A long time ago, our point of view
Was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew
Now the world is full of sorrow and pain
And it's time for us to speak up again
You're slack and sorry, such an arrogant brood
The only purpose you serve is to bring us our food
We sit here staring at your pomp and pout
Outside the bars we use for keeping you out
You've taken everything that you wanted
Broke it up and plundered it and hunted
Ever since we said it
You went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
Every time that man struggles and fails
He makes up some kind of fairytales
After all of the misery that he has caused
He denies he's descended from the dinosaurs
Points up to heaven with cathedral spires
All the time indulging in his base desires
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
Big and useless as he has become
With his crying statues and his flying bomb
Goes 'round acting like the chosen one
Excuse us if we treat him like our idiot cousin
He hangs up flowers and bells and rhymes
Hoping to hell that someone's forgiven his crimes
Fills up the air with his pride and praise
He's a big disgrace to our beastly ways
In the fashionable nightclubs and finer precincts
Man uses words to dress up his vile instincts
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
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Monkey To Man |
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Written by | Elvis Costello |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello & The Imposters |
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Produced by | Dennis Herring & Elvis Costello |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocals, Gibson Super 400 guitar Steve Nieve - upright piano, Vox Continental & Hammond organ, omnichord Davey Faragher - Hofner bass, backing vocal Pete Thomas - drums, tambourine |
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Recorded | April 15, 2004, Delta Recording, Clarksdale, MS, and April 2004, Sweet Tea, Oxford, MS |
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Released | September 20, 2004 |
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Albums | The Delivery Man, 2004 |
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Singles | Monkey To Man, 2004 |
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Various Artists collections | Music Guide Vol. 3, 2004 - Grammy Nominees 2005, 2005 |
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Length | 4:25 |
Alternate versions
Monkey To Man (Live 2006) |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns |
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Horn arrangement | Allen Toussaint |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Allen Toussaint - piano Steve Nieve - keyboards Davey Faragher - bass, backing vocal Pete Thomas - drums Anthony "AB" Brown - guitar Amadee Castenell - saxophone, backing vocal Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet, backing vocal Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - saxophone, backing vocal Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone, backing vocal |
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Recorded | July 3, 2006, Montreal, QC, Canada |
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Released | December 5, 2006 |
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Videos | Hot As A Pistol, Keen As A Blade, 2006 |
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