Cover art for Caroline’s Monkey by Depeche Mode

Caroline’s Monkey

Mar. 24, 20231 viewer19.8K views

Caroline’s Monkey Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Caroline knows how fragile we are
With hope as our faith
We look to the stars
Caroline's monkey is crying again
There's no satisfaction
On Caroline's train

[Verse 2]
Caroline leaks through holes in her skin
Her promise of sweetness
Forgiveness and everything
Caroline's monkey coos in her ear
Drives like a demon
Through Caroline's tears

[Verse 3]
Caroline feels the ice in her veins
The minutes and hours
The naming of days
Caroline said her drеam never ends
For Carolinе's monkey
And Caroline's friends

[Refrain]
Fading's better than failing
Falling's better than feeling
Folding's better than losing
Fixing's better than healing
Sometimes
[Verse 4]
Caroline's monkey claws at her back
Colder than winter
Darker than black
Caroline's monkey is hungry again
Running with scissors
On needles and pins

[Verse 5]
Caroline's monkey lives where she lays
Sleeps like a thief
And steals through the days
Caroline's monkey makes up all the fun
Leaves chaos and ruin
On Caroline's tongue

[Verse 6]
Caroline knows how fragile we are
With hope as our faith
We look to the stars
Caroline's monkey is crying again
There's no satisfaction
On Caroline's train

[Outro]
Fading's better than failing
Falling's better than feeling
Folding's better than losing
Fixing's better than healing
Sometimes

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About

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Genius Annotation

From the 2023 album “Memento Mori,” Caroline’s Monkey alludes to a woman, Caroline, who struggles with drug addiction. A “monkey on your back” refers to a heavy burden that one has to bear, in this case the constant nagging of addiction. The song personifies the addiction into the monkey.

Q&A

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Credits
Backing Vocals
Synthesizer
Mixing Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Recorded At
Electric Ladyboy, Santa Barbara, California; Shangri-La, Malibu, California
Release Date
March 24, 2023
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