The Monkey Song
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics


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Why do they slow the freeway down
where the river turns when it comes through town
When the water hits the rocks it rolls
With a hot rod devil
I'm driving slow

Well maybe I've picked out a born use
For the air I forced in the inner tubes
Instead of squinting through this muddy screen
I should be sittin', splashin' floating downstream

Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Monkey can climb but I whistle
He can't sing and I can't dance
And the monkey don't have to wear no pants

Young men hope and old men bitch
'Cause the ones in the middle get to scratch that itch
Kids just want some taboo fruit
Like a chance to dance in their birthday suit

Now I wonder if where love's involved
Did we improve as we evolved
Perhaps we'd fix a big mistake
By going wild, going ape

Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Monkey can climb but I whistle
He can't sing and I can't dance
And the monkey don't have to wear no pants

Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Monkey can climb but I whistle
He can't sing and I can't dance
And the monkey don't have to wear no pants

Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Monkey can climb but I whistle
He can't sing and I can't dance
And the monkey don't have to wear no pants

Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Monkey can climb but I whistle




He can't sing and I can't dance
And the monkey don't have to wear no pants

Overall Meaning

The Monkey Song by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is a playful and amusing composition that delves into various topics such as the flow of the river, driving on a freeway, and monkeying around. The opening verse seems to ponder the reason why freeways slow down near the streams or rivers that flow through cities. The song suggests that it is better to slow down near the river, especially since the water hits rocks and rolls. The next couple of lines are a bit cryptic, but it appears that the singer is referring to using inner tubes and air to float downstream. He would rather be doing that than squinting through a muddy screen, which could mean driving through a dirty windshield or window.


The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, and it seems to be the main highlight of the song. It is light and catchy, and the humor of the lyrics is amusing. The monkey can climb, but the singer can whistle, and neither can do the other's skill. The monkey doesn't wear pants, and this is evident throughout the song, especially in the chorus. The next verse touches on different generations' views on taboo fruit, and the idea that youngsters want to dance in their birthday suits. The final verse seems to suggest going wild and going ape is the way to go, and this relates to love and evolution.


The song essentially encourages light-hearted playfulness, and the idea that sometimes it's okay to let loose and have fun. The monkey is a symbol of playful, carefree behavior, and the song celebrates this. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has added a humorous, catchy rhythm to their lyrics, and the result is a fun song that is sure to make listeners smile.


Line by Line Meaning

Why do they slow the freeway down
Questioning the reason behind slowing down traffic on the freeway near the town's river bend


where the river turns when it comes through town
Referring to the part of the river where it changes its course while passing through the town


When the water hits the rocks it rolls
Observing how water flows over rocks and downstream


With a hot rod devil I'm driving slow
Driving cautiously due to the presence of an aggressive driver on the road


Well maybe I've picked out a born use
Realizing a potential use for something after previously overlooking it


For the air I forced in the inner tubes
Identifying air pressure as the key factor in making inner tubes work effectively


Instead of squinting through this muddy screen
Opting for a more enjoyable activity instead of struggling to see through a dirty window


I should be sittin', splashin' floating downstream
Suggesting that the singer should be enjoying a leisurely float down the river instead of dealing with other distractions


Here we go 'round the dry thistle
Moving on to a different topic or returning to the same discussion


Monkey can climb but I whistle
Comparing oneself to a monkey who can climb, while the singer can only whistle


He can't sing and I can't dance
Acknowledging individual limitations and differences


And the monkey don't have to wear no pants
Reflecting on the carefree nature of animals and how they don't have to conform to societal norms


Young men hope and old men bitch
Commenting on the differences in attitudes and views between young and old men


'Cause the ones in the middle get to scratch that itch
Suggesting that those in the middle age range have the best of both worlds when it comes to fulfilling their desires


Kids just want some taboo fruit
Observing the tendency of kids to want things that are forbidden or considered inappropriate


Like a chance to dance in their birthday suit
Using a humorous example to illustrate kids' desires to break free from rules and expectations


Now I wonder if where love's involved
Thinking about the role of love in human relationships


Did we improve as we evolved
Questioning whether humans have truly evolved in terms of their understanding and practice of love


Perhaps we'd fix a big mistake
Suggesting that changing our approach to love could be the key to correcting past mistakes


By going wild, going ape
Proposing that a more primal or instinctual approach to love could yield better results than our current methods




Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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