FAWM: "The Monkey"

The Monkey

3 weeks ago by @edwinb

The Monkey

edwinb

00:00

Liner Notes

Unless they're extremely lucky, every artist has to have a day job to pay the bills, no matter how hard they work at their craft. So I wondered what would happen to that infinite monkey who did manage to type out Hamlet. They'd probably have some tedious clerical job at a government agency like the DVLA (that's the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, for non-Brits).

A #silly #ukulele #nerdfolk song to get going, recorded straight to laptop. #fuc

As usual, I have no idea if this makes any sense, but I did steal the concept from one of the lyrics in Dan Bern's "True Revolutionaries".

Lyrics

[C][G][Am]
[F][G][C]

[C]Working [G]at his [C]craft
[F]Discarding [G]draft after [C]draft
[F]He knew that [G]he could [Am]make it
If [F]he put in the [G]graft

It [C]surely [G]would be [C]tough
To [F]bring it [G]up to [C]snuff
The [F]haters [G]didn't [Am]rate him
But [F]infinite tries could be e[G]nough

So he'd [Am]strive to reach his [Em]target
And he'd [F]show up at his desk every [G]day[G7][G6][G]
He was the [C]monkey who [G]typed out [Am]Hamlet
But now he's [F]working for the [G]DVL[C]A

They [C]said that [G]his suc[C]cess
Was a [F]stroke of [G]luck at [C]best
And he [F]never [G]would re[Am]peat it
It was [F]just a lucky [G]guess

So [C]now that's [G]his re[C]ward
On [F]custo[G]mer sup[C]port
He'll [F]type out [G]one more li[Am]cence
While he [F]sits, depressed and [G]bored

But he [Am]tolerates his [Em]day job
While [F]working on his next big [G]play[G7][G6][G]
He was the [C]monkey who [G]typed out [Am]Hamlet
Now he's [F]working for the [G]DVL[C]A

Up[Am]dates a regist[G]ration
[Am]Scrolls down to the second [G]page
Op[Am]posable thumbs at the [G]keyboard
But his [F]mind is on the [G]stage

So he [Am]tolerates his [Em]day job
While [F]working on his next big [G]play[G7][G6][G]
He was the [C]monkey who [G]typed out [Am]Hamlet
Now he's [F]working for the [G]DVL[C]A

Comments

@kadmad202 1w

Well, this is fun! I love your completely serious delivery, as well as your utterly delightful lyrics. Thanks for the smile!

@berni1954 1w

Like so much of your stuff, this but a broad grin on my face. ,👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😉

@rocketgrrrl 2w

Clever and fun concept, and sadly so relatable. Catchy and enjoyable performance as well. I really love his optimism at the end, already working on the next one. We should all hope to do so well.

@coolparadisoMod 3w

tis true, a bit like waiter actors! nice clean uke. good story poignant and a touch of humour

@oaksnprairie 3w

I love the concept! Although it worries me that perhaps I am also a monkey typing furiously as I try to write songs.
You’ve also got some lovely variation in the ukulele backing.

@janeg 3w

Hard to improve. On Marilisa’s “utterly daft, in the best possible way” as a comment. And utterly Edwin. I so look forward to your new songs, where I am guaranteed to laugh out loud and/or learn something interesting I would otherwise never have known.

@gwynjones 3w

So witty and well delivered!

@gmcgath 3w

Next license number: 2BR!2B

@alphagal 3w

Fucking brilliant! I love it so much.

@billwhite51 3w

nobody but you could write a song about the monkey who typed out hamlet without batting an eye or getting his tongue caught in his cheek. this monkey is no longer confined to the law of impractical averages, but has found his place as a folk hero in the annals of folk music.

@philkmills 3w

This is a fine song, but it also makes me wonder whether you've uncovered the secret to governmental delays: the monkeys type things at random until they eventually create what you need. 😀