| Elliott Smith – New Monkey Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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im pretty sure this song is talking about some issues with his record label and the creative process. it sounds like he feels he is being asked to just "pump out some product" and, given his obvious high standards in his own work, he is not wanting to release anything sub-par. perhapse his standards are TOO high sometimes and that, in it's self, can be frustraiting. the line that kind of makes up the title, "He’s busy shaking hands with my monkey" first makes me think, given the preceding lines, that he feels a bit underestimated and just chocked up to the title of being a junkie musician by his superiors at siad record label, instead of being viewed as a creative human with feelings. so they are not looking at him so much as they are looking at the "monkey on his back", i guess. i dont think he is validating or denying the junkie accusation because thats not the point of the song. the NEW MONKEY is the pressure to "make product". a little dissilusionment about the music industry, maybe? just A LITTLE. lol he seems to be talking about "filling his time with something", and i odnt know if that points at the idea of getting drunk/high to null out the time he feels he is wasting or something to that effect. but i feel the most important part of this song (or maybe its just really easy for me to relate to), is the last verse. summing up the entire song with talk about being a bit down about busting his ass to make something for nothing (not getting much out of it either finacially or artistically at that time?) but anything is better than nothing. damn right, man. anything is better than nothing. |
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