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.
So I sat in the attic, a piano up my nose
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata, cantata)
Sore was I from a crack of an enemy's hose
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato, tomato)
Catch up (catch up)
Super fury
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Catch up (catch up)
Super fury (super fury)
Don't get left behind (get left behind, get left behind, get left behind)
When a rattle of rats had awoken
The sinews, the nerves and the veins
My piano was boldly outspoken
In attempts to repeat this refrain
So I stood with a knot in my stomach
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel
Smoking monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah) ho
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh
Well, I know my banana is older than the rest
And my hair is a tangled beretta (beretta, beretta)
But I leave my pajamas to billy budapest
And I don't get the gist of your letter (your letter, your letter)
Catch up, (catch up)
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Catch up, (catch up)
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
Don't get left behind (get left behind, get left behind, get left behind)
Oh, monkberry moon delight, yeah, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, yeah, yeah, yeah, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight oh-oh, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Suckin' monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, (om pah om pah pah)
(om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(om pah om pah pah)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(om pah om pah pah)
Try some of this, honey (om pah om pah pah)
What is it? (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
(Om pah om pah pah)
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Uh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata, cantata)
Sore was I from a crack of an enemy's hose
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato, tomato)
Catch up (catch up)
Super fury
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Catch up (catch up)
Super fury (super fury)
Don't get left behind (get left behind, get left behind, get left behind)
When a rattle of rats had awoken
The sinews, the nerves and the veins
My piano was boldly outspoken
In attempts to repeat this refrain
So I stood with a knot in my stomach
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel
Smoking monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah) ho
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh
Well, I know my banana is older than the rest
And my hair is a tangled beretta (beretta, beretta)
But I leave my pajamas to billy budapest
And I don't get the gist of your letter (your letter, your letter)
Catch up, (catch up)
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Catch up, (catch up)
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
Don't get left behind (get left behind, get left behind, get left behind)
Oh, monkberry moon delight, yeah, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, yeah, yeah, yeah, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Oh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight oh-oh, (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Suckin' monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, (om pah om pah pah)
(om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(om pah om pah pah)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(om pah om pah pah)
Try some of this, honey (om pah om pah pah)
What is it? (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
(Om pah om pah pah)
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
(Om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Uh, monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight (om pah om pah pah)
Monkberry moon delight na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I've followed McCartney (The Beatles) since they first hit the airwaves. I'll add my opinion of Monkberry Moon Delight for posterity. I don't think it is about drugs. Sorry, druggies. It's abstract. Paul M. is a long time fan of abstract art. It's his lyrical contribution (many others as well) to this art genre. He has a great book out some years ago filled with his own abstract art.