The origins of the Nylons date back to 1978 when four experienced Toronto stage actors, Connors, Cooper, Morrison, and Simpson, used to get together in the back of a delicatessen to sing doo-wop together. They took their ensemble to parties and friend's houses and constant comments from people convinced them to take their unique a cappella act into the clubs. An acquaintence met at a party was about to open a new cabaret and invited them to debut there. They played there for six weeks, garnering rave critical and audience reviews. In 1979 Simpson retired from the group and Cole was brought on board. They very quickly established themselves as one of the area's classiest and most original ensembles and caught the attention of Attic Records. Their first album eventually went platinum in Canada (100,000 copies), and there followed four more releases on Attic that all sold at least gold in Canada (50,000 copies). They received the equivalent of a Dutch Grammy award and a gold disc for the One Size Fits All album and the Best Singer Award at 1986's Tokyo Music Festival. In 1987 Disney used their song That Kind Of Man in their feature The Tin Man, and their version of Up The Ladder To The Roof was used in the movie Made In Heaven. They also scored a second appearance on the Taft Broadcasting television show Throb after writing the theme song and a previous appearance on the program. In February 1991 founding member Connors left the group and in March of that year died of viral pneumonia. A new deal in 1991 with Scotti Brothers in the US and BMG in Canada saw the release of three more albums, and constant touring on either side of the border. Over the years various member changes have led to today's lineup of Morrison, Robinson, Mosbaugh, and Cassius. In 1997 they signed with Shoreline Records in the US, a label primarily devoted to vocal groups, and released the Fabric Of Life. Today they continue to tour the world to audience and critical acclaim.
Singles
1982 The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Attic) 1983 Silhouettes (Attic) 1983 That Kind Of Man (Attic) 1984 Take Me To Your Heart (Attic) 1984 Perpetual Emotion (Attic) 1984 Stepping Stone (Attic) 1984 Combat Zone (Attic) 1987 Kiss Him Goodbye (Attic) 1987 Happy Together (Attic) 1987 Chain Gang (Attic) 1989 Wild Fire (Attic) 1989 Drift Away (Attic) 1991 Call My Name (Attic) 1991 One Fine Day (Attic) 1992 Don't Look Any Further (Scotti Brothers)
Albums
1982 The Nylons (Attic) 1982 One Size Fits All (Attic) 1984 Seamless (Attic) 1987 Happy Together (Attic) 1989 Rockapella (Attic) 1991 Four On The Floor (Attic) 1992 Live To Love (BMG) 1993 Illustrious: A Collection Of Classic Hits (Attic) 1994 Harmony - The Christmas Songs (BMG) 1994 Because... (BMG) 1996 Run For Cover (BMG) 1997 Fabric Of Life (Shoreline) 1997 Perfect Fit (Windham Hill) [re-release of 1993's Illustrious]
Marc Connors (baritone; RIP 1991) Paul Cooper (tenor) Claude Morrison (tenor) Dennis Simpson (bass) Ralph Cole (bass; replaced Simpson 1979) Arnold Robinson (bass; replaced Cole 1981) Micah Barnes (tenor; replaced Cooper 1991) Billy Newton-Davis (baritone; replaced Connors 1992) Garth Mosbaugh (tenor; replaced Barnes 1994) Gavin Hope (baritone; replaced Newton-Davis 1994) Mark Cassius (baritone; replaced Hope 1997)
Monkey
The Nylons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't you set your monkey free
Always giving in to it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me
Why can't you do it
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey
With a monkey
But I don't know how and I don't know when
To open my eyes
If you kiss me again
Like you did just now, like you did just then
Just then, just then, just, just, just do it again
I've had the rest
Now it's time I had the best
So you tell me that you won't do anymore
Well I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe
I'll get what I'm askin' for
Oh I hate your friends
But I don't know how and I don't know when
To open your eyes
Yes the monkey's back again
Do you want him now like you did back then
Back then, back then, just, just, just do it again
I tried my best
But your head is such a mess
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
Well you say you care about me
That you just can't do without me
But you keep on dancin' baby
'Til that monkey has you on the floor
Don't look now there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on your
Don't look now there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on your
Well I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe
I'll get what I'm askin' for
The Nylons’ song “Monkey” is a classic pop tune with playful lyrics about a struggling relationship. The song’s first lines ask, “Why can’t you set your monkey free?” The ‘monkey’ referred to in the song is meant to represent a temptation or an addiction, something that is detrimental to the relationship between the singer and their lover. The song is essentially about a love triangle, with the singer asking if their partner loves him/her more than the monkey.
As the song continues, the singer’s frustration grows as they watch their partner being lured back into the temptation of the ‘monkey.’ They plead with their partner to choose between the two, expressing their desire to be the only one in their lover’s heart. The song has a catchy chorus, with the repetition of the phrase “just, just, just do it again” emphasizing the singer’s request for their partner to return to them and leave the monkey behind.
The song’s lyrics are meant to be light-hearted, even humorous, despite the serious topic of addiction and infidelity. Still, the underlying message is that sometimes relationships are complicated, and it can be difficult to break free from temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't you do it
Why can't you break free from your addiction or bad habit
Why can't you set your monkey free
Why can't you let go of your addiction or bad habit
Always giving in to it
You always give in to your addiction or bad habit
Do you love the monkey or do you love me
Do you prefer your addiction or bad habit over me
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey
Why do I have to compete with your addiction or bad habit for your attention
Oh I count to ten
I try to calm myself down and be patient
But I don't know how and I don't know when
But I'm unsure of how and when to do it
To open my eyes
To face the reality and see things clearly
If you kiss me again
If you give me false hope or empty promises again
Like you did just now, like you did just then
Like you have done many times before
Just then, just then, just, just, just do it again
Just keep doing the same thing that you always do
I've had the rest
I've tried other things or people
Now it's time I had the best
Now it's time for me to have something or someone better
So you tell me that you won't do anymore
So you tell me that you won't change or improve yourself
Well I'd write your heart a letter
Well I'd express my feelings and concerns to you
But I think you know me better
But I think you know that I've already tried everything I could
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe
If I keep on trying, there's still a chance
I'll get what I'm askin' for
I'll get what I want and need from you
Oh I hate your friends
I hate the people who enable and encourage your addiction or bad habit
Yes the monkey's back again
Your addiction or bad habit is back again
Do you want him now like you did back then
Do you want to indulge in your addiction or bad habit again like you did before
Back then, back then, just, just, just do it again
Just keep doing what you used to do before
I tried my best
I did everything I could to help you
But your head is such a mess
But you're too confused or lost to help yourself
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
So I guess that I can't be with you anymore
Well you say you care about me
You say that you love me and care for me
That you just can't do without me
That you can't live without me
But you keep on dancin' baby
But you keep on indulging in your addiction or bad habit instead of focusing on our relationship
'Til that monkey has you on the floor
Until your addiction or bad habit destroys you completely
Don't look now there's a monkey on your back
Don't ignore your addiction or bad habit because it'll only get worse
Well I'd write your heart a letter
Well I'd express my feelings and concerns to you
But I think you know me better
But I think you know that I've already tried everything I could
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe
If I keep on trying, there's still a chance
I'll get what I'm askin' for
I'll get what I want and need from you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE MICHAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind