Everybody's got something to hide except me and my monkey Beatles music video first time listening reaction. #beatlesMusic #musicreaction #everybodysgotsomethingtohideexceptmeandmymonkey
Beatles fans(like myself) did not think this song was unusual. They(I) thought it was one of the best songs ever. This song has always been a particular favourite of mine.
Every time I see bands do this well, live, it's a rousing hit, and can be used as a show-closer that leaves audiences gasping for breath and screaming for more.
It's a song that takes the listener by suprise ... it will grow on u ... so much energy ... the song stood out in 1968 even though on tbe White Album there was so much music to take in. Much of the music on that album was delicate and this song is a counter point to those more delicate songs. The Beatles, with this song, were showing they could still be tough and sound spontaneous.
I was a bit young to appreciate the Beatles when this song came out, but I remember it getting plenty of airplay. In fact, it is the only song that really stood out for me from the White Album.
Raw energy! Sarcastic and so inventive. John had an unusual sense of humor, very dry and very English. As usual, his lyrics are poetic and have hidden meanings for he and Yoko. Back in the day we all thought the song was about heroin use. Of course, we thought everything was about drugs 🙄Thanks for the tune!
I love the fact that, in spite of their massive success, the Beatles did not take themselves too seriously and took the time to throw some fun into the mix. I don’t try to find deep meaning in every lyric. Sometimes it’s pure amusement! I love it!! 😍
That’s all Paul. John always loved his politics and seriousness. Just look at the songs they write. Paul has things like “when I’m 64”. Now I’m not saying this is a 100% phenomena, but you’ll notice that trend i believe
This is why so many musicians chose the White Album as the one they would take on a Tropical Island. So many Genres, So many new sounds, and the one thing they did all through their career made sure it was the best effort they could give.
Oh this song is amazing to play in a band, the interplay between the instruments is so clever everyone covering everyone else's gaps in the rhythm at the beginning and breakdown is such a groove. I can see why the Beatles themselves were exited when the recored this, the energy is off the charts.
I really think the Beatles just wanted to push the envelope and do things differently than everyone else. This one was them having a bit of fun I think while experimenting.
Every song on the White Album is worth your reaction. Very different from any of their other records in that there was little collaboration, with each song individual to the person who wrote it. Please dive in more to this album, as it is IMO their best and a treasure trove of truly excellent songs.
Thank you for your reactions. You give me fresh perspectives to songs I've listened to most of my life. I love it. Some Beatle songs no one seems to have reacted to yet are "Back in the USSR", "Rocky Racoon" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". All different from each other and from many songs you've already reacted to. Hope you can get to these and enjoy.
In their self-titled album, commonly referred to as the White Album, you can really begin to hear the unique sounds that would become signatures in their early solo albums. "Me and My Monkey" is definitely an experimental track heavily inspired by John and Yoko's romance and cheeky nihilism. Like, "everything is nuts, man, but it's all groovy." I believe John affectionately called Yoko his monkey, so I personally consider this piece a madly-in-love song. I know you're grooving to The Beatles on a song-by-song basis, but I'm sure, as any Beatles fan can attest, you'll have a blast putting all the pieces together when you give the records a full run-through. As always, Harri, great video and fun assessment of this energetic track! You always inspire me to suggest tracks, and since John's debut solo album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" just got a newly released remaster, I humbly recommend the track "God." It is an assertive open letter by Lennon bluntly denouncing his major life influences from the decade prior. An emotional number that is often misinterpreted as a song generally about religion. I'll say no more and hope you give it a shot. Thanks again for your love and eagerness! Stay awesome and be well, my good man! ✌❤🎶
I am huge Beatles fan since I was a child in the 60s. This is one my fav tune by them. When I first listened I didn’t appreciated, but with time I started to love it
Sometimes it's best just to enjoy the song without analysis the lyrics. I've never tried to work it out, just enjoy it. This is The Beatles I like. Their music is very diverse as you're discovering
You are right. Sometimes the lyrics are purposefully simple and not deep. I think this is just John talking about himself and Yoko. Regardless, it isn't more than provocation. Meant for enjoyment. The white album was wild...
