Monkey
Two Loons For Tea Lyrics


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She wants to go where the tide is low
And she wants to skip rocks
And play shadow games all day long
She wants to see the monkey do the tricks
And she sings, sings with the natives

Put your hands on the monkey
Take your hands off the money
Put your hands on the monkey
Run as fast as you can
'Cause we can't make promises
In the state that we're in, that we're in

Sometimes she sits with the lights off
And she closes like a flower in frigid weather
Well, she's run out of dimes
But she's bound for a lucky streak
She's run out of dimes
But she's bound for a lucky streak

Put your hands on the monkey
Take your hands off the money
Put your hands on the monkey
Run as fast as you can
'Cause we can't make promises
In the state that we're in, state that we're in

She wants to giggle like the girls in the schoolyard
She wants to turn into a Japanese tattoo
She wants to stop the imaginary movie cameras in her head
'Cause they follow her wherever she goes

In the state, in the state
In the state that we're in

Put your hands on the monkey
Take your hands off the money
Put your hands on the monkey
Run as fast as you can
'Cause we can't make promises

Put your hands on the monkey
Take your hands off the money
Put your hands on the monkey
Run as fast as you can




'Cause we can't make promises
In the state that we're in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Monkey" by Two Loons For Tea appears to be about a woman seeking an escape from her reality. She desires to go to a place where there is low tide and indulges in activities such as rock skipping and shadow games, which most likely reminds her of her childhood. The mention of a monkey doing tricks refers to her desire to witness something extraordinary and novel that will distract her from her mundane life. The line “She’s run out of dimes, but she’s bound for a lucky streak” suggests that she’s had a bit of bad luck, but she believes that things will get better soon.


The chorus repeatedly says "Put your hands on the monkey, take your hands off the money," which can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that she needs to stop focusing on material possessions and instead, prioritize having fun and doing things that bring her joy. "Money" could also refer to her worries and fears that are holding her back. By taking her hands off the "money," or her worries, and putting them on the "monkey," or something that brings her happiness and excitement, she can run as fast as she can and leave her problems behind.


Interestingly, the bridge of the song references a desire for transformation. The woman wants to giggle like the girls in the schoolyard, wants to turn into a Japanese tattoo (which could symbolize something beautiful and permanent), and wants to stop the imaginary movie cameras in her head that follow her around. This could be interpreted as a yearning for change, something new and different from her current state of being.


Overall, "Monkey" appears to be a song about a woman seeking an escape from her reality and wanting to experience joy and transformation in her life.


Line by Line Meaning

She wants to go where the tide is low
She desires to be in a location where the water level is decreased.


And she wants to skip rocks
She is interested in throwing flat stones on top of a body of water.


And play shadow games all day long
She would like to entertain herself by imagining she's interacting with shadows throughout the day.


She wants to see the monkey do the tricks
She is eager to observe a monkey performing some sort of stunt.


And she sings, sings with the natives
She participates in a musical performance that involves indigenous people.


Put your hands on the monkey
Touch or grasp the monkey.


Take your hands off the money
Stop handling or holding the money.


Put your hands on the monkey
Touch or grasp the monkey.


Run as fast as you can
Travel as quickly as possible on foot.


'Cause we can't make promises
We cannot guarantee anything.


In the state that we're in, that we're in
Due to the current circumstances and conditions.


Sometimes she sits with the lights off
At times, she remains seated in the dark.


And she closes like a flower in frigid weather
She shuts herself off emotionally like a flower wilts in cold weather.


Well, she's run out of dimes
She has exhausted her supply of ten-cent coins.


But she's bound for a lucky streak
She's destined to experience a fortunate sequence of events.


She wants to giggle like the girls in the schoolyard
She yearns to laugh playfully like other girls her age do in a schoolyard.


She wants to turn into a Japanese tattoo
She desires to transform herself into a Japanese tattoo design.


She wants to stop the imaginary movie cameras in her head
She longs to cease having vivid and constant mental imagery.


'Cause they follow her wherever she goes
As a result of her mental imagery, her thoughts and images persist everywhere she travels.


In the state, in the state
The location being referred to.


In the state that we're in
The current circumstances and conditions of the location.


Put your hands on the monkey
Touch or grasp the monkey.


Take your hands off the money
Stop handling or holding the money.


Put your hands on the monkey
Touch or grasp the monkey.


Run as fast as you can
Travel as quickly as possible on foot.


'Cause we can't make promises
We cannot guarantee anything.


In the state that we're in
Due to the current circumstances and conditions.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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