20 Best Songs About Monkeys

Nina Hampson

It’s hard to think of a creature that has been the focus of songs more than monkeys.

From children’s nursery rhymes to classic rock anthems, there seems to be something about these creatures that inspires musicians, who in turn make music that animals like monkeys love!

Here are 20 of the best songs about monkeys-enjoy!

By the way, if you’re searching for songs about monkeys, you may also like some of our other playlists, like songs about animals, songs about cowboys, songs about freaks, and songs with animals in the title.

Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys

The song “Brass Monkey” by Beastie Boys is a song about monkeys.

The lyrics describe a monkey that is made of brass and that drinks Brass Monkey, a type of alcohol.

The song also mentions other animals, such as a llama and an elephant.

The song is considered to be one of the Beastie Boys’ most famous songs, and it has been covered by many different artists.

The song has also been featured in several movies and television shows.

Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey – The Beatles

Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (Remastered 2009)

The Beatles were one of the most prolific and influential bands of all time, and their song “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” is a prime example of their creativity and songwriting prowess.

The song is about monkeys, but it also serves as a commentary on the human condition.

The lyrics paint a picture of a world where everyone is hiding something, whether it be their true feelings or their true selves.

Punish The Monkey – Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler - Punish The Monkey

The song “Punish the Monkey” by Mark Knopfler is a song about monkeys.

In the song, the narrator describes how he would like to punish the monkey for its misdeeds.

He talks about how the monkey has stolen his food and made a mess of his house.

The narrator also describes how he would like to teach the monkey a lesson so that it will never do anything like that again.

The song is a great example of how music can be used to convey a message about animal rights.

By using humor and sarcasm, Knopfler is able to get his point across without being too preachy.

As a result, the song is both entertaining and enlightening.

Monkey Gone To Heaven – Pixies

Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven (Official Video)

The song “Monkey Gone to Heaven” by the Pixies is a song about, well, monkeys.

More specifically, it is a song about the consequences of humans exploiting and mistreating animals.

The opening lines describe a world where “the lives of all the monkeys are in your hands” and implore the listener to “be nice to them.”

The monkey in the song is a symbol for all of the victims of human cruelty, and its death is a warning of what will happen if we continue to abuse and mistreat animals.

Shake That Monkey – Too Short

Shake That Monkey is a club hit by American rapper Too Short.

It was released in 1994 as the lead single from his album Vicious.

The song is based on a sample of the 1971 disco hit Do It, Baby, by MFSB featuring the vocalizations of Marilyn McCoo.

Shake That Monkey became Too Short’s highest-charting single, reaching number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is considered one of his signature tracks and has been included on several of his greatest hits albums.

The lyrics of Shake That Monkey are suggestive and sexually explicit, with Too Short boasting about his sexual conquests and accomplishments.

The song has been denounced by some as misogynistic, but it continues to be popular among fans of rap music.

Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench (Official Music Video)

Shake That Monkey is a club hit by American rapper Too Short. It was released in 1994 as the lead single from his album Vicious.

The song is based on a sample of the 1971 disco hit Do It, Baby, by MFSB featuring the vocalizations of Marilyn McCoo.

Shake That Monkey became Too Short’s highest-charting single, reaching number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is considered one of his signature tracks and has been included on several of his greatest hits albums.

The lyrics of Shake That Monkey are suggestive and sexually explicit, with Too Short boasting about his sexual conquests and accomplishments.

The song has been denounced by some as misogynistic, but it continues to be popular among fans of rap music.

Monkey Man – The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones - Monkey Man (Official Lyric Video)

“Monkey Man” is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1969 album Let It Bleed.

The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was produced by Jimmy Miller.

“Monkey Man” is a song about monkeys.

The lyrics tell the story of a man who turns into a monkey, and the monkey who turns into a man.

The song is sung from the perspective of the man, who is trying to convince the monkey that he is not a monkey.

The monkey doesn’t believe him, and eventually, the man turns into a monkey himself.

Shock The Monkey – Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkey

Peter Gabriel’s “Shock the Monkey” is a song about the harsh realities of life in the animal kingdom. The lyrics tell the story of a monkey who is captured and put on display in a zoo.

The monkey is shocked and traumatized by the experience, and he eventually escapes and returns to his natural habitat.

The song is a powerful commentary on the treatment of animals in captivity, and it highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats.

“Shock the Monkey” is an excellent example of Gabriel’s ability to create thought-provoking and socially conscious music.

Dance Monkey – Tones and I

TONES AND I - DANCE MONKEY (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” is a song about monkeys that became a global sensation.

The song was written by Toni Watson, an Australian singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name Tones and I.

“Dance Monkey” was released in May 2019 as the lead single from Tones and I’s debut EP, The Kids Are Coming.

The song quickly rose to the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries.

In November 2019, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, becoming Tones and I’s first and only chart-topping single to date.

“Dance Monkey” has been praised for its catchy hook and upbeat message.

The song’s success has helped to launch Tones and I’s career, making her one of the most successful new artists of 2019.

Shake Me Like A Monkey – Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band - Shake Me Like a Monkey (Live in Europe 2009)

Dave Matthews Band is a well-known American rock band, and “Shake Me Like A Monkey” is one of their most popular songs.

The song is about monkeys, specifically how they are often used in medical research.

The lyrics talk about how the monkey’s body is “a perfect machine” and how they are “tortured by degrees.”

The song also mentions how the monkeys are forced to live in small cages and how they are eventually killed when they are no longer useful to researchers.

While the song is clearly critical of the use of monkeys in medical research, it also highlights the plight of these animals and brings attention to an important issue.

Monkey Riches – Animal Collective

Animal Collective - Monkey Riches (Official Video)

Animal Collective is an American experimental pop band that formed in the early 2000s.

The group is known for their unique and often avant-garde approach to pop music, and their ninth studio album, Painting With, is no exception.

The album’s lead single, “Monkey Riches,” is a catchy and playful track that finds the group experimenting with a new sound.

The song’s lyrics are about monkeys, specifically their intelligence and ability to thrive in the wild.

Too Much Monkey Business – Chuck Berry

Too Much Monkey Business

In “Too Much Monkey Business,” Chuck Berry tells the story of a busy man who is constantly being pestered by monkeys.

The song is light-hearted and humorous, but it also makes a serious point about the importance of taking time to relax and enjoy life.

The narrator is clearly frazzled by the monkeys’ antics, but he finds their company more enjoyable than that of humans.

This points to the fact that humans often put too much emphasis on work and neglect to enjoy the simpler things in life.

“Too Much Monkey Business” is a fun, upbeat song that encourages listeners to slow down and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Monkey And The Engineer – Grateful Dead

Monkey and the Engineer

The song “Monkey and the Engineer” by Grateful Dead is a song about monkeys.

In the song, a monkey is sitting in a tree, watching an engineer pass by.

The monkey becomes curious about the engineer and what he is doing.

The monkey follows the engineer and watches him as he works on the railroad tracks.

The engineer does not notice the monkey, but the monkey is very interested in what he is doing.

The monkey eventually gets tired and goes back to his tree.

The engineer continues working on the railroad tracks.

The song is told from the perspective of the monkey and is very playful.

It is a fun song to listen to and it is also very catchy.

Tweeter And The Monkey Man – Traveling Wilburys

Tweeter And The Monkey Man

Tweeter and the Monkey Man is a song by the Traveling Wilburys, a supergroup composed of George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan.

The song is about a man named Tweeter and a monkey named Eddie who team up to rob a bank.

They are eventually caught by the police and sent to prison.

The song is notable for its use of imagery and metaphors, as well as its narrative structure.

The lyrics have been described as “a cross between Dylan and Edgar Allan Poe”.

The Lord Is A Monkey – Butthole Surfers

The Lord Is A Monkey

The Lord Is A Monkey by Butthole Surfers is a song about anyone who has ever been oppressed or made to feel inferior.

The title refers to the way that some people treat others as though they are less than human, like animals.

This is something that the band members themselves have experienced, both as individuals and as a group.

In the song, they use monkeys as a metaphor for those who are downtrodden and treated unfairly.

The lyrics are angry and confrontational, but also darkly humorous.

The song is an excellent example of the Butthole Surfers’ unique blend of weirdness, humor, and social commentary.

Monkey In Your Soul – Steely Dan

Monkey In Your Soul

Released in 1974, “Monkey in Your Soul” is a song by the American jazz rock band Steely Dan.

The song is about a relationship between a man and a woman that is falling apart.

The man is trying to hold on to the relationship, but the woman is ready to move on.

The song has a catchy melody and an upbeat tempo, but the lyrics are full of despair and heartbreak.

Despite its depressing subject matter, “Monkey in Your Soul” is one of Steely Dan’s most popular songs, and it has been covered by many artists over the years.

Porcelain Monkey – Warren Zevon

Porcelain Monkey is a song by Warren Zevon that was released on his album Mr. Bad Example in 1991.

The song is about a man who has had a series of failed relationships and is now living alone with his porcelain monkey companion.

The lyrics express the man’s loneliness and despair, as well as his belief that he will never find love again.

Despite its dark subject matter, the song is surprisingly upbeat, with a catchy melody and Zevon’s characteristic wit.

Porcelain Monkey is one of Warren Zevon’s most popular songs and has been covered by a number of artists, including R.E.M. and Bob Dylan.

Sell My Monkey – B.B. King

B.B. King’s “Sell My Monkey” is a playful and cheerful song about a man who is trying to sell his pet monkey.

The lyrics are lighthearted and humorous, and the melody is catchy and upbeat.

The song reflects King’s sense of humor and his ability to find enjoyment in the simple things in life.

It is also a reminder that even when times are tough, there is always something to be grateful for.

“Sell My Monkey” is a classic B.B. King song that continues to bring joy to listeners of all ages.

Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse – Warren Zevon

Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse (2008 Remaster)

Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse is a song by Warren Zevon.

The song is about a man who is trying to get his monkey to wash its feet.

The man tries various methods to get the monkey to wash its feet, but the monkey always resists.

The man finally gives up and decides to wash the monkey’s feet himself.

The song is humorous and observations about human nature.

It is also a commentary on the foolishness of trying to control another person.

The song was released as a single in 1978 and reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It has since been covered by various artists, including Jimmy Buffett and Bob Dylan.

Monkey Wash Donkey Rinse is one of Warren Zevon’s best-known songs and remains popular today.

Everybody’s Got The Monkey – David Lee Roth

Everybody's Got the Monkey (2007 Remaster)

“Everybody’s Got the Monkey” is a song by American rock musician David Lee Roth, released as the second single from his debut solo album, Eat ‘Em and Smile (1986).

The song was written by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai, and produced by Bob Rock.

It is a fast-paced rock song with heavy metal and hard rock elements.

The lyrics are about people who are “carrying around a monkey on their back” and how they need to “shake it loose.”

The song has been described as a “celebration of hedonism” and an anthem for those who live life to the fullest.