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Mark Knopfler — Punish the Monkey
Album: Kill to Get Crimson
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1263









Released: 2007
Length: 4:33
Plays (last 30 days): 2
They're driving long nails into coffins
You've been having sleepless nights
You've gone as quiet as a church mouse
And checking on your rights

The boss has hung you out to dry
And it looks as though
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go

you've been talking to a lawyer
Are you gonna pretend
That you and your employer
Are still the best of friends

Somebody's gonna take the fall
There's your quid pro quo
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey, yeah
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go

Here comes a policeman
He won't be sidetracked
He's asking 'bout a smoking gun
He's after the bad

It's a quiet life from here on in
You dropped your poisoned cup
The telephone is ringing
But you're not picking up

Times I've said are flunky
And everybody knows
Punish the monkey
(Punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah
(Punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go

Punish the monkey
(Punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey, yeah
(Punish the monkey)
Punish the monkey
And let the organ grinder go

Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Punish the monkey
Comments (78)add comment
Got 20 years I have been convinced the lyric was 'Polish the monkey'
Mark Knopfler again.  What a surprise.
Did everyone really miss Monkey Man by the Stones in Let it Bleed? I am coming into this conversation late so maybe it's somewhere in the thread.
 h8rhater wrote:

 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys


and... The Mojo Monkeys!
 andrew2112 wrote:




One glaring omission: Shock the Monkey ~Gabriel
 h8rhater wrote:
The Main Monkey Business - Rush
 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys


This album is in regular rotation around our house, one of Marks better solo efforts.
Now about that monkey........
 thewiseking wrote:

First it was spank the monkey, then shock the monkey.........now they continue to punish the monkey? LEAVE THE MONKEY ALONE



It's worse in Hartlepool, NE England, where the natives allegedly hanged a shipwrecked monkey in the belief that it was a French spy.  They're perversely proud of this, to the extent that fans of Hartlepool United FC call themselves the monkeyhangers :o)
Timely
RP?! Would You like to punish my monkey?
PUNISH HIM!  TOUCH HIM!!
Bestrafe meinen Affen!!
...... he es shmitten wit u,  zank u very much!🐵🐒........
 h8rhater wrote:

 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys


Where else are you gonna get important stuff like this?
 h8rhater wrote:

 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys


You can also add:
Monkey Dick - Fishbone
 dougalbumski wrote:




monkey man-rolling stones
 h8rhater wrote:
Great playlist.  I dare you, Bill.  
I remember the theme playlist on KMPX and KSAN in San Francisco in the late 60s and early 70s.  

 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys


First it was spank the monkey, then shock the monkey.........now they continue to punish the monkey? LEAVE THE MONKEY ALONE
 unclehud wrote:
Punish the Monkey
And let the Organ Grinder go ...

Monkey = Giuliani?
Organ Grinder = Trump?

Ah, US politics!  Where the surreal is an everyday occurrence!



Nah...

Monkey = me
Organ Grinder = my (at some point ex) wife
Isn't it always the case, that the organ grinders get away clean and the poor monkeys get it in the neck. Fine song, Mark. 8 from the primate Nottingham jury. Ook ook!
 lizardking wrote:

Like Marc Maron joked, soon hearing "hey, did you hear hunting is allowed at zoos now?" will fly by without a raised eyebrow.

Mike Judge's"Idiocracy" seems rather prophetic now too. Uggg.
Long Live RP our last bastion of normal.

Speak for yourself, Lizard Boy...
c.
Haha, I thought he was singing "polish the monkey"... :-D
 phlattop wrote:


Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.
 
Monkey Man- Rolling Stones
What Makes the Monkey Dance- Chuck Prophet



Tweeter and the Monkey Man - Bob Dylan
 h8rhater wrote:



lemmoth wrote:New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more


maxjboxer wrote:

Hey Hey We're the Monkeys, and people say we monkey around.

No wonder they get punished and shocked.


 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.
 
Monkey Man- Rolling Stones
What Makes the Monkey Dance- Chuck Prophet

I wanna hear this with (in order):
Shock the Monkey, Peter Gabriel
Money Gone to Heaven, Pixies

It just seems logical.
 unclehud wrote:
Punish the Monkey
And let the Organ Grinder go ...

