@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Here come the sidewalk boss again
Telling me how I can't cave in
That I'm a study in black
Need a pat on the back
I look up and smile
A picture of dissatisfaction
That he can only see as a junkie
Though I might be straight as an arrow
He's busy shaking hands with my monkey
Busy shaking hands with my monkey well I go in the car
Straight to the bar
Where my sweetie pours the beer
For the millions of fans ignoring the bands
He's in my ear
Wants me to live in denial
Says you've gotta settle for something
Though it might not be really living
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste
Look at your hands unoccupied
Look at the lengths you'll go to hide
You're under the veil
Pretending to fail
Gotta whole lot of empty time left to go
Now you've gotta fill it with something
I know what you can do don't you know
Anything is better than nothing.
No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste
I'm here with my cup
Afraid to look up
This is how I spend my time
Lazying around, head hanging down
Stuck inside my imagination
Busy making something from nothing
Pictures of hope and depression
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Telling me how I can't cave in
That I'm a study in black
Need a pat on the back
I look up and smile
A picture of dissatisfaction
That he can only see as a junkie
Though I might be straight as an arrow
He's busy shaking hands with my monkey
Busy shaking hands with my monkey well I go in the car
Straight to the bar
Where my sweetie pours the beer
For the millions of fans ignoring the bands
He's in my ear
Wants me to live in denial
Says you've gotta settle for something
Though it might not be really living
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste
Look at your hands unoccupied
Look at the lengths you'll go to hide
You're under the veil
Pretending to fail
Gotta whole lot of empty time left to go
Now you've gotta fill it with something
I know what you can do don't you know
Anything is better than nothing.
No actor action man gonna move in to take my place
I'll be pumping out the product
Just a total waste
I'm here with my cup
Afraid to look up
This is how I spend my time
Lazying around, head hanging down
Stuck inside my imagination
Busy making something from nothing
Pictures of hope and depression
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Anything is better than nothing
Lyrics submitted by better_than_nothing, edited by Jate
New Monkey Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.