"The lyrics came while I was walking my dog very … Read Full Bio ↴Mark Burgess says:
"The lyrics came while I was walking my dog very late one night. I remember it was a particularly clear, star filled night, and I looked up and saw it and thought, ‘fuck me, who put that there?' ... Started out as an Instrumental this actually ... First thing I ever worked with Reg on, he had this riff and I played this bass progression over it, that riff didn't even make the song in the end."
Guitarist Reg Smithies says:
"Listening to this reminds me of how when we were writing the songs, I always knew Mark, Dave and John would come up with something great around the riffs. Never any doubt. This is a good one to play live."
Monkeyland
The Chameleons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They smile
And then stab my back as they shake my hand
Send out an SOS plea
Come quickly
I'm marooned in monkeyland.
Is there anyone there
Who understands me
I'm idly staring at the sky
Did anybody hear me sigh
A million stars are a moving sight
To all you out there
Reading this tonight
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there
Do I dismiss this with a sigh
Suppose I must from time to time
And let the answers pass me by
To questions set to bend the mind
Is my creator a God or a man?
(Yes, yours too)
Does someone somewhere
Care or understand
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there
Life's an optical illusion
Like other optical illusions
Beware
If there's anyone there
The Chameleons' song Monkeyland talks about the feeling of being alone in a world where people are not what they seem. The lyrics depict a sense of betrayal from people whom the singer thought were their friends. They shake hands and smile, but in reality, they stab him in the back. The singer then sends out an SOS plea for someone to come rescue him from the "Monkeyland." The term "Monkeyland" can symbolize a place where people behave like monkeys, where loyalty or principles do not exist. The singer is unsure if anyone understands him or if he's alone in his disillusionment.
The song also touches on the themes of existentialism and the search for meaning in life. The singer is gazing at the stars, feeling insignificant, and questioning the purpose of his existence. He wonders if there's anyone who comprehends him, and if he's not alone in his thoughts. The chorus repeats "Is there anyone there," as if the singer is seeking a response to his queries. The line "Life's an optical illusion" emphasizes the idea that reality is subjective and elusive, making it challenging to discern what is genuine and what is not.
Line by Line Meaning
I shake my head and shiver
I am visibly upset
They smile
The people around me are smiling
And then stab my back as they shake my hand
Despite their friendly facade, the people around me are capable of harm and betrayal
Send out an SOS plea
I am calling for help
Come quickly
I need help immediately
I'm marooned in monkeyland.
I am trapped in a difficult and confusing situation
Is there anyone there
I am seeking someone who can relate to my struggles
Who understands me
I am looking for empathy and connection
Anyone at all
I am feeling isolated and alone
I'm idly staring at the sky
I am lost in thought and not paying attention to my surroundings
Did anybody hear me sigh
I am wondering if anyone noticed my sadness
A million stars are a moving sight
The beauty of the stars is not lost on me
To all you out there
I am addressing those who are reading or listening to this
Reading this tonight
I am imagining my audience as reading this at night
It's just a trick of the light
The stars are not actually moving, but appear to be due to an optical illusion
I have to know what is real
I am seeking truth
And what is illusion
I am questioning what is real and what is not
Tell me how does it feel
I want to understand the subjective experience of reality
Beyond this confusion
I am looking for answers outside of my current state of confusion
Do I dismiss this with a sigh
I sometimes feel helpless and resigned to the uncertainty of life
Suppose I must from time to time
I reluctantly accept my inability to answer certain questions
And let the answers pass me by
I acknowledge that some answers may be forever out of reach
To questions set to bend the mind
I am grappling with deep and complex philosophical questions
Is my creator a God or a man?
I am questioning the nature of the divine
(Yes, yours too)
I am acknowledging that these questions are universal and not unique to me
Does someone somewhere
I wonder if there is someone who
Care or understand
Is compassionate and empathetic
Life's an optical illusion
I see life as a type of illusion
Like other optical illusions
Similar to other types of illusions
Beware
I am warning others to be cautious in their perceptions of reality
If there's anyone there
I am still seeking connection or understanding
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Isolierter_Hazim
I shake my head and shiver
They smile
And then stab my back as they shake my hand
Send out an SOS plea
Come quickly
I'm marooned in monkeyland.
Is there anyone there
Who understands me
Anyone at all
I'm idly staring at the sky
Did anybody hear me sigh
A million stars are a moving sight
To all you out there
Hearing this tonight
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Ohhh, how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there
Do I dismiss this with a sigh
Oh yes you must from time to time
And let the answers pass me by
To questions set to bend the mind
Is my creator a God or a man
Does someone somewhere
Care or understand
It's just a trick of the light
I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
For all the tricks of the light
Yeah for all the tricks of the light
Out there tonight, tonight
Life's an optical illusion
Like other optical illusions
Beware
If there's anyone there
@gotzolones
Recuerdos de juventud invernales ..
♪..♫.....I SHAKE my head and SHIver
They smile
And then stab my BACK as they shake my HAnd
Send out an SOS plea
Come quickly
I'm marooned in MONnkeyland.
Is there anyone there
Who understands me
Anyone at all ....♪
♪... I'm idly staring at the SKy
Did anybody hear me sigh
A million stars are a moving sight
To all you out there
Hearing this tonight ..♪..♫
♫... IT´S JUST A TRICK OF THE LIGHT........♪..♫
@catalamod66
Joy Division, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Pere Ubu, Bauhaus, The Fall, The Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Sad Lovers & Giants, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Sound, The Comsat Angels, The Chameleons,...real 80 UK Dark Post-Punk. Simply The best
@katwelling3136
You forgot Solar Kama Sutra
@stevenbunch2855
Sisters of mercy
@paperinik4572
Death can dance, julian Cope, the stranglers,virgin Prunes, flash for lulu, sckairckback and more....more other. Love for all You.
@CaffeineNightOwl
I´ve also listened to: And also the trees, Bauhaus, a certain ratio, the fall, Felt, the glove, modern english, new model army, red lorry yellow lorry, sad lovers & giants, spear of destiny, the the, wire, xtc and many more...
@Denys_Fresh_Flesh
😁 Pere Ubu is an american “real UK 80 post punk” the same as Sonic Youth and Talking Heads, they just sound too british.
@dietmarrosner3676
Kenne ich schon 40 Jahre! Wunderbare Musik 🎶 🎶 🎶
@roytbone5791
Entire album is a post punk masterpiece.
@lolilolmdrxd
yes dark wave, reminds me sister of mercy, danzig and a lot of new wave shits
@markrobertson2774
Quality group,quality album a must see live band...