The Maytals - Monkey Man

[harveybcfc]

still a big choon,seen him live so much better, birmingham(u.k)rude boys oi oi oi

[cescoffy]

Some non-Jamaicans, and even younger Jamaicans, don't understand the lyrics! The song is about a man cussin his girlfriend (or now his former girlfriend) about the rumour that he's heard that she is now dating an ugly man! Ugly as a monkey!

[PowderTVNiseko]

Im in Kingston now listening to Mento..:)

[LuciusEsox1]

It's horrible,, only trouble is I cant stop meself from dancing to it... Devils music :)

[twitstix]

What could this amazing song possibly be about ? He is speaking of a monkey that might or might not exist; it's a RUMORED monkey, of which he's only HEARD. He's like, "you're going to turn that monkey on me." He is sure; he KNOWS that you're about to do this. Very strange !

[48dodea]

@twitstix it is the monkey that was on Amy Winehouse's back

[colbour]

@48dodea maybe. i know it was covered by the specials in the late 70's

[brassmonkey001]

@twitstix AFAICR Leslie Kong commissioned Toots to write a 'diss' song about Kong's brother who was dating a girl Kong fancied. Toots was very reluctant to do this for fear of reprisal but Kong convinced him to go ahead and the rest is history.

[sergiox625]

dude isn't upbeat reggea another way of saying ska.... well sounds kinda rocksteady..

[MrDrumchum]

my dad coming into my room singing this while i am studying for my gcse's...

[BigTrish71]

Ay ay ay, ay ay ay, tell you baby, you huggin' up the big monkey man (2x) I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man (2x) Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man (2x) Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me (2x) (repeat) Love this song!

[DJBootyBrown]

This ia the version from backmin the day.. So many can not remember which was the first.....

[ImaniHekima]

Grew up loving this song, was delighted when The Specials covered it and later Amy Winehouse. Every generation knows how great this track is.

[Kingrob30]

@ImaniHekima They all have their spin I like the Specials version the most because I heard it first.

[dbaw1975]

2 people must have misclicked....

[devinweitzman]

This song is ALWAYS on UPS's hold music.

[modstyle408]

For all that is confused, the song was written by Leslie Kong. The song was written about a girl(bird) he fancied, and saw her hugging up to this big bloke that looks like a big Monkey Man. I can relate to that, most the girls(birds) i knew back in school were slags.

[MinziTolero1]

@modstyle408 Actually it was a dig at lead singer Frederick Hibbert’s girlfriend/and Kong who she was dating.

[onlyjoetee]

@modstyle408 a "slag" is a girl who will shag everybody,but not you..right?hahahahahah

[mastrg94]

i saw them last night and i was looking around and i was the only 16 year old there... kids my age wouldnt know good music if it hit them in the face.

[GearsofHaloWarfare]

@mastrg94 I'm 15 and I completely agree. Dubstep my arse...

[nickynoodles33]

@GearsofHaloWarfare

hello mate, i love ska as i grew up to it. i am 17 now and love dubstep why do you have a problem with it?

[GearsofHaloWarfare]

@nickynoodles33 I don't have a problem with it, I just much prefer almost all other types of music. I quite like Skrillex though.

[macmarone]

Bad ass tune

[Ziontie1971]

This is good - the Specials version was ok - none as good as The Wiggles original

:-)

[noughtypixy]

@Ziontie1971 you sir are a sick sick puppy!

[HaggisPowah]

@Ziontie1971 Was Kilie Minogue even born when TOOTS wrote this ?? :)

[happymealme]

There's just no point in comparing music with music. Absolute nonsense. These people are missing the original point. Listen and be one, be free and be at peace. One love.

[iloveesr]

it's a great song, but imo Specials did it better :)

[mikegreb]

makes me laugh how you see loads of people like ahhh man i remember this wen i was like 17

then theres the few who are like 17 and still listen to classic songs like this which where evidently released way before we were born but who cares great music is for everyone not just those that where born when it was released

[xQuintonius]

Don't let people forget the original. Greatness came from here.

[fishstory]

TOO COOL, MUSTA BEEN RECORDED FROM THE ORIGINAL TROJAN 45? NEVER GET THAT FAT, FAT SOUND ON THOSE CD'S

[Rafael53860]

O verdadeiro som Rude Boy!!!