Monkey = Giuliani?
Organ Grinder = Trump?

Ah, US politics!  Where the surreal is an everyday occurrence!
 
Like Marc Maron joked, soon hearing "hey, did you hear hunting is allowed at zoos now?" will fly by without a raised eyebrow.

Mike Judge's"Idiocracy" seems rather prophetic now too. Uggg.
Long Live RP our last bastion of normal.
Punish the Monkey
And let the Organ Grinder go ...

Monkey = Giuliani?
Organ Grinder = Trump?

Ah, US politics!  Where the surreal is an everyday occurrence!


lemmoth wrote:New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more


maxjboxer wrote:

Hey Hey We're the Monkeys, and people say we monkey around.

No wonder they get punished and shocked.


 

Me and My Monkey - Robbie Williams
Everyone Has Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey - Lennon
Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters
Everybody's Got the Monkey - David Lee Roth
Monkey In Your Soul - Steely Dan
Monkey - Robert Plant
Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry/Elvis
Shake Me Like A Monkey - DMB
Monkey Time - Boz Scaggs
Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys
Leave My Monkey Alone - Warren Zevon
Monkey Puzzle - Dr. John
Proudest Monkey - DMB
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith

... there are many more.

Okay, a few more:
Monkey Gone to Heaven - Pixies
Half Ass Monkey Boy - Mother Love Bone
Monkey to Man - Elvis Costello
Tweeter and the Monkey Man - The Headstones/The Traveling Wilburys
The Lord is a Monkey - Butthole Surfers
Monkey Island - J. Giels Band
Mikey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson
16 Monkeys - Los Lonely Boys
 zepher wrote:

Dear Mr Knophler, sorry George took your guitar.  He tends to be rather curious and loves to learn new things.
I hope he wasn't too much trouble. - Man with Yellow Hat
 

Bump... Poor Monkey
 iamnotafraid wrote:
Generally I like Knopfler, but he seems to be mailing it in on this one. Just ok.
 
I call heresy! Mark Knopfler might not get a 10 every go 'round on RP, but he NEVER "mails it in." I hereby punish you to an hour of Dave Matthews Band. Go. And never darken his songs' comments space ever again. 
Guarded by Monkeys: Cracker

 
m_logie wrote:

Proudest Monkey: DMB
Monkey Wrench: Foo Fighters
 

Generally I like Knopfler, but he seems to be mailing it in on this one. Just ok.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Smokey Robinson: Mickey's Monkey
 
Proudest Monkey: DMB
Monkey Wrench: Foo Fighters
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 

Moonbeam Monkey
-- Tanya Donelly.
excellent CD!!
 skooba wrote:
I came here to ask how one punishes the monkey.  Looks like a lot of listeners beat me to it.  {#Cheesygrin}

 
Sorry I'm late....just got in....had to perform the Heimlich real quick on my choking chicken.

 On_The_Beach wrote:
What with Peter Gabriel telling us to shock the monkey, Mark telling us to punish him, and countless others suggesting we spank the poor fellah, hey, it's a tough time out there for monkeys! 

That's probably why they were so eager to go into outer space.
I caught myself singing..."polish the monkey".....oops
Very 'Sultanas of Swing'
I came here to ask how one punishes the monkey.  Looks like a lot of listeners beat me to it.  {#Cheesygrin}
Smack the pony,
Bash the bishop.
.....
I'm pretty sure Mark knew exactly what he was doing....
Incredibly prolific
 DaidyBoy wrote:

My young lad plays a computer game called "Spank The Monkey".  Work that one out.

 
I heard there was a digital version of that.

=runs for cover= 
 dirtbagpook wrote:
I thought he was saying 'Polish the Monkey'. Jeez, talk about misheard lyrics. {#Rolleyes}

 
My young lad plays a computer game called "Spank The Monkey".  Work that one out.
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more

 
Beastie Boys' Brass Monkey, Gorrillaz' Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head, and Travelling Wilburys' Tweeter and the Monkey Man.
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more

 
Hey Hey We're the Monkeys, and people say we monkey around.

No wonder they get punished and shocked.


so western moviie sounding. i can hear the wooden sidewalks sprouting under m y feet.

there is soeething about this that reminds me of dylan's tales of yankee power period

Dear Mr Knophler, sorry George took your guitar.  He tends to be rather curious and loves to learn new things.
I hope he wasn't too much trouble. - Man with Yellow Hat
 rgabriel wrote:

Alphaville - Monkey in the Moon (not on RP... yet)

 
Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more

 
Alphaville - Monkey in the Moon (not on RP... yet)
Definitely needs more cow bell.
BESIDES EVERYTHING ELSE ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCERS ON THE PLANET
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
Smokey Robinson: Mickey's Monkey
Gillian Welch: One Monkey (Don't Stop The Show).
 mgtom wrote:
lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
Everybody's Got Something to Hide..............


 
Dredging this up because...

Too Much Monkey Business, Shake Me Like a Monkey, Proudest Monkey, Monkey River (Munky River)... I like all of these!
I thought he was saying 'Polish the Monkey'. Jeez, talk about misheard lyrics. {#Rolleyes}
 zatxela wrote:
If you've ever worked in a backwards bureaucracy, these lyrics hit home...another winner from a great story teller...and awesome guitar tones!

 

upside only . {#Cowboy}need apply
we be the monkey, folks just pay close heed to congress{#Devil_pimp}
What with Peter Gabriel telling us to shock the monkey, Mark telling us to punish him, and countless others suggesting we spank the poor fellah, hey, it's a tough time out there for monkeys!
Chuckle, chuckle;  because it's so true. 
We should what now..?
I saw him and his band last night in Berkeley.

Beyond fantastic. I wish I could see them every week.

They opened with "What It Is" and did "So Far Away" for an encore, and the rest was off the new album.

Really good music, from really great musicians. Do yourself a favor and go see them if you can. 
Mark can make cracker crumbs at my place any time
Great tune, but the rest of the album is even better.  Please, more from 'Kill to Get Crimson'!!!
Loved the song! Felt a little sorry for that poor monkey but loved the song! =)

{#Crashcomp} 
 strous wrote:
Neighbour of Chris Isaak?
  

Regarding guitar-neighbourhood:
Where Mark craps - Chris is not allowed to eat!

In answering your question more directly:
NOOOOOO! No neighbourhood aaaaaaat all!

Is the elderly home in Florida in the neighbourhood of
the beaches of Anjuna...?

You're either kidding or do not have a drivers license!

 vandal wrote:
spank the monkey
 


 Jelani wrote:
Hmmm....never heard it called that before. :)
 g-rod wrote:
OK, I'm holding back...who's gonna do it?
 
I started listening during the last part of the chorus and my brain said "Whaaaaat did he say!!!"  That's funny. 
Now I'll need to listen to the first part of the song to see what he is really singing about.
If you've ever worked in a backwards bureaucracy, these lyrics hit home...another winner from a great story teller...and awesome guitar tones!
 myersei wrote:
great lyrics and, as usual, spectacular guitar work.
 

Indeed!
great lyrics and, as usual, spectacular guitar work.
Neighbour of Chris Isaak?
 MinMan wrote:

I, for one, say that this tune doesn't compare favorably with the first and last tunes referenced in the preceding - so there.

 

Will need more listens as always, but the four I mentioned are all faves of mine, including the Stones and Elvis C's

Matthews on the other hand,,,,, is not
 mgtom wrote:
lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
Everybody's Got Something to Hide..............

 

Of course - how did I miss that one
Hmmm....never heard it called that before. :)
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
Hey, Bill heard you! {#Clap}
 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
I, for one, say that this tune doesn't compare favorably with the first and last tunes referenced in the preceding - so there.

lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
Everybody's Got Something to Hide..............

 lemmoth wrote:
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more
 
https://www.radioparadise.com/content.php?name=Music and search for "monkey"

OK, I'm holding back...who's gonna do it?
New song with Monkey in the title.

I love Monkey songs - Shock the Monkey, Monkey Man, Monkey to Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

who has more