Harri, what you said @ 6:50 is exactly right. We played the White Album all the way through upon getting it in '68, was nearly 14 at the time. And many, many times after. This song was an unexpected, energetic, lively one between two more serious, and very different ones, "Mother Nature's Son" and "Sexy Sadie". We didn't think much about it at the time except it was just another, and typically very different, Vietnam War era Beatles song as all the others, but I recall a friend later saying he thought it was referring to an alcohol or drug problem. Later it was rumored John was referring to Yoko and not in a negative way, then later Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had said it verbatim. If the latter is true, I can imagine John coming up with a song idea like getting ideas from newspaper stories or books. When you think you've heard enough songs of any album, listen to the whole thing beginning to end either laying back relaxing or cooking, driving around, cleaning the house or entertaining, and it'll all grow on you! It's funny that on some of the songs you do like this one, I think of the one before and the one after, due to the album experience, mostly anticipating the ones after. ✌️😎
You're close. John says its a brief tune about Yoko and himself. Everybody around them were all uptight about them wanting to be together all the time. That frantic guitar work completely predicts some of the tracks on 'Plastic Ono Band'. Someone already mentioned this but Fats Domino did a really awesome cover of this song. I was was disarmed at how well his version works.
Hey, thanks for sharing. Had no idea Fats had done a cover of this. Can't wait to check it out. Probably piano-based I would imagine if it's Fats domino, which will be interesting as I class this as such a purely guitar-based song.
Whenever a rock song mentions a monkey, it's almost always a euphemism for a drug habit- Not the case with Shock The Monkey (Peter Gabriel) but in every other example I can think of (Cradle To Grave & Hump On Your Back [Motorhead] Another Life [Henry Rollins] and Monkey On Your Back [Aldo Nova]- and, of course this one by the Beatles) it's clearly about drugs- most probably heroin. In this case it's John not being ashamed of his drug habit.
The rapid guitar lick during the song's bridge (3:05 of this video) sounds like the birth of punk rock, 15 years before punk was officially a thing. The Beatles virtually invented a genre within a 30-second span of one mere song.
It's different when your pulling these songs from different albums, different years, and listening to them in that way. One of the many amazing things about The Beatles is the way they changed in the few short years (6) that they made their music together. This song is from the White Album. If you listen to the album from beginning to end in order, you might feel different.
i have a 6+ hour playlist on apple music from rubber soul to let it be with a good amount of songs before rubber soul. i’m a bigger fan of the material 1965 and after
Just discovered your channel and are loving every bit! In lockdown I've had no one to jam with so this is just fab :p Think you'll do more Beatles solo stuff in the future? If so, Wings have some astounding tracks ;)
They certainly were never stuck in any particular funk or genre. Must have been a bright day in London. This sounds like they were in a mood. Thanks again, Sir Harri. Saturday morning in Florida and you start the day with dancing and singing. Perfect, again. Hahaha. Peace.
Put on is such a joy! 'Put on' idiom, to tease, joke with in fun. John was fabulous fooling around with folks minds. John sang Come on, but was 'putting on ' for certain. He loved it. A genius.
In februari 1968, the English rock band the Beatles traveled to Rishikesh in northern India. To take part in a transcendental meditation training course at the ashram of Maharasi Mahesh Yogi. It was a vacation and the made music to. When the Beatles had a conversation with the leader and guru the made from his exact words a song from it. And he said, Everybody got something to hide except for me and my monkey. I saw the documentary. You can see it to but it’s not for free.
Whoooo hoooo whooos got something to hide? Great reaction, Harri. Keep them coming, this was from the white album that fit for the mix of the album. Still have to do, This Boy...from the Ed Sullivan show, cuz.❤👊
Great tune ... Lots of fun .... I like all the screaming and yelling in the background .... if you want some fun react to 'You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)' .. Classic .... I think you will enjoy it ....
When they were recording the White Album it was at the height of all drama, tentions etc within the group. During some songs they were like session players on eachothers songs rather than a group. Still managed to make immortal songs!!
I like your perspective and theoretical analysis of the song . I enjoyed listening to what you had say excellent!!!!! I think monkey means people's hangups or worries we carry around.
