Guitarist Bobby Arlin was subsequently in The Hook, while bassist/vocalist Jim Pons also played with Frank Zappa and The Turtles.
i go down
The Leaves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It disappeared with time, it never made much sense
Adolescent resident
Wasting another night on planning my revenge
One in ten
One in ten
One in ten
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
One more indecent accident
I'd rather leave than suffer this
I'll never be your monkey wrench
All this time to make amends
What do you do when all your enemies are friends?
Now and then I'll try to bend
Under pressure, wind up snapping in the end
One in ten
One in ten
One in ten
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
One more indecent accident
I'd rather leave than suffer this
I'll never be your monkey wrench
Temper One last thing before I quit!
I never wanted any more than I could fit into my head!
I still remember every single word you said,
And all the shit that somehow came along with it!
Still, there's one thing that comforts me
Since I was always caged and now I'm free
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
One more indecent accident
I'd rather leave than suffer this
I'll never be your monkey wrench
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
The Leaves's song "Monkey Wrench" discusses themes of growing up, losing innocence, and moving on from toxic relationships. The lyrics begin by questioning why our innocence disappears with time and how we often waste our youth planning revenge. The chorus repeats the phrase "One in ten," which could represent the idea that only a small portion of people can truly see through the deception and confusion of growing up.
The verses then shift focus to a toxic relationship and the desire to break free from it. The singer refuses to be someone's "monkey wrench," or someone who is used to fix problems without receiving credit or appreciation. Rather than stay in a harmful situation, the singer would "rather leave than suffer this." However, the pressure to make amends and maintain friendships makes it difficult to escape the cycle of toxicity, leading the singer to occasionally "snap" under pressure.
The bridge of the song introduces a sense of anger and frustration, with the singer expressing their desire to move on and leave behind the hurtful words and actions inflicted upon them. Ultimately, the chorus is repeated one last time, emphasizing the refusal to be used or treated poorly.
Overall, "Monkey Wrench" can be interpreted as a reflection on the difficulties of growing up and navigating toxic relationships. It emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself and leaving behind harmful situations.
Line by Line Meaning
What have we done with innocence?
We have lost our purity and naivety over time, and it doesn't seem logical why it happened.
It disappeared with time, it never made much sense
Our innocence vanished gradually, and we couldn't comprehend the reason behind it.
Adolescent resident
A young person living in a particular place.
Wasting another night on planning my revenge
I am spending my time thinking about how to get even with someone who wronged me.
One in ten
Out of a group of people, only one person might understand the situation well.
Don't wanna be your monkey wrench
I do not want to be an obstacle or problem for you.
One more indecent accident
Another negative and embarrassing incident happened.
I'd rather leave than suffer this
I would prefer to exit this situation than endure it.
All this time to make amends
I had enough opportunity to rectify the problem.
What do you do when all your enemies are friends?
I do not know how to handle when the people who hurt me are the ones I trusted and relied on.
Now and then I'll try to bend
Occasionally, I will attempt to compromise or be flexible.
Under pressure, wind up snapping in the end
When I am under stress, eventually, I will break and lose control.
Temper One last thing before I quit!
Anger, the last emotion I feel before giving up.
I never wanted any more than I could fit into my head!
I never desired anything beyond my capacity to understand or comprehend.
I still remember every single word you said, And all the shit that somehow came along with it!
I can recall every word you spoke to me, even the unpleasant and unnecessary ones.
Still, there's one thing that comforts me Since I was always caged and now I'm free
Despite the discomfort, there is comfort in the knowledge that I am finally liberated from my past.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID GROHL, PAT SMEAR, NATE MENDEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The White Sapphire Studio
This is the first song I ever heard from this band back in 2004. Their entire catalogue is fantastic.
lance raby
Isaw this band a few times..once in southend on sea at a place called chinnerys and they played there hearts out to about 25 people but im glad i was one of them because they where fantastic. Really hope they keep going because they are probably one of best bands to come out of iceland. VERY underated
PaulF
their music is like leaves whirl in the wind
TheOldschoolfool
lance raby, not just the best band to come out of Iceland, but probably the world!! this band should be massive, I can't understand why they aren't!
TheOldschoolfool
lance raby, I would have been one of those 25 if I lived nearby. I've loved this band since I came across a magazine sampler cd with them on around 2000/2001.
beautiful songs
turkeyneck08
One of the finest albums of the last 10 years. Vastly underrated, vastly overlooked.
Jonah Louque
Agreed
rez yousuf
Wow this is a masterpiece!!!
epistemes
Ten years now and still loving this song. Perfect for this quarantine time <3
apple bottom jeans
Amazing. Instantaneously added to my Spotify.