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Elvis Costello — Monkey To Man
Album: The Delivery Man
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 921









Released: 2004
Length: 4:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0
A long time ago, our point of view
Was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew
Now the world is full of sorrow and pain
It's time for us to speak up again

You're slack and sorry
Such an arrogant brood
The only purpose you serve is to bring us our food
We sit here staring at your pomp and pout
Outside the bars we use for keeping you out

You've taken everything that you wanted
Broke it up and plundered it and hunted
Ever since we said it
You went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man

Every time that man struggles and fails
He makes up some kind of fairytales
After all of the misery that he has caused
He denies he's descended from the dinosaurs

Points up to heaven with cathedral spires
All the time indulging in his base desires
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man

Big and useless as he has become
With his crying statues and his flying bomb
Goes 'round acting like the chosen one
Excuse us if we treat him like our idiot cousin

He hangs up flowers and bells and rhymes
Hoping to hell that someone's forgiven his crimes
Fills the air with his pride and his praise
He's big disgrace to our beastly ways

In the fashionable nightclubs and finer precincts
Man uses words to dress up his vile instincts
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
Comments (83)add comment
 creekgirl wrote:

brilliant, witty, trenchant lyrics.  youngsters take note.......he is THE master!
though this particular song is not his best musically IMO.....anything off This Year's Model or Armed Forces much stronger........



This is pretty good! The lyrics are more involved and the rhythm isn't as driving as his younger days, but it's catchy. 

I saw him a few times when he filled in for David Letterman as guest host of the Late Show. He was very smooth and funny. 
Such great stuff from ELVIS.
 Roguewarer wrote:
I saw Elvis.
At a fast food restaurant.
No lie.

Even on a bad day, he's fun and interesting to listen to. I know some folks don't dig him, but he's one of the few artists whose music I find myself dissecting into progressions, phrasing, etc. So intentional and, IMHO, brilliant. Love his stuff.
 
Read his biography. His prose is just as witty and entertaining as his lyrics
The slideshow made me bump it to a 7. :-)
I like most EC...but this just sounds stupid to me.
I think it'd be fun to play the Wilburys' "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" or the Stones' "Monkey Man" along with this one, but "Evolution" ({#Lol}) will do.
Sam The Sham Wooly Bully
I never realized how much the video added to my appreciation of this EC song.... {#Eh} 
brilliant, witty, trenchant lyrics.  youngsters take note.......he is THE master!
though this particular song is not his best musically IMO.....anything off This Year's Model or Armed Forces much stronger........
I saw Elvis.
At a fast food restaurant.
No lie.

Even on a bad day, he's fun and interesting to listen to. I know some folks don't dig him, but he's one of the few artists whose music I find myself dissecting into progressions, phrasing, etc. So intentional and, IMHO, brilliant. Love his stuff.
 TimeWaster wrote:
Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it.
 
Farfisa organs are always cool.  If anything, Hammond organs sound much more dated - like something from The Lawrence Welk Show, or a skating rink.  That's cool too, though.  
I like this interview...

 

I gave the song an 8. 


Not bad for sober-Costello
 namp wrote:
This guy is just... annoying
 
glad you think so

This guy is just... annoying
I haven't really liked much of his post-"Brutal Youth" stuff.  This one isn't bad, though.
 TimeWaster wrote:
Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it.
 

cheesy organ is what makes this song!
Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it.


Enough with the Elvis Costello, already.  I now hate this guy because of how often he is played here.

Does anyone besides me here Cyndi Lauper "she bops" in this.... ?
At first I thought this was a remake of it


7 8
ArrowdNaughtySnooty
The_Enemy wrote:

Johnny Rotten does commercials for butter. The World ended a long time ago.

Johnny's commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY


Johnny Rottens such a c*nt...and I'm sure he'd be flattered to hear it.....

"It's about the butter"......f*ck off.

 mortimer wrote:
I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
 
Johnny Rotten does commercials for butter.  The World ended a long time ago.

Johnny's commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY

Yaay, Ardi!