There is also an explanation by George Harrison from the documentary series Anthology : " We used phrases that the Maharishi said as in the song - Come on, come on, Come on it's such a joy. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey, except for the monkey part, that was a phrase from the Maharishi that was he always said". While George is saying that, a song is heard in the background. Yes, there is John's explanation for the text on the Internet, but that is the afterthought. This song and the next after it Sexy Sadie, those two songs speak of disappointment in Maharishi. Lennon was disillusioned after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had allegedly made a sexual advance on Mia Farrow, who was attending the course the Maharishi was teaching at his ashram. Think for yourself what a metaphor for a word Monkey would be, if we keep in mind that John added that word to a phrase that Maharishi kept saying while the Beatles were in India.
It's the White Album and that was very experimental. And also, it's John. The man who wrote I am the walrus, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Happiness is a warm gun, Come together etc. I just feel that we are never going to fully understand what was going on in his mind, partly because he was very spontaneous, I think. And for me, that's part of the magic. Anyway, great reaction as always, thank you.
@@eziospaghettiauditore8369 Well, I wouldn't say that. I agree that his songs from the Beatles era are better than his solo work (and in my opinion that applies to Paul too) but a lot of them are still very good, especially from the first two albums.
I like this song a lot. It is so unusual. The guitar riff. during the verse. is simple but tricky to phrase. And the songs has multiple sections to keep it interesting. Thanks for reviewing this one!
As I understand it, John is taking a wry swipe at the unflattering references to Yoko in the British press - who reviled her. He's just iterating some phrases learned from the Maharishi - who cares what others think? - we are okay together.
It's amazing how you find elements in Beatles songs that still resonate decades later. I can pick out this style in some mid 90's alternative rock. Lennon was just that brilliant.
For you to know, the "monkey" mentioned in this song is Yoko Ono. John wrote this song thinking in all the stuff around his relationship with Yoko after leaving Cynthia. Much people through bad words to her every time they appeared in public. One of them called Yoko as a "monkey", telling John that Cynthia was much more beautifull. John was hurt with those kind of attacks and so he tryed to be ironic in the song.
1965 The album rubber soul is the first Beatles album where it’s all their own music. No cover tunes from then on. The 1969 album hey Jude contains all of the songs that were not on an album in the United States it has the speed it up single version of Revolution and George Harrison‘s song old brown shoe Plus the ballad of John and Yoko. When people listen to The long play vinyl record they would listen to the entire side. So song placement was extremely important. When they got the idea of doing Sergeant Pepper,Penny Lane and strawberry fields forever we’re supposed to be included but the record label wanted some singles to release. So those two were selected and they were both listed as side A on the Single and didn’t appear on the album. The Beatles started the idea of the concept album... followed by the Moody blues days of future past. With songs like forever afternoon Tuesday commonly called Tuesday afternoon and the night commonly called nights in White Satin. I do enjoy watching your passion for this music ! John Lennon‘s sarcasm quick wit Anger Paul McCartney‘s sense of melody and pop George Harrison‘s deep thought spirituality and soul as well as a unique sense of humor and Richard Starkey The one the only Ringo Starr just having a really good time and serving the music with the style that nobody had ever heard before. These four The right people right the right time my favorite musicians and my favorite music.
They went through so many different phases in their music and lives. Their White Album was probably at their "highest" times in their lives. But I still like it.
Your interpretation of the lyrics is pretty accurate. It was John saying to the media and to fans to take it easy, not to be so uptight and to stop attacking Yoko. Him and Yoko were enjoying their honeymoon and they just wanted to be in peace.
Monkey is our minds who wandered aimlessly from one tree to another. We can have joy and happiness when our mind is calm during meditation. This songe came after the beatles's meditation training in India.
No, the monkey was not referring to drugs, despite what was said years later. The monkey was Yoko. In an interview John himself said the lyrics were partly inspired by an unkind cartoon published in a newspaper in 1968 depicting John with a little monkey that clearly was meant to be Yoko. And the rest as we know was pure Maharishi, who would say "Come on, Come on, It's such a joy" & "Everybody's got something to hide except me". For the record, I personally love this song. I think the energy put into the playing & delivery alone makes this something special. Love Paul's encouraging whoops in the background & for me this is one of John's best later Beatles vocals along with Come Together.
