Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal trends. Following the band's split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were included at number 89 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
The Yardbirds re-formed in the 1990s, featuring drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja as the only original members. Dreja left the band in 2012, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band in the present lineup.
The band formed in the south-west London suburbs in 1963. Relf and Samwell-Smith were originally in a band named the Metropolitan Blues Quartet. After being joined by Dreja, McCarty and Top Topham, they performed at Kingston Art School in late May 1963 as a backup band for Cyril Davies. Following a couple of gigs in September 1963 as the Blue-Sounds, they changed their name to the Yardbirds. McCarty claims that Relf was the first to use the name; he may have got it from Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, where it referred to rail yard hobos. He adds that Topham identified it as a nickname for jazz saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker.
The quintet achieved notice on the burgeoning British rhythm and blues scene when they took over as the house band at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, succeeding the Rolling Stones. Their repertoire drew from the Chicago blues of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James, including "Smokestack Lightning", "Good Morning Little School Girl", "Boom Boom", "I Wish You Would", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "Got Love if You Want It" and "I'm a Man".
Original lead guitarist Topham left and was replaced by Eric Clapton in October 1963. Crawdaddy Club impresario Giorgio Gomelsky became the Yardbirds manager and first record producer. Under Gomelsky's guidance the Yardbirds toured Britain as the back-up band for blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II in December 1963 and early 1964, recording live tracks on 8 December and other dates. The recordings would be released two years later during the height of the Yardbirds popularity on the album Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds.
After the tours with Williamson, the Yardbirds signed to EMI's Columbia label in February 1964, and recorded more live tracks on 20 March at the legendary Marquee Club in London. The resulting album of mostly American blues and R&B covers, Five Live Yardbirds, was released by Columbia nine months later, and it failed to enter the UK Albums Chart. Over time, Five Live gained stature as one of the few high-quality live recordings of the era and as a historical document of both the British rock and roll boom of the 1960s and Clapton's time in the band.
Along with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds were part of the British blues scene of the 1960s. As the blues rock genre developed, some acts like Chicken Shack were playing a louder and more aggressive style, while the Yardbirds emphasized instrumental textures and extended instrumental improvisations. They covered blues classics like Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning (1956) and Bo Diddley's I'm a Man (1955) which had a repetitive structure where instrumental solos were brief breaks between repetition of verses. The Yardbirds often extended these instrumental sections into "heavy jams".
Too Much Monkey Business
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never fail in the mail, yeah, come a rotten bill.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Salesman talkin' to me, tryin' to run me up a creek.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Blond hair, good lookin', tryin' to get me hooked.
Want me to marry, get a home, settle down, write a book.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Every day, same thing, gettin' up, goin' to school.
No need for me complaining, my objection's overruled, ahh.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Telephone, something wrong, dime gone, will mail,
Oughtta sue the operator, for telling me a tale, ahh.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
I been to Yokohama, been fightin' in the war.
Army bunk, army crew, army food, army corps, aah.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Workin' in the fillin' station, too many tasks.
Wipe the windows, check the tyres, check the oil, a dollar gas.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
Too much monkey business for me!
The Yardbirds' "Too Much Monkey Business" is a song about feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with life's demands. The song's narrator is tormented by a myriad of everyday tasks, such as working in a mill, dealing with bills, and going to school. He also receives unwanted attention from a salesman trying to sell him something he can't afford, a woman who wants to settle down with him, and an operator who gives him false information over the phone. The lyrics express a desire to break free from these responsibilities and live a simpler, more enjoyable life.
The chorus of "Too Much Monkey Business" repeats the phrase "Too much monkey business for me to be involved in!" This line serves as a refrain, driving home the singer's frustrations with the world around him. Additionally, the repetition of this line highlights the cyclical, repetitive nature of the singer's daily struggles.
The song's title is a reference to the phrase "monkey business," which means foolish or mischievous behavior. In this context, the monkey business refers to the mundane and aggravating aspects of everyday life. The Yardbirds' version of the song features high-energy guitar riffs and a driving rhythm, which add to the urgency of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Runnin' to-and-fro, hard workin' in the mill.
I'm tired from going back and forth and working hard at the factory.
Never fail in the mail, yeah, come a rotten bill.
I always receive bills in the mail, and they're always for more money than I was expecting.
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
Too much monkey business,
For me to be involved in!
I don't want to be involved in all of this craziness and chaos.
Salesman talkin' to me, tryin' to run me up a creek.
Says you can buy it, go on try it, you can pay me next week, ahh.
A salesman is trying to convince me to buy something by letting me pay for it later, but I feel like he's trying to trick me.
Blond hair, good lookin', tryin' to get me hooked.
Want me to marry, get a home, settle down, write a book.
A woman with blonde hair is trying to make me commit to her and settle down, but I'm not interested in that kind of life.
Every day, same thing, gettin' up, goin' to school.
No need for me complaining, my objection's overruled, ahh.
I do the same thing every day, going to school, but I can't complain because nobody will listen to me.
Telephone, something wrong, dime gone, will mail,
Oughtta sue the operator, for telling me a tale, ahh.
Something is wrong with my telephone, and I lost a dime trying to call someone. I feel like the telephone operator is lying to me.
I been to Yokohama, been fightin' in the war.
Army bunk, army crew, army food, army corps, aah.
I've been to Yokohama and fought in the war. I experienced life in the army, including sleeping in barracks, being around other soldiers, eating army food, and being part of the army corps.
Workin' in the fillin' station, too many tasks.
Wipe the windows, check the tyres, check the oil, a dollar gas.
I'm working at a gas station, and there are too many things to do, including cleaning the windows, checking the tires, checking the oil, and pumping gas for a dollar.
Too much monkey business for me!
There is just too much craziness and chaos in my life, and I don't want to be involved in it anymore.
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
flimbambo
NOBODY else was playing like this in ’64. This is why they are so important. The Kinks were as hard sounding- but the Yardbirds played with greater pace and energy
Alan Farr
One of the Rockingest guitar solos ever heard! EC carries on belting out the final solo even after the other Yardbirds have stopped playing – the enthusiasm in every part of this track is mesmerising. Unforgettable.
My brother still has the vinyl LP.
Miyuki Shijisha
Killer live album...still have my original vinyl copy..
caesar smith
Maybe the best ever live album, what a beginning!
beatles65
Keith Relf can certainly bring it!
Stoned2072
Best version , great intro !
juha vesanen
Great old memories surrounding this whole LP 'Five Live Yardbirds', and this number opens this unique album splendidly...!
Buddy Ollie
Those solos are crazy fast
Vic 45
Wow love the Yardbirds and this song
James saul
Easily , the best version of this Chuck Berry classic