George Michael – Monkey

"Monkey" as written by and George Michael....
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?

Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)

Oh, I count to ten
But I don't know how, and I don't know when to open my eyes

Baby, if you kiss me again
Like you did just now, like you did just then (then, then, then)
Just, just, just (do it again)

I've had the rest
Now it's time I had the best
So you tell me that you won't do anymore

Well, I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on asking baby, maybe I'll get what I'm asking for

Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving in to it
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?

Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)

Oh, I hate your friends
But I don't know how and I don't know when to open your eyes
Yes, your monkey's back again
Do you want him now like you did back then? (back then, back then)
(D-do it again)

I tried my best but your head is such a mess
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
Well you say you care about me, that you just can't do without me
But you keep on dancin' baby 'til that monkey has you on the floor

Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?

Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)

(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-m-m-m-monkey)

Don't look now, there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on you
Don't look now there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on you

So you tell me that you won't do anymore
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe I'll get what I'm askin' for

Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?

Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)

Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?

Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)

(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-m-m-m-monkey)


Lyrics submitted by oofus

"Monkey" as written by George Michael

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Monkey song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentThis song is about being involved in a romantic relationship with a partner who has a drug / alcohol addition.
    HughMoron February 04, 2007   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationIt definitely has to be about being in a relationship with an addict. Probably a heroin addict; as junkies are known for having a monkey on their back. I like this song and ultimately is quite sad that the partner goes back to the drug and so George gives up in trying to change their ways.
    gemmusicon September 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWhen George sings about the monkey on your back....
    It means this:

    its anything at all that you find to be a constant burden. You have to finish your BA degree for advancement at work, you are married to someone with an addiction.
    Or Having to get that college degree is "a monkey on your back". It usually doesn't refer to actual physical burdens.

    It can also refer to having a drug addiction.
    It can also refer to a sexual addiction, alchol addiction, porn addiction.
    ANYTHING
    that a person puts as a high priority in their life....which is not healthy for them.

    George is singing about his fustration in the situation that never changes:

    Oh I hate your friends
    But I don't know how and I don't know when
    To open your eyes
    Yes the monkey's back again
    Do you want him now like you did back then?
    I tried my best
    But your head is such a mess
    So I guess that I don't want you anymore
    mickey606on September 11, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    Song MeaningI think it's obvious what Mr. Michael was addressing: his longtime boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, had become intimate with a young African-American man and this enraged Mr. Michael. In the song he essentially issues an ultimatum to Fadi, asking "Do you love the monkey or do you love me."

    Nota Bene: Mr. Michael's flippant use of this overtly racist slur is quite disturbing.
    monkeyman5on April 27, 2014   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • +1
    General CommentSome of you guys are hilarious!!!
    TXbeachlover18on January 30, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI’ve just come here to check what people think this song means and I’m actually PMSL at the fact that someone thinks this song was written about any gay relationship let alone Fadi Fawaz.

    Fadi was a recent boyfriend and was definitely not around in the days of Faith album eta.

    The amount of stupid people saying things with such conviction is what is wrong with this world.

    That being said I think it’s really easy to pigeon hole a song like this but I definitely think it’s about some kind of addiction and I would say it’s more in akin to a sex addiction or even a cheating addiction but the beauty of music is that it can mean anything you want it to mean (except about boyfriends he hadn’t even met yet which is absolutely ludicrous)!

    It does sadden me still to even talk about him in the past tense....
    blessbabeon March 26, 2018   Link
  • 0
    General Commentor use condoms. w/e
    Silver Salmonon April 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMonkey is about loving something/someone who you know is bad for you, your vise. It's about a toxic relationship and the struggle of dealing with reality vs ignoring a blatant problem bc our own addiction or hang ups won't allow us to see things for what they are.
    jstolion March 13, 2017   Link
  • -1
    General CommentThis song describes the singer's involvement with someone who keeps being distracted by a character he disparages as a "monkey". It could be taken as a simple tale of a fickle relationship partner...but seen another way you can imagine he's asking for engagement at a higher level than the "animal". So in that case, the monkey would be George Michael's physical body - and his spirit is what he wants his lover to actually be interested in. This is certainly the case for many people who grow intellectually in their relationships and they feel that their partner is pining and pushing for the past (and the more intellectually simple version) of them.
    seattlesqueon June 27, 2003   Link
  • -1
    General CommentInteresting, but knowing that many of George Michael's songs tend to be sexual, sometimes explicit, and that he is (now openly) gay, this song has an altogether different meaning. It's about a male partner of his who can't stop, er, spanking his monkey. George wishes he would save all his lovin' for him and quit spankin' it, like he constantly did when he was younger. Now with that interepretation, read the lyrics and, well, it makes sense doesn't it? Yeah betweent this song and "Father Figure," George Michael is a rather sick man.
    stoolhardyon July 05, 2005   Link

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