Where did THIS come from? It's great!
 mortimer wrote:
I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
 
Sheesh. The man is in his fifties and has scads of punk bona fides under his belt. AND he's married to Diana Krall! Let him enjoy a little luxury and make a few bucks.

 papaman wrote:
This is one of the few EC songs that doesn't make me want to puke...but I'll puke anyway out of principle.
{#Puke}
 

But, but, but, I like this and ... EEEEUUUUW my shoes, you jerk!
This is one of the few EC songs that doesn't make me want to puke...but I'll puke anyway out of principle.
{#Puke}
super...
 sugarbaby wrote:
damn good song. heard him sing this on austin city limits
 
I saw the same episode a couple of years ago. After hearing this song and Button My Lip, I had to buy the CD. He and his band really seemed energized and inspired around this time.  There was also a live DVD released around this time that is excellent - Elvis and band in a tiny, sweaty, crowded club. Good stuff. Lots of good extras, too.

First time I heard this, I thought "..hey, the real Elvis is back! Of course, I'm 46yr old now...
mortimer wrote:
I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
Jealous? Yesterday I saw a pimp driving a Volkswagen.
great artist. great song.
Not a horrible song I guess but it never would have made the cut on any of EC's first 5 or 6 albums. It's like he forgot how to write a clever melody and chord progression. This song rides on one chord almost throughout and there's nothing original about the melody.
obnoxious retro-puke
damn good song. heard him sing this on austin city limits
DoctorHooey wrote:
Wow, that WAS him. *sigh* I really did see both Prince and Elvis in commercials within a 24 hour span. Well, there goes my last shred of idealism.
I understand being upset by Elvis, but Prince? Prince has always been about the bucks. First time I've heard this, and I like. 7.
Great tune -- Elvis still has it!
mortimer wrote:
I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
Wow, that WAS him. *sigh* I really did see both Prince and Elvis in commercials within a 24 hour span. Well, there goes my last shred of idealism.
I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
Never enough Elvis!
Lazy8 wrote:
A little more vitriol, a couple more smileys...you've almost got me convinced!
Long live passion
Deronius wrote:
Great performer Great song I've seen him several times in concert and Costello gives you lots of bang for your buck.
Amen, brother! It's not only a good rocking song, but a rare case of digging up a 50-year-old socially-conscious song (uncommon in itself) and tying in to a new rocker!!!!
Interesting. This is one of the few Elvis Costello songs I've liked, and it appears that most of the Costello fans here don't like it. I guess that means that this isn't his usual sound, which I don't like and his fans like?
RPsavedme wrote:
had to mute
had to crank
Lazy8 wrote:
Huh. I think this would fit right in on Armed Forces. Compared to the self-indulgent swill he's put out since the glory days, this sounds like Elvis got his mojo back.
It's not bad, but it sure ain't anywhere near "Armed Forces" in terms of either quality or style.
just don't like this song. Bleah.
Had no idea Mr. MacManus was so polarizing here. As self-indulgent as he has been for the past two decades, I regard his new thing as a welcome return to form. He actually seems to remember how to rock'n'roll once again, which was always wonderful combined with his acid wit.
Recorded within one mile of where I'm sitting right now in Oxford, MS. https://www.sweettea.net/home.htm Elvis is a great guy that was really nice to all us locals. We treated him like family.
Great performer Great song I've seen him several times in concert and Costello gives you lots of bang for your buck.
I like Elvis Costello's music...I think he's fairly innovative from album to album (at least in the sense that he explores several styles/sub-genres of rock). I do NOT, however, have a high tolerance for his voice. It's not horrible, it's not grating, but the simple way it sounds just doesn't agree with my aural faculties. So I give it a 5.
I love Elvis, but just cause it's new Elvis doesn't mean in should be on the playlist. Besides, it's not even new anymore. Back on the shelf please.
Trustocity wrote:
if songs were musical procedures, this would be an enema
Well, since you obviously won't up yours, I guess I'll have to up mine. An 8.
