1. The Monks (US) are a rock n r… Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands with this name:
1. The Monks (US) are a rock n roll band, primarily active in Germany in the mid to late sixties. They reunited in 1999 and have continued to play concerts, although no new studio recordings have been made. The Monks stood out from the music of the time, and have developed a cult following amongst many musicians and music fans.
Artists to have acknowledged the Monks as an influence include Henry Rollins, the Beastie Boys and Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, as well as The Fall. The latter covered both I Hate You and Oh, How to Do Now on their 1990 album Extricate (under the titles Black Monk Theme Part I and Black Monk Theme Part II, respectively), as well as the song Shut Up! on their 1994 album Middle Class Revolt. The Fall have also covered "Higgledy-Piggledy" for the Monks tribute CD Silver Monk Time.
All the members were American GIs stationed in Germany in the mid-sixties. They began playing together in 1964, calling themselves the Torquays. The Torquays differed little from stinctive name and image to go with it. At the beginning of 1965, Dave Day and Roger Johnston, on a whim, got their heads shaved into monks' tonsures. The rest of the band followed their lead, and to complete the image, the band took to wearing a uniform - all black, sometimes in cassocks, with nooses worn as neckties. Eddie Shaw later claimed in his band autobiography "Black Monk Time" that the nooses were symbolic of the metaphorical nooses that all humanity wear. His explanation of the symbolism is unclear and confusing, but regardless, dressed as black monks, The Monks undoubtedly made a shocking visual impression.
Official Website: http://www.the-monks.com/
2. The Monks (UK) : After a four-year stint as the rhythm section for respected English trad rockers the Strawbs and a subsequent four-album run as Hudson-Ford, John Ford and Richard Hudson emerged in this utterly unexpected incarnation.As the '70s closed with punk at its apex, the Monks changed with the times. Unlike truly ticked-off punkers such as the Sex Pistols, they played it for a lark on their debut Bad Habits, which featured a leggy, cigarette-smoking, stocking-revealing nun on the cover. Revelling in their Englishness, they jabbed mirthfully at headbangers and ska-fanciers alike with spot-on spoofs including "Drugs in My Pocket," "Spotty Face" and of course "Johnny B. Rotten." Likely surprising even themselves, they watched as "Nice Legs Shame About Her Face" climbed to No. 19, borrowing the rhythmic strum Lou Reed perfected with Velvet Underground. Former drummer Hudson was playing bass by now, allowing one-time bassist Ford to be the band's guitarist. Terry Cassidy had full band member status as the writer or co-writer of half of the album's 12 tracks. Chris Pearce allowed Hudson to get out from behind the drum kit. Perhaps realizing the punk spoof concept didn't have much longevity, they had a fling with 1930s-style music as High Society in 1980. They returned to the ersatz punk of the Monks with Suspended Animation, an only-in-Canada release that didn't chart.
Monk Time
The Monks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's go, it's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now!
You know we don't like the army.
What army?
Who cares what army?
Why do you kill all those kids over there in Vietnam?
Mad Viet Cong.
My brother died in Vietnam!
James Bond, who was he?
Stop it, stop it, I don't like it!
It's too loud for my ears.
Pussy galore's comin' down and we like it.
We don't like the atomic bomb.
Stop it, stop it, I don't like it . . . stop it!
What's your meaning Larry?
Ahh, you think like I think!
You're a monk, I'm a monk, we're all monks!
Dave, Larry, Eddie, Roger, everybody, let's go!
It's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now!
The Monks's song Monk Time is a satirical commentary on the society and culture of the 1960s. The lyrics are filled with references to the Vietnam War, James Bond, atomic bombs, and the countercultural movements of that era. The song starts with a call to action by someone named Gary, urging everyone to embrace the beat and hop time, and become a monk. This is then followed by a series of rhetorical questions and statements related to the Vietnam War - the point being made that the soldiers are killing kids in Vietnam for no discernible reason.
The reference to James Bond and Pussy Galore seems to be a way of calling attention to the objectification of women in popular culture, something that the countercultural movements of the 1960s were very much against. The lyrics also suggest that the atomic bomb was a source of great fear and anxiety for people during this period. Throughout the song, the lyrics ask the listener to question the status quo and to embrace a more enlightened way of existence. The repetition of "stop it, stop it, I don't like it" at various points in the song further emphasizes the message that change is needed.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright, my name's Gary.
I am Gary, and I am ready to begin.
Let's go, it's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now!
It is time for us to start the music, to get moving and to feel the rhythm of the song.
You know we don't like the army.
We do not agree with the actions of the military.
What army?
We do not want to acknowledge the presence of any military forces.
Who cares what army?
We do not think that any army is worth acknowledging or discussing.
Why do you kill all those kids over there in Vietnam?
We question the purpose of the war in Vietnam and the killing of innocent civilians, especially children.
Mad Viet Cong.
We label the opposing forces in the war as 'mad' and unreasonable.
My brother died in Vietnam!
We have suffered a personal loss due to the war, which makes our opposition even stronger.
James Bond, who was he?
We do not care about fictional characters or popular culture references.
Stop it, stop it, I don't like it!
We want the music to stop because it is too loud for our taste.
It's too loud for my ears.
We find the music to be too overwhelming for our senses.
Pussy galore's comin' down and we like it.
We express enjoyment at the idea of a female character appearing, referencing the James Bond character Pussy Galore.
We don't like the atomic bomb.
We are against the use of atomic weapons and the destruction they cause.
Stop it, stop it, I don't like it . . . stop it!
We continue to express our dislike for the loud music and want it to stop.
What's your meaning Larry?
We ask for Larry's opinion and perspective on the situation.
Ahh, you think like I think!
We find that Larry shares our opinions and beliefs.
You're a monk, I'm a monk, we're all monks!
Metaphorically, we are all 'monks' - people who have taken a vow of pacifism and nonviolence.
Dave, Larry, Eddie, Roger, everybody, let's go!
We encourage everyone to join in on the music, regardless of their identities or backgrounds.
It's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now!
The music has started and we are fully engaged in enjoying and expressing ourselves to the beat of the song.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE HAVLICEK, GARY BURGER, LARRY CLARK, ROGER JOHNSTON, THOMAS SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@famousbastard5344
ITS MONK TIME 🗣️ 🗣️ 🗣️
@laurencebondmiller4298
TOO GOOD
@emilyoshiro
Killer haircuts
@kakacis6784
🖤
@jamiebo100
I wonder if Can heard them ? ....listen to that organ ....pure Irmin Schmidt ..... ..and imagine a crazy Japanese or a psychotic black American singing .....
@johnbeers5527
I noticed several years ago that the intro to "Father Cannot Yell" is strikingly similar to the beginning of this one.
@MatthewRutter-kj3bf
What army? That bit always gets me
@timkjazz
The 1st punk rock song.
@famousbastard5344
listen to girl cant dance by link wray and bunker hill 🔥🔥🔥🔥