Friday Five: Songs About Monkeys

I don’t like monkeys. But this isn’t the Friday Therapy Hour, it’s the Friday Five, so check out these monkey songs.

Honorable Mentions: “One Monkey” by Gillian Welch; “Monkey Let the Hogs Out” by Jerry Douglas; “One Less Monkey” by Lorrie Morgan; “Monkey Dance” by T-Bone Burnett; “Monkey on the Doghouse” by Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers.

• 5. “Monkey Around” – Travis Tritt

  Tritt sings that when you turn a man into a monkey, he’ll subsequently monkey around, which involves swinging from chandeliers, running through the neon jungle, and wearing a “little red hat.” Let that mental image of Travis Tritt sporting a fez carry you straight into happy hour.

• 4. “Monkey On A Wire” – Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

  Metaphorical monkeys are just as creepy as the real thing, but this song from Rattlin’ Bones is a joy to listen to.

• 3. “Monkey And The Engineer” – Dave Rawlings Machine

  The monkey in this Jesse Fuller tune hijacks a train when his engineer pal takes a lunch break. Luckily said monkey is a pretty good train driver (if a bit of a speed demon), so the song doesn’t turn into “Wreck of the Simian 97.” Be sure to check out the Grateful Dead version as well.

• 2. “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” – Little David Wilkins

  David Wilkins isn’t so little, and neither is this song, which went to #11 in 1975. Other artists such as Big Maybelle (linked here), Honey Cone, and The Animals have also recorded songs with the same title, suggesting that one monkey really won’t stop no show. Unless that monkey has Ebola.

• 1. “Don’t Monkey With Another Monkey’s Monkey” – Johnny Paycheck

  Paycheck wins with maximum monkeyage on this goofy single from 1967 that just barely missed the Top 40. Also, “don’t monkey with another monkey’s monkey/Unless you want a gorilla on your hands” is pretty good advice.