urban Spaceman" in the US), "Tadpoles" (1969), "Keynsham" (1969), "Let's Make Up and Be Friendly" (1972) and "Pour l'Amour des Chiens" (2007).
Look Out There's a Monster Coming
The Bonzo Dog Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was passing me by.
So I sent off my photo, hobbies and age;
Magazine marriage I tried.
They say for centuries lovely Japanese girls
Have been trained in the art of pleasing men.
Be lonely no more, open destiny's door.
For one dollar they arrange a meeting.
My image was wrong, I didn't like me,
So I changed my personality.
I bought a delux Merseybeat wig
But it was a size too big.
What confidence in my new built-up shoes,
So smart for winter or summer.
Undetectable in normal everyday use.
Look out there's a monster coming!
Bye-bye binoculars and macintosh,
Everything is just great.
I take elocution, learn to speak posh
But still I can't find a mate.
Be popular, learn to play the guitar,
In seven days you could be strumming.
Be sociable, learn kissing technique.
Look out there's a monster coming!
Carnaby clothes, I reshaped my nose,
Plastic surgery's best.
To cut down my weight off comes my left leg.
I pass a swimming costume test.
Are my sideboards too long,
Don't my aftershave pong?
I know my new nose ain't runnin'.
What's wrong with my tie?
Am I getting too high?
Look out there's a monster coming!
Disfiguring and ugly, my facial hair
I had removed electrically.
I rejuvenated my energy cells
And regained my virility (grunt grunt).
(He put my hand on my heart?),
(I am changing the part?).
He had a machine for a mummy.
Please be gentle with me:
I come to pieces literally.
Look out there's a monster coming!
Look out there's a monster coming!
Look out there's a monster coming!
(...fade)
The Bonzo Dog Band's song "Look Out There's a Monster Coming" is about a lonely person who feels like life is passing them by and decides to try and find love through a magazine marriage service. The singer sends off their photo, hobbies, and age to the service and decides to change their image to be more appealing. They buy a wig, built-up shoes, and trendy clothes, as well as improving their elocution, guitar skills, and kissing technique. Despite all their efforts, they still can't seem to find a mate and become increasingly self-conscious about their appearance and behavior.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on the pressure society puts on people to conform to certain standards of beauty, personality, and social skills in order to attract a partner. The singer's obsession with their appearance and behavior shows how this pressure can lead to insecurity, self-doubt, and even self-destructive behavior. The reference to Japanese girls being trained to please men can also be seen as a critique of gender roles and expectations.
Overall, "Look Out There's a Monster Coming" is a humorous and quirky take on the search for love and the lengths people will go to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely, unmarried, looking for love,
I was alone and wanted a romantic partner.
Life was passing me by.
I felt like I was missing out on life without a partner.
So I sent off my photo, hobbies and age;
I tried to find a partner by submitting personal information to a magazine.
Magazine marriage I tried.
I attempted to find a spouse through a magazine.
They say for centuries lovely Japanese girls
It is rumored that Japanese women are skilled at pleasing men.
Have been trained in the art of pleasing men.
Apparently, these women have been taught to make men happy.
Be lonely no more, open destiny's door.
Don't be lonely anymore, take control of your life.
For one dollar they arrange a meeting.
They will set up a date for one dollar.
My image was wrong, I didn't like me,
I was unhappy with my appearance and personality.
So I changed my personality.
I altered my behavior to attract others.
I bought a delux Merseybeat wig
I purchased a high-quality wig in the style of Merseybeat musicians.
But it was a size too big.
It didn't fit me properly.
What confidence in my new built-up shoes,
I felt more self-assured with my shoes, which had thick soles to make me appear taller.
So smart for winter or summer.
The shoes were versatile for any season.
Undetectable in normal everyday use.
My shoes looked normal and unremarkable.
Look out there's a monster coming!
A warning that something unexpected is about to happen.
Bye-bye binoculars and macintosh,
I no longer needed my raincoat or binoculars.
Everything is just great.
I am content with my new techniques.
I take elocution, learn to speak posh
I took lessons to improve my speech and sound more sophisticated.
But still I can't find a mate.
Despite my efforts, I am still single.
Be popular, learn to play the guitar,
Suggestion that playing the guitar is a good way to become popular.
In seven days you could be strumming.
It doesn't take long to learn the guitar and start playing.
Be sociable, learn kissing technique.
Learn different ways to kiss to be more social and attract potential partners.
Carnaby clothes, I reshaped my nose,
I changed my clothes and got plastic surgery on my nose.
Plastic surgery's best.
Plastic surgery is a great way to improve your appearance.
To cut down my weight off comes my left leg.
I am so desperate to lose weight that I am willing to amputate my leg.
I pass a swimming costume test.
I look good enough in a swimsuit to pass a test.
Are my sideboards too long,
I am unsure if my sideburns are too big.
Don't my aftershave pong?
I am worried that my aftershave smells bad.
I know my new nose ain't runnin'.
My new nose looks good and is not causing me any problems.
What's wrong with my tie?
I am questioning my choice of tie.
Am I getting too high?
I am concerned about being seen as arrogant or conceited.
Look out there's a monster coming!
Another warning that something unexpected is about to happen.
Disfiguring and ugly, my facial hair
My facial hair makes me look unattractive and deformed.
I had removed electrically.
I had my facial hair removed with an electrical device.
I rejuvenated my energy cells
I tried to boost my energy levels through various means.
And regained my virility (grunt grunt).
I feel more manly and sexually potent.
(He put my hand on my heart?),
Possibly a reference to a medical examination.
(I am changing the part?).
I am changing my hairstyle or part in my hair.
He had a machine for a mummy.
Unsure of the meaning, possibly a reference to an unusual device used in a medical procedure.
Please be gentle with me:
I am asking for care and consideration.
I come to pieces literally.
I am very fragile and prone to breaking.
Look out there's a monster coming!
The final warning for something strange or dangerous about to happen.
Look out there's a monster coming!
The warning repeats one last time as the song fades out.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VIVIAN STANSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind