Most people think you have a brain in your head. This is not true; you have a tree. Every leaf on this tree is memory. The keeper of this tree is called Fred. When you need to remember something, you tell Fred what you need to think about and he goes scurrying away up the tree to find the appropriate leaf. He then brings the leaf to you so you can read it and remember the memory.
Sometimes, particularly late at night when trying to get to sleep, you’ll find that your mind is too busy. You’ll have random thoughts, remember conversations and have flashbacks. This is Fred getting restless. He’s throwing leaves at you because he wants some attention.
The morale of the story: get to know your inner tree monkey!
Musical background
It’s a simple chord progression, hopefully offset with unusual guitar riffs that make the song a little unsettling! I’m particularly chuffed at the (Dorian mode) guitar melody in the first part of the intro and from 2:10 until 2:27. The Dorian mode is just lovely – it’s happy minor scale!
I wish I had an auto-tune plugin for the vocal line. It’s a bit wobbly, I know; but trust me, this is what Fred sounds like!
Recording notes
Recorded with Cubase, a cheap USB microphone, a pricey Taylor 324CE-L10, a moderately costly set of coated Elixir Polywebs (12-56), my favourite battered green plectrum and a thirty-four year old pair of fingers. Anything else is for the anoraks…. 😉
Download the mp3 from http://www.magical.org.uk/monkey.mp3
Lyrics
I’ve been working all day
and I’ve found that
I’ve got no time to play
Plenty thoughts in my head
about all the
things that I could have said
Ready for bed time
for my sanity’s sake
but the monkey’s keeping me awake
I’ve been dreaming all night
facing the
monsters that I fight
I’ve covered in sweat
fleeing the
fear that I’ve never met
Ready for sunshine
to brighten day
but the monkey’s keeping it away
I’m wanting a free mind
clarity can stay
the monkey’s leading me astray
I’m miles from home
chasing this
tempting unknown
I’m needing to rest
my heart’s faking
all the beats in my chest
Ready for cloud nine
to lift my way
but the monkey’s with me every day
Ready for bed time
For my sanity’s sake
but the monkey’s keeping me awake