Proudest Monkey Meaning?
Tad S G
I know this sounds ridiculous, but after reading the lyrics to Proudest
Monkey, my girlfriend told me that she thought that Dave was using the
word "monkey" to refer to his genitals (as in "spanking the monkey"). I
told her she was nuts (forgive the pun), but she insisted she was right.
So, I told her that I would put it to the Newsgroup. Please tell me that I
am right in thinking that Dave is making general comments about humans,
and not glorifying his own manhood.
Futur...@webtv.net
I don't think Dave was speaking about his genitals. I always thought
the song was about the evoultion of ape to man, and how man still acts
like a monkey. It's also just a cool laid back song about being happy
and proud of oneself.
That's what I think any way!
Dave Wilson
Futur...@webtv.net wrote:
Hey,
Actually, my thoughts on this meaning were confirmed by a recent
Dave article I read. The song is really about his journey - and
moreover man's journey from the forest or Jungle, being a metaphor for
life outside the big city,to the big city where man can make something
of himself. Dave lived in South Africa for a long time, and really had
to come to the big cities of America to make it. Examples from the song
"I am a humble monkey..." signifies his life in South Africa, not
really doing much career wise, and then "I moved to the city....car
horns, corners and the gritty...now I am the proudest monkey you've ever
seen," signifying how his career took off in the States. It's sort of a
social commentary more than anything - he is saying that it is funny
that for artists to make it big they have to move to the big cities of
the states, which is true when you think about it.
Hope this made sense, it's a bit confusing, but it's quite logical
really.
Dave.
Gabe23
I agree that Dave was NOT talking about his genitals. He said in an
interview that the song was inspired by his rise from a bartender to a
'big star', and how sometimes when you get what you thought you wanted,
you wonder if it was worth it. He also said that it sounded the most like
South African music he listened to as a kid.
I'm coming slow but speeding..
DMB
Preston Garner
when I saw dave in concert he explained that it is about evolution, and
how that we are all just apes living in a modern world.
true story
ErotikElle
Your girlfriend was joking, right? He's not writing about his genitals in
this song. He leaves that for others to do (mostly on this newsgroup, it
seems).
Garrett Sparks
Tad S G <ta...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19970427054...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
If my Dave Matthews listening has done my any good, Dave is undoubtedly
doing both at the same time. He tends to like to do that if he can. Don't
put too much of your philosophy on songs. They are fiction like anything
else.
cybr...@crosslink.net
DIANE AND BARB wrote:
>
> Actually, I believe Proudest Monkey is about a person who is leaving at
> the age when they go off to college or wherever and telling his folks
> that sure, he loved them, but it's really time for him to find himself
> and what he wishes to do in life.
I agree with Diane.
Justin Martenstein
I seem to recall (I don't think i could make this up on my own) that
Dave explained the song as a metaphor for his (and the band's) rise to
stardom. He looks back on those "quieter days" and feels some regret and
longing for them, but he is still the "proudest monkey", happy for where
he is.
"I wonder do I want the simple,
simple life that I once lived in well
Oh things were quiet then
In a way they were the better days
But now I am the proudest monkey
You've ever seen."
-=------------------------------------=-
Justin Martenstein
Case Western Reserve University
http://b64831.cwru.edu/~justin
"There was a single blue line of crayon drawn across
every wall in the house. What does it mean? I asked.
A pirate needs the sight of the sea, he said & then
pulled his eye patch down & turned & sailed away."
-Brian Andreas
dr.cynic
Justin Martenstein wrote:
>
> cybr...@crosslink.net wrote:
> >
> > DIANE AND BARB wrote:
> > >
> > > Actually, I believe Proudest Monkey is about a person who is leaving at
> > > the age when they go off to college or wherever and telling his folks
> > > that sure, he loved them, but it's really time for him to find himself
> > > and what he wishes to do in life.
> > I agree with Diane.
>
> I seem to recall (I don't think i could make this up on my own) that
> Dave explained the song as a metaphor for his (and the band's) rise to
> stardom. He looks back on those "quieter days" and feels some regret and
> longing for them, but he is still the "proudest monkey", happy for where
> he is.
>
> "I wonder do I want the simple,
> simple life that I once lived in well
> Oh things were quiet then
> In a way they were the better days
> But now I am the proudest monkey
> You've ever seen."
>
> -=------------------------------------=-
>
> Justin Martenstein
> Case Western Reserve University
> http://b64831.cwru.edu/~justin
>
agreed. it is also a song that is a contrast to satellite. satellite is
a song that marvels in technology and human advancement. "rest high
above the ground with no restriction, television we bounce round the
world..." proudest monkey questions this "great rise of technology" and
perhaps even criticizes our often holier than thou nature...
that's why they were played together at first, proudest as an intro to
satellite.
also look at the outro percussion to too much and the inro percussion to
billies. it's the same thing because these two songs also have
contrasting meanings. "eat to much...drink to much...want to much." "eat
, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die..."
-brian
Bryan McQuade
tell your girlfriend she's way off base.
the song used to be called evolution, and before that it was route 2.
rte2 meaning alternative route - humanity.
evolution speaks for itself
i like dave's idea for the song, but the song has to be my least
favorite for sound.
Mister Grimm
Actually, didnt dave say it was about his childhood in south africa, where he
would look up at the monkies in the trees, and now that he his life has become
complex he sometimes wishes it could be as simple as those monkies lives...he
said this at the jones beach show from last year i beleive.
Matt
In article <33BB100B...@skibuff.com>, Bryan McQuade <bry...@skibuff.com>
wrote: