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.
Shut Up
The Monks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a fool among foxes
Holdin' Debbie in my arms I though it'd never change
Walkin' through the park and we felt something strange
All she ever wanted was to sing in tune
Now the spring has come and it is early June
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
Lovin' every time he stops to be alone
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
Packin' Debbie's stuff in boxes cause she's moving home
And I don't even care because I'm better off alone
All I ever wanted was to tell the truth
Now I know that that's impossible in youth
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
Lovin' every time I get to be alone
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
Keep your voice down
Or I'll kick you around
Shut the hell up kid
You're a fool among foxes
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
I didn't mean to be where you been
The Monks' song "Shut Up" tells the story of a person named Debbie who aspired to become a singer but is forced to leave town. The singer of the song, who had been holding Debbie in his arms, is saddened by her departure but also seems to find relief in being free from the burdens of their relationship. The song is also about the singer's reflections on his past mistakes and his desire for solitude.
The lyrics are somewhat cryptic and open-ended, leaving much to the listener's interpretation. However, it is clear that the themes of the song include disillusionment with youthful idealism and struggles with self-expression. The repeated refrain "shut the hell up kid" can be seen as a metaphor for the silencing of one's inner voice and the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
In summary, "Shut Up" is a melancholic but reflective song that touches on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. It is a testament to The Monks' ability to craft deeply emotive and thought-provoking songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Shut the hell up kid
Please stop talking.
You're a fool among foxes
You are in a group of people who are untrustworthy.
Holdin' Debbie in my arms I though it'd never change
I was holding Debbie and thought that things would always be this way.
Walkin' through the park and we felt something strange
While walking in the park, we experienced something unusual.
All she ever wanted was to sing in tune
Her only desire was to sing well.
Now the spring has come and it is early June
It's currently early June, the season is spring.
Runnin' from the man with a megaphone
Escaping from someone who is speaking loudly.
Lovin' every time he stops to be alone
Enjoying the moments when he is finally alone.
Keep your voice down
Please lower the volume of your voice.
Or I'll kick you around
If you don't comply, I'll physically hurt you.
Packin' Debbie's stuff in boxes cause she's moving home
I'm packing Debbie's belongings because she's moving back to her hometown.
And I don't even care because I'm better off alone
I'm not upset because I prefer being alone.
All I ever wanted was to tell the truth
My only desire was to be honest.
Now I know that that's impossible in youth
I've come to realize that being completely honest is unrealistic when you're young.
I didn't mean to be what you wanted
It wasn't my intention to be what you desired.
I didn't mean to be where you been
I didn't mean to end up in the same place you were.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Michael DiBiase, Samuel Sullivan-Moore, Zebadiah Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MSTFreak
I am shocked a band this obscure is popular. It's awesome. These are the darkest corners of recorded music.
I HATE MEMES
elevators fan?
SecularUnderpants
i bow before the monks and their awesome music.its a crime that they're so underrated
portzblitz
Gary is my great uncle. I'm super proud to see all this fanfare.
Jerry H
Hello! I feel the same way. The Monks deserve all the recognition they can get. I am also related to one of them. Dave , the banjo player is my dad.
Jaimee Archibald
@Jerry H I listened to them with my 3 year old son whose name is Gary. I pointed out the member who shared his name and he was so pleased. I put the modern lovers on for him and the vibrators. He seems to really like the old garage rock type of stuff
dj
Nice!!!
dj
@Jerry H noice
Pedal Pusher
RIP Gary Burger, you were a true pioneer.
G. Vaz
this sound is much more than some one can imagining. At the time when this band make this tipe of sound, there was nothing even similar. they are advanced in 20 years, or more...