1) The Choir were a ro… Read Full Bio ↴There have been two bands known as The Choir:
1) The Choir were a rock band in the mid-1960s from Cleveland Ohio, best known for the oft-covered song "It's Cold Outside". With the addition of singer Eric Carmen, they became The Raspberries in 1970. The band consisted of Dann Klawon on rhythm guitar, Dave Smalley on vocals & rhythm guitar, Wally Bryson on vocals, lead guitar, & bass, and Jim Bonfanti on vocals & drums.
2) The Choir (originally The Youth Choir) is an atmospheric alternative Christian rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums -- who also writes most of the band's lyrics -- and Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute and saxophone. Originally formed in Southern California in the early 1980s, the band members moved to the Nashville, Tennessee area in the 1990s. Past members include guitarist Marc Byrd and bass guitarists Michael Sauerbrey, Robin Spurs, Bill Batstone, and the late Tim Chandler.
Each band member also has a depth of musical history outside of The Choir. Hindalong produced four successful City On A Hill albums, writing the well-known song "God of Wonders" with Marc Byrd. Daugherty has been a member of the Christian-alterna-pop-supergroup The Lost Dogs since it started in 1991, and Hindalong joined the group in 2006. Chandler was the bass player for years for Daniel Amos and that band's alter egos The Swirling Eddies, and passed away in 2018. Byrd was a member of Common Children, recorded with his wife Christine Glass as Glassbyrd, and is currently half of the post-rock duo Hammock. Michaels has been a Senior Vice President of Fair Trade Services (formerly INO Records) since 2000.
Yellow-Haired Monkeys
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't mind living where we are
It's a suitable climate
A fine habitat for the yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
Yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
A friend of mine
Ya know he's flat broke
It's a beautiful excuse for a celebrative smoke
It's a yellow-haired monkey for the yard
Another yellow-haired monkey for the yard
Yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
The Choir's song "Yellow-Haired Monkeys in the Yard" is a playful and lighthearted track that invites listeners to bask in the joy of simple pleasures. The opening verses essentially express contentment with life, stating that the singer is happy where they are, regardless of what others might think. The line, "I don't mind living where we are / It's a suitable climate," seems to suggest that the singer is at peace with their current surroundings and circumstances. However, it's the chorus that provides the real hook of the song, as the line "yellow-haired monkeys in the yard" is repeated multiple times. The phrase is catchy and memorable, conjuring up an image of playful, mischievous monkeys frolicking in the grass.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the "yellow-haired monkeys" aren't referring to actual animals, but rather to fun and frivolous experiences that bring joy to the singer's life. For example, when the friend gives the singer a cigar, they refer to it as a "yellow-haired monkey for the yard." This quirky phrase allows the singer to express excitement over something as simple as having a smoke with a pal. Essentially, the song seems to be celebrating the little things in life, and the joy we can find in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope you're glad to be where you're at
I hope you're content with your current situation
I don't mind living where we are
I am okay with our current living arrangement
It's a suitable climate
The climate is appropriate for our needs
A fine habitat for the yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
Our environment is suitable for the yellow-haired monkeys in our yard
Yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
We have yellow-haired monkeys in our yard
A friend of mine
I have a friend
Ya know he's flat broke
He is broke
Just delivered me a fat cigar
He gave me a large cigar
It's a beautiful excuse for a celebrative smoke
It's a good reason to celebrate and smoke the cigar
It's a yellow-haired monkey for the yard
It's a great addition to our yard, like a yellow-haired monkey
Another yellow-haired monkey for the yard
An additional great addition to our yard
Yellow-haired monkeys in the yard
We have yellow-haired monkeys in our yard
Contributed by Elijah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.