Original Major Lance version
There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready
Where people gather 'round, whenever they're ready
And then the music begins to play
You feel a groove coming on its way
Are you ready, are you ready
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time, Monkey Time
Monkey Time
Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know that when the beat brings a feel, it's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically you're on your way
Are you ready, are you ready
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time
I do the Monkey, yeah, do the Monkey Time
I do the Monkey, yeah, do the Monkey Time
I twist them hips, twist them hips
I let your backbone slip, let your backbone slip
Now move your feet, move your feet
Get on the beat, get on the beat
Are you ready, are you ready
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time, Monkey Time
Monkey Time
Now this dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know that when the beat brings a feel, it's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically you're on your way
Are you ready, are you ready
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time, Monkey Time
I do the Monkey, yeah, the Monkey Time
Give me a big strong line, Monkey Time
You're looking real fine...
[Fades out]
THE MONKEY TIME is a song written by Curtis Mayfield and originally released by Major Lance on his 1963 album The Monkey Time. The song was also released as a single. The above lyrics are for the original Major Lance version of THE MONKEY TIME as released in 1963.
Although he has never performed it live in full, Bruce Springsteen has occasionally used a snippet of THE MONKEY TIME in TENTHE AVENUE FREEZE-OUT during The Reunion Tour in 1999 and in MARY'S PLACE during The Rising Tour in 2002 and 2003, the Vote For Change Tour in 2004, and the Magic Tour in 2008.
Moreover, the horn riff on THE E STREET SHUFFLE is lifted almost directly from THE MONKEY TIME.
List of available versions of THE MONKEY TIME on this website:
THE MONKEY TIME [Original Major Lance version]
