Michael's official website describes the song as a "drug abuse saga." A monkey can often be used as a metaphor for drug addiction, "to have a monkey on one's back." That's how Aerosmith used it in 1989. Michael's "Monkey" asks a lover to choose between him or the drugs: Why can't you set your monkey free?
Michael's official website describes the song as a "drug abuse saga." A monkey can often be used as a metaphor for drug addiction, "to have a monkey on one's back." That's how Aerosmith used it in 1989. Michael's "Monkey" asks a lover to choose between him or the drugs: Why can't you set your monkey free?