In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Well, Lord have mercy
Well, Lord have mercy
This ain't no good for me
This ain't no good for me, babe
Well, Lord have mercy
Well, Lord have mercy
Ain't no good for me, babe
Tell me what's goin' down, babe
Every time I want to say it
It is just too much for me
I don't ever want to say it
'Cause of all the blasphemy
Everybody's doin' it to somebody's love
In sight of me
I might tell on you
Don't you start no stuff with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell Dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Stop it, it's too much
Monkey business goin' down
Well, Lord have mercy
Well, Lord have mercy
Don't be callin' out "mercy me" (don't be callin' out "mercy me")
Don't be callin' down, babe (don't be callin' out mercy)
Well, Lord have mercy
Even burst the breast
Don't be callin' out "mercy me" (don't be callin' out "mercy me")
Don't be goin' down, babe (don't be callin' out "mercy")
Every time I want to say it
It is just too much for me
Everybody's doin' it to somebody's love
It seems to me
I just can't believe the things I'm seein'
So just let it be
I might tell on you
So don't you start no stuff with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Stop it, it's too much
Monkey business goin' down
I read the paper and I can't believe what's goin' 'round
Somebody's doin' it to somebody's up, somebody's down
The government won't pay my taxes and I'm really mad
My mouth might let it be
So don't you monkey shine with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Oh Lord, you're dirty, you're dirty, dirty, dirty, baby
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell Dad about what I saw
Your brother didn't make a nickle or dime too
Sittin' around tellin' how he did it to you
You're gettin' too much monkey business goin' down
(Goin' down, babe)
Monkey business goin' down
(You are not satisfied, baby)
Monkey business goin' down
(You want to party)
Monkey business goin' down
(My business is your business)
Monkey business goin' down
(I caught your mother, she doing a dude)
(She can't lie 'cause I was looking right at you, oh Lord)
Monkey business goin' down
(And monkey see, monkey do)
I can't lie 'cause I was looking right at you, oh Lord
Monkey business goin' down
Your business is my business
Your business is my business
Your business is my business, your business
Monkey business goin' down
Your business is my business
Your business is my business
Your business
Too much for the kids, baby
It's a monkey business goin' down
Well, Lord have mercy
This ain't no good for me
This ain't no good for me, babe
Well, Lord have mercy
Well, Lord have mercy
Ain't no good for me, babe
Tell me what's goin' down, babe
Every time I want to say it
It is just too much for me
I don't ever want to say it
'Cause of all the blasphemy
Everybody's doin' it to somebody's love
In sight of me
I might tell on you
Don't you start no stuff with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell Dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Stop it, it's too much
Monkey business goin' down
Well, Lord have mercy
Well, Lord have mercy
Don't be callin' out "mercy me" (don't be callin' out "mercy me")
Don't be callin' down, babe (don't be callin' out mercy)
Well, Lord have mercy
Even burst the breast
Don't be callin' out "mercy me" (don't be callin' out "mercy me")
Don't be goin' down, babe (don't be callin' out "mercy")
Every time I want to say it
It is just too much for me
Everybody's doin' it to somebody's love
It seems to me
I just can't believe the things I'm seein'
So just let it be
I might tell on you
So don't you start no stuff with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Stop it, it's too much
Monkey business goin' down
I read the paper and I can't believe what's goin' 'round
Somebody's doin' it to somebody's up, somebody's down
The government won't pay my taxes and I'm really mad
My mouth might let it be
So don't you monkey shine with me
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell dad about what I saw
I caught your mother, she doin' a dude
You can't like it that I'm lookin' right at you
Oh Lord, you're dirty, you're dirty, dirty, dirty, baby
Your brother's gone and kissed
The mother in law
I might tell Dad about what I saw
Your brother didn't make a nickle or dime too
Sittin' around tellin' how he did it to you
You're gettin' too much monkey business goin' down
(Goin' down, babe)
Monkey business goin' down
(You are not satisfied, baby)
Monkey business goin' down
(You want to party)
Monkey business goin' down
(My business is your business)
Monkey business goin' down
(I caught your mother, she doing a dude)
(She can't lie 'cause I was looking right at you, oh Lord)
Monkey business goin' down
(And monkey see, monkey do)
I can't lie 'cause I was looking right at you, oh Lord
Monkey business goin' down
Your business is my business
Your business is my business
Your business is my business, your business
Monkey business goin' down
Your business is my business
Your business is my business
Your business
Too much for the kids, baby
It's a monkey business goin' down
Lyrics submitted by Dark Artist
Monkey Business [Previously Unreleased Track] Lyrics as written by Bill Bottrell Michael Jackson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Some of the lyrics are wrong but...This is one of the songs I think actually was about his family. He just changed a few things around.
I completely agree with you. We all know that Jermaine had a relationship and a baby with Randy's ex and I think that this was Michaels way of dealing with it, writing a song about. The similarities is amazing. Also, I think generally speaking, this song was also about his disappointment in all the relationships going on around him, including his dads infidelity. But I got to hand it to Mike, he sure knew how to put it into a song.
I forgot to mention that I love how he's threatening to tell if the people piss him off. lol.
i love this song and its hard to tell what it means sort of cuz i think some is abbout his family but his mom wasnt the one who slept around joseph was the one who did