Nicely done! Rumor has it this song made Mother Superior jump the gun. I'd be one happy old headbanger if you'd do "Everybody's Got A Ticket To Ride Except For Me And My Lightning" by the mad alchemists Beatallica
It's a psychedelic experience for me _ thoughts are racing _ sounds are bouncing everywhere _ despite telling me to take it easy there's stress and a frantic quality to John's voice _ my insides are out and my outsides are in_ I might even start to feel like I can read people's minds and then freak out a bit thinking they can read mine _ I'm glad John is there telling me to take it easy even if he doesn't sound too relaxed himself. I'm an old man now 74 _ and it really has been a long strange trip.
Supposedly, this one was created in the studio and was one of the last times all four of them just jammed and ad-libbed. But of course, I wasn’t there. Sounds like fun!
When The Beatles were in India, Maharishi just kept saying "Everybody's got something to hide except for me" and Lennon just added the monkey bit in his song
Always love your reaction and takes. You are right about it being a Album track grower. Albums like the White Album and Abbey Road. The albums are a complete listen, more so than just individual songs.
Is about drugs like heroin...the Monkey ia the drug addition..read the lyrics again! 1. Drug addiction, as in He'd had a monkey on his back for at least two years. [ Slang; first half of 1900s] 2.
I think the verse lyrics are things the Maharishi said “the deeper you go, the higher you fly” and such. This is one of those Beatles songs that’s like when a glamorous actor plays a dirty, grimy type role or shows themselves sans makeup and edifice. Personally, I’ve always loved this song.
Harri, sometimes you have to take a song just for what it is...a good rocker that makes you feel good just listening to it and singing along. Do not take every song so seriously, just enjoy the music and love it like us older Beatles fans have for 57 years. To us, everything The Beatles recorded was great. We loved it when we first heard it, and we love it now. I have to admit, when I heard the "McCartney" album for the first time when it was released, I got a ball at the pitt of my stomach...It wasn't The Beatles. But the more I listened to it the more I grew to love it. It was just that it wasn't John, Paul George, and Ringo. I guess we all had to finally accept that The Beatles were no more. But I loved every solo album after that from the first time I listened to them, and waited anxiously for each new release. Enjoy the pretty songs as well as the rockers.
Probably my favourite of the "Beatles try Heavier Rock" tracks. It has some edge to it, but is not repetitive to the point of boredom - also has some lyrical fun and wit in it.
Once in a while they seemed to just vent by Jamming a good old Rock and Roll song. No tricks, no special effects on the tapes, Just raw, energy. You can almost feel them play hard and workout frustrations in the song. Like a good workout.
I love this tune! It just goes man! The bass work in this one is cool. I wonder if this bass was recorded using the bass speaker wired as a microphone as they did in others song?
The White Album has quite a few "out there" songs. it's all pretty raw. The song by John is a reference to John & Yoko & in that everyone seemed to be paranoid except for them. Everyone seemed to be tense around them. It came at a time where John's marriage to Cynthia was ending as John hooked up with Yoko. Also try "Glass Onion", "I'm so Tired" & "why don't we do it in the road" from the same album.
Lennon was on heroin. His song "Cold Turkey" was written while he was a Beatle. I'm an ex-addict myself, and the lyrics make perfect sense to me. But I think anyone should be able to understand them, because it's actually a universal message IMO.
The song was originally titled "Come on" and that would have been a lot better. This marks the start of the slow decomposition of John's creative judgement. But it's just a song title here. If you want to see the end result have a listen to the "Some Time In New York City" album he released just four years later. Yoko and then the lesser talents he began to hang out with strangled his muse.
the "monkey" referred to in the song is a reference to the proverbial "monkey on your back." the phrase describes people who carry a lot of weight on their shoulders. the weight could be anything; anger, frustration, jealousy. but its something others aren't aware of. it manifests itself in bad moods and an inability to get along. such people are said to have monkies on their backs. because no one knows why they act the way they do. so lennon is saying everyone has something to hide but he's not allowing the monkey on his back stop him from becoming a better person.
I read somewhere, that the reference, was John poking back at someone in some magazine, who printed a caricature of John with Yoko drawn as a monkey on his back.