[brandoncipelle]

I am so Glad i became a TraD Skin. Never looked back. Plus I mean with music like this who wouldn't want to be a skin!

[noiseecho]

@brandoncipelle

i listen to all of this stuff old reggae rocksteady 2tone sounds of 69 kinda of stuff and i dont dress like a skinhead t enjoy it

[MrHaggis03]

My intro to music as a youth....respect from a Scotish rude boy

[MrEd64r]

Nossa que da hora chapa.... o reggae é impressionante, nunca ouvi falar de "The Maytals", sempre me disseram de "Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Boombastic e só.... putz preciso conhecer mais o mundo do reggae.... achei essa musica muito linda o estilo do reggae me arrepia....

[MrPAULJT]

Original RUDE BOY!!!!

[boi187]

CHUUUNE!!!

[paranoiz100]

This is actually the original version of the Nanny Goat Riddim right?

[blakbeltjonez]

@paranoiz100

nope - "Nanny Goat" came out of Studio One in '68 by Larry & Alvin, with backing from the Soundimension band with Jackie Mittoo on organ. "Monkey Man" was done almost a year later in 1969 at the newly named Dynamic Studios (the old WIRL Studio that was bought and refitted by Byron Lee). they are distinctly different.

[bohs1984]

speed it up 5 rpm and add a couple of token white guys and BAM... you got an international SMASH called the Specials.

[writerme]

Awesome quality, thanks dude.

[COMPACTASS1]

peck peck!!!!

[purpleuk1]

this sounds like the mantra for young white girls in west yorkshire, england

[louidropit]

No man, they sing "tell you babe you're huggin' up the big monkey man", and a monkey man is a bouncer.

[winner43]

The lyrics to this song : i mean what is this song really about?

[MrAblack1]

@winner43 I heard Toots say on an interview that his friend had a brother that was so ugly that he wanted to do a song about him. I think that's why they sing "see no sign of you, only heard of you, ugly 'nough to be monkey man"

[M15CY]

@MrAblack1 huggin' up not ugly 'nough.

[M15CY]

@winner43 it doesn't mean any thing played normal but if the record is played backwards at 34rpm you hear him say "kill the jews"

[rangatang100]

@M15CY youre disturbed boy

[shorelineboy]

real classic great

[TheWarboots]

Skinhead reggea...TROJAN SKIN!!!

[ratedrich1982]

this is a beautiful song . Classic

[rassputih]

now I know that.. now I understand..

[Yavor54]

Well, sorry say that the Specials OWN this song. OK, they didn't write it, but nobody can do a better job on it. It is arguably the best Ska song ever written.

[TheBam1997]

monkey man!

[DarkDutchman]

Nice great track! But I miss Toots. :)

[nealthedude]

This version sounds similar to the one I have on the yellow London label from 1970. I forgot the artist but it might be Maytals. It would take me ages to sort it out to check. Sounds very much the same though.

[rasterfari21]

ska rastafarian jah jah thats goooooooooooood tune jah bless hay hay hay man

[DarkDutchman]

@rasterfari21

This is Ska, rudeboy music, not rasta. :D Buts its a great song so i'm happy you enjoy it too! ;)

[blakbeltjonez]

@DarkDutchman

it's not ska at all - it's reggae. there's lots of reggae that has nothing at all to do with Rastafari (most Jamaicans were quite conservative then, and Rastas were looked down upon and persecuted well into the 70's) . Ska had run it's course by mid 1966, and rocksteady took over until reggae became dominant starting in mid-late 1968. "Monkey Man" is the more uptempo 1969-70 reggae style that was briefly popular in Jamaica and the UK before the music slowed down again.

[progamermatt]

@blakbeltjonez

That's knowledge right there!

[BlondeRocknRoll]

oh the best .. i have to dance when i hear this .. its a must ..

[rmilroy56]

Love this record reminds me of dancing at the 'Discos' these orginal artists are the tops...

[franticgiraffe]

Haha i love the song, I love the Maytals cant believe this is the first time i have heard this but i love it.

[Cliff88]

Creia que era de los Specials jeje que buena

[VALEBILHAS]

better than The Maytals?? There's no sutch thing!

