Lyric discussion by neversaycant1 

Cover art for Monkey lyrics by Counting Crows

To me it speaks about a woman that the speaker is in love with but doesn't know when he will see her again because she is Flakky. ("Isn't it a shame"), "Where you've been?"

The use of "Monkey" can be a sarcastic way of the speaker calling her reckless or haphazard with his emotions.

"Monkey" is also a slang term for Vagina.

He wants her to pay some attention to him "I just want a little light to fall on me"

He's appealing to her sensitive side but as a monkey she can't understand him, they speak two different languages.

Great song, very good sound to it. I can't say I understand it, and it could be about what people above have said, but I think we'd have to ask Adam himself to get the real answer. Either way, just sit back and enjoy the music. Great album.