Toots and tha Maytals - Monkey Man

[Jumbo]

Like Jumbo seh, easy to imagine all manner of things in a tune like this. Reality is somewhat different.

Forget the meaning then, let's enjoy the riddim! So, I ask: Anyone know of some more versions of it?
I have
Annie Pama, Lee's Allstars (Pama) - this may be the same as High Voltage, Beverly's All Stars on beverlys/Trojan, but I dont kno.
Some Jackie Mittoo thing on a Studio 1 white label which I think is called Dark Moon or something
quote]

Dark of the Moon is indeed the Jackie Mittoo cut of the Freedom singers - Monkey Man (Coxsone)with Larry Marshall on Lead.

and don't forget the Specials and recently Amy Winehouse who, although they both butchered the song, made Toots Hibbert get some nice royalties

[j j]

contributors has no letter J in it.:-p

[Jumbo]

@ JJ
i added one especially for your enjoyment

[tdmoose]

I think the song is an insult slung at a man who was once a friend, but who is now too big of a big shot to be bothered by the "little people" he once hung out with.

It seems more in keeping with other lyrics by the Maytals (Pressure Drop, e.g.).

I often sing the song to myself at work when I see my co-workers sucking up to (hugging up?) the big boss man. To me, the song just seems to be more in that vein, than about a man losing a girlfriend to a big dumb guy.

[lenroy]

On the bbc reggae series aired on bbc 4 a month ago toots says that the song was about leslie kong's brother. The song was written with the brothers consent.
That was from the composer himself, we all have our opinions as to what the songs about, some right, some wrong (I got it wrong myself).
Just enjoy the music. In my opinoin not too many tunes released today can simply be enjoyed like this tune was back then.

[6anbatte]

On the bbc reggae series aired on bbc 4 a month ago toots says that the song was about leslie kong's brother. The song was written with the brothers consent.
That was from the composer himself, we all have our opinions as to what the songs about, some right, some wrong (I got it wrong myself).
Just enjoy the music. In my opinoin not too many tunes released today can simply be enjoyed like this tune was back then.

Also, if I remember rightly, Toots said he was asked to write the song by Leslie.

[Stick-a-Bush]

Never could understand all the lyrics. Thought that it was something about bouncers/doormen in clubs.

[Wee Jah]

Yes man. I Agree. People are reading too much into this song if they think it's a political or social commentary. The lyric is not 'working up the big monkey man' like some have suggested, clearly, if you listen to the song - they say :

Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man
Aye aye aye, aye aye aye
Tell you baby, you huggin up the big monkey man

The fact that anyone drew racial overtones to this song speaks volumes about their own state of mind. Let's not be bringing up any race issues where they don't exist. One People. One Love.