[JHFillmoreEast]

@VALEBILHAS indeed my friend

[downwiththeking1]

The Specials version is better, faster, makes u want 2 jump about.

[ggesgd]

@downwiththeking1 No way the specials are better dude. The Maytals are classic.

[jonleestone]

@downwiththeking1 The Specials is better if you're in a club, but there's no way its better than the maytals.

[tooheys1968]

@jonleestone: Ya right, have you seen Toots play it live

[keepdifyahblazehigh]

@tooheys1968 i ve seen dem a play it live jus a few weeks ago, no way anyone can do it betta

[rightwingnutcake]

@downwiththeking1 The Specials fucking suck ass.

[DarkDutchman]

@rightwingnutcake

Relax brother... The Specials are very Special because they made this style of music famous all over europe and acceptable for all kind of people, white, yellow and green.. :D

[BlueSuedeTom]

Saw "Toots" last night at O2 academy Islington FANTASTIC!

[kenyianFiasco]

This is Jamaican Music, white folks continue to steal music that is not there. They believe we are incapable of writing our own music. BIG UP JAMAICA - Our music gave birth to HIP HOP and other Genres.

[scottbaioisdead]

@kenyianFiasco jamaican ska came from calypso and mento mixed with american jazz and r&b music, to say this is pure jamaican is wrong.

[o0dP0o]

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[RasRel]

This very minute I'm going to see Toots in Amsterdam, Melkweg. Love it!

[brandistocker]

jamaika? britain? WTF? Music is the language that everybody understands. It has just different colors in different styles. That's all folks.

[DLCOrganization]

Indeed, Brandi... So why is everyone here trying to distance "Monkey Man" from what it truly is -- a bouncy REGGAE tune, MADE IN JAMAICA for everyone to enjoy? For the same reason people try to distance Dub from Reggae. Either way, they can't do it. They can show THEIR OWN true colors, but they can't separate what is binding and true about Black music, and particularly Jamaican music. > Professor DLC

[BOOTSY651]

@DLCOrganization

Beautifully said. Ska, Reggae, Dub cannot be distanced from their Roots JAMAICA

[drugman69]

@brandistocker Absolutely with you, greetings from Mexico

[L365YQ]

skank ou!!!

[koandito]

This is JAMAICA MUSIC

Britain, admire this and dance!!!! ...

[Frycu5G]

Nope, it was written in 1969 by the Maytals and then covered by numerous bands, including The Specials ( formed in 1977 by the way )

[Frycu5G]

British ? The Maytals are Jamaican .

[magyarmatyi]

@Frycu5G yeah the Maytals, but i think The Specials wrote it:)

[NoNickNoKick]

@magyarmatyi, ""Monkey Man" is a 1969 song by the reggae group the Maytals, reaching number 47 in the UK Singles Chart." Source: The Maytals official web site.

Byron Lee & the Dragonaires version is from 1975 and The Specials version is from 1979.

[VC631]

@magyarmatyi The Maytals Wrote It, The Specials Covered It.

[VeeBee81]

@magyarmatyi How could the Specials have wrote it when the Maytals have been performing this song as far back as 1969? Were any of the Special born at that time?

[VC631]

@Frycu5G True That.

[grimdigger]

Nothing can beat this song, not rock, punk, electro nothing it's just a true British song :D best song in world

[koandito]

@grimdigger British?????????? HA HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA hHAhahahahahhahahahahah AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AAAAAAAAAAAA

Aïe aïe aïe

[grimdigger]

@koandito but which country was this type of music fully hands taken on by... Britain... therefor it is a true British song...

[koandito]

@grimdigger WOW! .... I can't believe this state of ignorance...

Take a look of what was going on in the world....don't stay just in your town...peace man

[grimdigger]

@koandito You're from Peru... LOL, you have no idea of British culture and music at the time, end of

[koandito]

@grimdigger I know about your culture more than you expect....cause I didn' stay in my little town....I love Britain...and your culture, I'm the biggest fun of your music...but sorry THIS IS JAMAICAN!....peace man!

[jonleestone]

@grimdigger lmao.  Jamaican band, Jamaican music, Jamaican culture.

[eyeball226]

@grimdigger

You're an idiot, you realise that?

[edn172]

@grimdigger silly child. how could you possibly think that.

[Kukszi]

get high:D