Monkey Man
The Rolling Stones Lyrics


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I'm a fleabit peanut monkey
And all my friends are junkies
That's not really true

I'm a cold Italian pizza
I could use a lemon squeezer
What you do?
But I've been bit and I've been tossed around
By every she-rat in this town
Have you babe?

But I am just a monkey man
I'm glad you are a monkey woman too

I was bitten by a boar
I was gouged and I was gored
But I pulled on through

Yeah, I'm a sack of broken eggs
I always have an unmade bed
Don't you?

Well I hope we're not too messianic
Or a trifle too satanic
But we love to play the blues

But well I am just a monkey man
I'm glad you are a monkey woman too
Monkey woman too babe

I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
Monkey, monkey
Monkey





Monkey
I'm a monkey

Overall Meaning

The Rolling Stones's song "Monkey Man" is a playful and paradoxical song that serves as a reminder of the irrationality, and in some cases absurdity of life. The song deals with the irony of life itself and its many twists and turns. The lyrics are almost aimless, with phrases such as "I'm a fleabit peanut monkey" and "I'm a cold Italian pizza" that don't make much sense on their own. However, the lyrics point to a larger idea that life is unpredictable and often makes no sense at all.


The song references the mocking and marginalization of the singer by others, as he explains that he has been "tossed around by every she-rat in this town." This line references the constant and unnecessary emotional harm that some people endure in the world. However, he ultimately finds solace in the fact that "I'm glad you are a monkey woman too," suggesting that he has found someone who understands his experiences or is similarly marginalized. The final repetition of the word "monkey" underscores this idea of irreverence and playfulness in life.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a fleabit peanut monkey
I see myself as a small and insignificant creature, like a monkey with fleas and peanuts, vulnerable and overlooked in the world.


And all my friends are junkies
The people I associate with are addicted to drugs and have no direction in life.


That's not really true
This is just a guise to express my dissatisfaction with life and society.


I'm a cold Italian pizza
I am unfeeling and distant, like a frozen pizza with Italian ingredients.


I could use a lemon squeezer
I feel like something is missing in my life, like a lemon squeezer to complete the pizza.


What you do?
What do you think of my situation and my feelings?


But I've been bit and I've been tossed around
I have been hurt and mistreated by women.


By every she-rat in this town
These women are like rats, untrustworthy and deceitful.


Have you babe?
Have you experienced the same kind of mistreatment in your life?


But I am just a monkey man
At the end of the day, I am just an average guy trying to make sense of my experiences.


I'm glad you are a monkey woman too
I am relieved to know that there are other people out there who share my experiences and feelings.


I was bitten by a boar
I have faced danger and peril in my life.


I was gouged and I was gored
I have been deeply wounded and scarred by those experiences.


But I pulled on through
Despite those hardships, I have persevered and carried on.


Yeah, I'm a sack of broken eggs
I am like a fragile and broken sack of eggs, unstable and easily broken.


I always have an unmade bed
I am a messy and disorganized person, with no real sense of direction.


Don't you?
Do you find that relatable at all?


Well I hope we're not too messianic
I hope we don't take ourselves too seriously or come across as overly confident.


Or a trifle too satanic
Or too dark and edgy.


But we love to play the blues
We enjoy expressing our feelings through the blues.


But well I am just a monkey man
Once again, I am just an average guy trying to make sense of the world.


I'm glad you are a monkey woman too babe
I am happy that I have someone to share my experiences and feelings with.


I'm a monkey man
I am an imperfect and flawed human being.


Monkey, monkey
A reminder of my insignificance in the world.


Monkey
I am a monkey.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

James Wilgus

This entire song is legendary! That opening line when Mick claims that all his friends are junkies gets me every time! I was in that category for a time in my life, so I know what he meant. I lost too of my mates for that reason. I'm glad at 66 I've been clean and sober for over 40 years.

Ironarmhoss

I'm down two sisters for the same reason. Still a great song

George Corcoran

Screaming along with that line like a monkey because it's the truth and I lived it too. The magnitude of how royal a band this is that they nailed the emotion note by note with all the nuances, bells and whistles. Fkn Aces!

Irish

Congrats James, that's pretty cool. I can't claim the same. I've been in and out for 43 years. But I'm still breathing. I just wanted to shout out to a brother with all love and respect. Blessings from Donegal, Ireland. 😎

klarson

This amazing song is sublimely wicked. Keith's guitar licks are simply awesome. This whole song embodies The Stones and who they are. RIP Charlie.

Super Het

Yes! THIS is the Stones!

David

OR ..." ADIOS , CARLITO " (?) !!

David

@Super Het Not ...the ROLLING Stones ...,???!! , Por Supuesto , los pedazos de campesar los !!???

David

My Bad ..Its " Los Piedras do Rodados " Of Course !!! Now , Can You Laugh with a French Accent(o) like Bart simpson in France ...lmao .... " Haow haw haw haown " ( ??)

xia en Gao

Keith is one of the few people on Earth who could get arrested with 22 grams of heroin (and 5 grams of coke and a couple of other things)) and truly claim that it was possession for personal use and not trafficking.

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