if songs were musical procedures, this would be an enema
Great "feel good" song.
had to mute
Great simian groove! I love it! :D
orpheus wrote:
if this doesn't count as swill, I don't know what the hell does. As far as being on "Armed Forces"? in what universe? That album was pure genius. guess your reality check is still in the mail :o 8O :o 8O :P :P :x :!: :!: :?
A little more vitriol, a couple more smileys...you've almost got me convinced!
Lazy8 wrote:
Huh. I think this would fit right in on Armed Forces. Compared to the self-indulgent swill he's put out since the glory days, this sounds like Elvis got his mojo back.
if this doesn't count as swill, I don't know what the hell does. As far as being on "Armed Forces"? in what universe? That album was pure genius. guess your reality check is still in the mail :o 8O :o 8O :P :P :x :!: :!: :?
orpheus wrote:
why does this piece of crap get so much airplay when he's written so many other actually good/great songs!?!?
Huh. I think this would fit right in on Armed Forces. Compared to the self-indulgent swill he's put out since the glory days, this sounds like Elvis got his mojo back.
First Joe Jackson (Common People with Shanter), followed by Elvis. I really thought RP would play the third angry man, Graham Parker, but this is too much to hope for since Parker was already played today. Nevertheless, RP is the coolest damn radio station I've heard in my entire life.
orpheus wrote:
why does this piece of crap get so much airplay when he's written so many other actually good/great songs!?!? :o 8O :o
So tell us how you REALLY feel about it. Ha!
why does this piece of crap get so much airplay when he's written so many other actually good/great songs!?!? :o 8O :o :grumpy.gif:
jadewahoo wrote:
I like Elvis. I like his efforts. I like his creative verve. Sometimes I even like his songs. I like this song.
it's not like he's lost it. he does it great. but sadly, it's kind of a one-trick pony. i already heard all this in another elvis costello song somewhere along the line. some arists should give it a rest when they're done saying their bit. OMIGOD! now bill's playing nirvana. the irony is painful.
I like this one a lot. I find it interesting that there's a bit of intentional distortion in the recording to give it a little "patina" like The Sonics did with their cover of the Richard Berry song "Have Love, Will Travel" Almost like these are garage recordings... but not really. The "Monkey to Man" video is available on the Elvis Costello website: (click here)
I like Elvis. I like his efforts. I like his creative verve. Sometimes I even like his songs. I like this song.
8)
LLMikeJ wrote:
I have a hunch that Bill especially likes this track
Bill loves Elvis. And this, as they say, is a good thing.
ezzyme wrote:
I love early Elvis, but this comes off as trite and condescending - at least musically. Kind of an insult to his fans - and himself.
I think I can speak for Elvis when I say, "Bite me."
artmarcia wrote:
I think this song has a great groove--makes me want to get up and dance!
GMTA! :nodhead:
How cum I don't own any of this man's records?!? Every time I hear him on RP I like him a lot! Bill's framing doesn't hurt either! The lead in to this song was Albert King, Cake, and William Freakin' SHATNER with Joe Jackson! Wow! \\:D/
I think this song has a great groove--makes me want to get up and dance!
I love early Elvis, but this comes off as trite and condescending - at least musically. Kind of an insult to his fans - and himself.
I saw a video for this song on some site somewhere (sorry, can't remember where) which was hilarious. Sort of 60s beach party-ish with a bunch of bikinied girls dancing. Anyway, not my favorite from this CD. The best song on there, I think, is the title track.
spartan wrote:
Overplayed! He's got a lot of other good stuff, why do we have to hear this one so much?
I have a hunch that Bill especially likes this track
was this inspired by current events? https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1118_041118_great_ape_ancestor.html
Overplayed! He's got a lot of other good stuff, why do we have to hear this one so much?
This makes my ears bleed. I can't stand this guy.
Startin' to grow on me. 9 is the new 8,
I like this has a bit more snarl than other Elvis cuts. Hence my symbol for rocking...cue the band!!!
jdorn1 wrote:
New Elvis?? WOHOOOOOO!!!
Woohooo - my upload added !! :highfive:
New Elvis?? WOHOOOOOO!!!
Elvis Rules