Proudest Monkey

Dave Matthews Band

Swing in this tree
Oh I am bounce around so well
Branch to branch,
limb to limb you see
All in a day's dream
I'm stuck
Like the other monkeys here
I am a humble monkey
Sitting up in here again
But then came the day
I climbed out of these safe limbs
Ventured away
Walking tall, head high up and singing
I went to the city
Car horns, corners and the gritty
Now I am the proudest monkey you've ever seen
Monkey see, monkey do

Then comes the day
Staring at myself I turn to question me
I wonder do I want the simple, simple life that I once lived in well
Oh things were quiet then
In a way they were the better days
But now I am the proudest monkey you've ever seen
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, monkey do


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Proudest Monkey song meanings
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38 Comments

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  • +2
    General Commentfirst off, fatbob 158, you obviously have no idea what you're talking about; there are numerous (as you put it) "half human monkees/apes," you just are uninformed of their existence. secondly, i agree with everyone on the fact that this song rocks. one idea i'd like to throw out is this:

    Oh things were quiet then
    In a way they were the better days
    But now I am the proudest monkey you've ever seen

    i love these lines. on the one hand you love what your past has been and all the joy it has brought you ("In a way they were better days"). yet at the same time, you know that you have a future that hangs on the accomplishments you have made even though taken the new path may lead to a different outcome than originally planned ("Then comes the day, Staring at myself I turn to question me").

    glorious song, definitely one of my favorites
    goofyasfuckon May 13, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song is a reflection of our society. Corrupted by capitalism, we all leave our nice, cozy, simple lives, in the search for the greater gold. Money. Money = happiness...or so many of us tend to believe. Money = power, and this is true...unfortunately...and this power leads to a sense of pride...of superiority. (A sense of false superiority in my view.) Anyways, my point is, this life a riches may, and probably will, bring us many things, but never fulfillment, which is what we are all searching for...and this monkey is realizing he may be rich, he may be proud, but maybe that's not what he needs, maybe the simple branches of home would have been enough.
    Fransaskoison January 11, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis is a great DMB song that many people overlook. I love the last couple lines..."I wonder do I want the simple, simple life that I once lived in well
    Oh things were quiet then
    In a way they were the better days." To me this song could be about evolution and primates and stuff. But on a simpler level it's about moving onto to new and different experiences, but still being able to stay yourself. Before the monkey left he was like all the rest, but after "going to the city" he becomes proud. This song is all about knowing who you are and being able to experience new and different things. A solid DMB song, one of the best. DMB forever!
    DMB84on October 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentim surprised nobody has anything to say about proudest mokey! its pretty straightforward, i think just about anyone can grasp the meaning. regardless, this is just a fun song to listen to. all the little bells and whistles in the background are funny and remind me of those whistle suckers i used to eat when i was little.... hehe, the good old days.
    CrzyGmOfPkr19on May 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is my favorite dmb song~no contest
    bidins711on June 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSimple one, for sure.

    I think it has elements of moving out of your parent's house, or similar environmental/personal changes. I think it's about personal changes, that nobody can aprreciate but the person experienceing it. Pride comes from leaving the 'safe limbs' sometimes. Means a lot to me, this song.
    iroon July 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti'm with crazygmofpkr19 its a very very simple meaning, its about the evolution of monkeys to humans! humans think they're better than "primative" monkeys and such, but they are our origins, we're just prouder monkeys
    godofmusic01on July 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthere's nothing like feeling like the proudest monkey.. I love it! Just listen to this song, if you love DMB, you'll love this song!! Becareful though, it can get stuck in your head for days!!
    Im not scerredon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentps, drinking the drink i've seen dave matthews say he has before so many concerts: red, red wine
    goofyasfuckon May 13, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentPlain and simple, I feel like I'm floating when I hear this song. I turn off the lights in my room and play it, and feel as if I'm walking on air. That's how powerful this song is. I agree with the meaning, about venturing off into the unknown.
    tms6879on May 27, 2004   Link

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