Part Man, Part Monkey

Track 63 on Tracks

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“Part Man, Part Monkey” was recorded in 1990 and first released as the B-side to “57 Channels (And Nothin' On).” The song takes its premise from the Scopes Trial, a highly… Read More

Jul. 10, 19921 viewer

Part Man, Part Monkey Lyrics

[Verse 1]
They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States
For teaching that man descended from the apes
They coulda settled that case without a fuss or a fight
They'd seen me chasin' you, sugar, through the jungle last night
They'd have called in that jury and a one, two, three
Said, "Part man, part monkey, definitely"

[Verse 2]
Well, the church bell rings from the corner steeple
Man in a monkey suit swears he'll do no evil
Offers his lover's prayer, but his soul lies
Dark and drifting and unsatisfied
Well, hey bartender, tell me whaddaya see?
Part man, part monkey, looks like to me

[Bridge]
Well, the night is dark, the moon is full
The flowers of romance exert their pull
We talk awhile, my fingers slip
I'm hard and crackling like a whip

[Verse 3]
Well, did God make man in a breath of holy fire
Or did he crawl on up out of the muck and mire?
Well, the man on the street believes what the Bible tells him so
Well, you can ask me, mister, because I know
Tell them soul-suckin' preachers to come on down and see
Part man, part monkey, baby, that's me

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About

“Part Man, Part Monkey” was recorded in 1990 and first released as the B-side to “57 Channels (And Nothin' On).” The song takes its premise from the Scopes Trial, a highly publicized 1925 Tennessee case about the right to teach evolution. The verses ‘prove’ that humans are related to monkeys (supporting evolution over divine creation) in two ways: humorous references to the narrator’s lust and a more serious take on humans' deep imperfection (a major theme in this era of Springsteen’s songwriting).