The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
[Chorus: x2]
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Whoa, so get on board
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
[Chorus]
There is a purpose, a running keep
There is a captain, with a steady wheel
Wheel
[Chorus: x2]
Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
So get on board
[Chorus]
She's at the station, running slow
Ready for leavin', she's gonna go
Go
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Whoa
[Chorus: x2]
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Whoa, so get on board
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
[Chorus]
There is a purpose, a running keep
There is a captain, with a steady wheel
Wheel
[Chorus: x2]
Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
So get on board
[Chorus]
She's at the station, running slow
Ready for leavin', she's gonna go
Go
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
One monkey don't stop the show
Whoa
[Chorus: x2]
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board
Lyrics submitted by smallwonderrobot
One Monkey Lyrics as written by Gillian Howard Welch David Todd Rawlings
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The monkey and the engineer occurred to me as well. I've been playing that this week, and there's a monkey and a train... Maybe something there, she does identify as a deadhead. Welch sometimes weaves her stories into the music (wrecking ball, everything is free), so maybe she had a foolish person (monkey?) that potentially endangered the trajectory of the band, but this person wouldn't be allowed to stop the show, the train kept on... That might make her the captain with the steady wheel. Or maybe it's about life and god... Maybe not.