Paul McCartney- Monkberry Moon Delight (REACTION & REVIEW) 

One of the great McCartney "nonsense songs". I'm sure that at least 50% of his fans probably don't like them , but I think songs like this can be a lot of fun. This song is particularly nuts - and I love it.

Easily one of my favorite McCartney tunes, because it's so weird and off the wall. But the passion he puts into his vocals makes me believe in this song. Always makes me smile. Been on my playlist for decades.

Paul wouldn't be a genius if he didn't have this wonderful joyful quirky side to him. He was always shoving these songs up the 'serious' rock critics' noses. The more they put him down, the more he shoved these songs at them. Love him. Love his individuality. Love his refusal to toe the line. Love his belief in his music. I adored this song as soon as I heard it - right when it came out.

Paul is singing in the style of Screaming' Jay Hawkins... who later covered the song.

I love the intensity he puts in saying rather uneventful things. "AND I DON'T GET THE GIST OF YOUR LETTEEEEEEEEEEEEER" My favourite Macca song ever by a large margin.

Certain critics bashed this album. I don't understand because it is a top notch set of songs

My favorite Macca solo song ever, so out of this world, crazy, powerful, huge, phenomenal

It might be a nonsense lyric but the musicianship and craft involved in the arrangement and production make this song always a welcome visitor.

Paul mccartney at his peak one of the greatest rock singers of all time.

Oh I sooo love these song by Paul McCartney. So over the top, pure delight…

Paul’s a man of many voices. Top shelf Paul album.

Paul was so out there on Ram. Just pure jazz on the vocals. Just following his muse.

The man of a thousand voices.

Really, almost the entire album is autobiographical. Paul was severely depressed about the Beatles' breakup, and was being attacked by his former bandmates and the press ("Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose, and the horrible sound of tomato"). At the time the world blamed Paul for the breakup, not knowing he was the one trying to keep the band together. Monkberry, IMO, is a song about his depression and angst, the breakup...the "rattle of rats" could very well be Allen Klein et al awakening "the sinews, the nerves and the veins." Monkberry Moon Delight could be heroin, and the "two youngsters concealed in a barrel" (see "bagism") John and Yoko. He felt he was useless, and perhaps he felt he needed to catch up, not get left behind by the staggering success of George Harrison's first solo album. Just my interpretation. (Pauls' said the song is about his children calling milk "monk.") He's said he's particularly proud of the lyrics for the song. Take a listen to "Smile Away," another seemingly nonsense song from Ram that actually seems to be about putting on a brave face and a false smile while being criticized left and right by former friends (I met a friend of mine and he did say "Man, I can smell your feet a mile away".)

Well, Paul McCartney did the vocals on "Helter Skelter", so everyone should have known he can scream. Justin, the full version of the Barbara Dennerlein clip you reacted to including the contributions of all players was uploaded to RU-vid in much better audio and video quality 10 days ago; especially the bass line is much better to hear. Just do a search for "Barbara Dennerlein extra hot stuff" to find it. Please give us a reply if you read this because we posted this several times already and got no reaction from you.

Paul is just describing an event that really happened : real wind engulfing through the window and into the pipes of one of his organs just when Linda was calling him to family dinner (now vegetarian, hence the "ketchup, soupe and purée"). The contrast between the Hammer horror movie sound and his newfound happiness at home gave him the impetus for this fun self-derisive comedy song.

....'Oh Darling!', 'Monkberry Moon Delight', and 'Call me back again' (from the Venus and Mars album)... looking forward to your response to that last one as well... fun factor: 10 out of 10 :) PS. my suggestion after Ram: Venus and Mars!! xx

My favorite Paul McCartney song and album.

Ram is a great album. 👍👍💕💕

Great track, my favorite on this great album. I always felt the song, while lively, seemed rather dark and sinister, I envisioned a witch doctor cooking up a special brew called Monkberry Moon Delight.

My favorite solo song of his. Ripping nonsense!

An amazing song of his (and Linda’s) best album and up there with ATMP as the best Beatles solo albums. Such a creative and interesting song and breaks the McCartney critics stereotype.

I never really knew what the lyrics were until you read them aloud, and what struck me was how Lennon-esque the word play is. A strange yet enjoyable song. I think what makes the song work is the amount of work that was put into its production, as if this little throwaway song was worthy of such high production values. This whole album is a gem.

One of my Top 5 Macca songs. Even when it was released. I was quite young but the energy of this song totally caught me. He's never better than when he feels free and doesn't respect any code. And vocally it's a tour-de-force. He wrote it for Screamin' Jay Hawkins who didn't like it but sang it anyway.

Always a pleasure to listen to this kooky, even ooky song, really breaks up the album nicely. Interesting difference of opinion in these comments and even more interesting interpretations. Paul’s gone wild. The guy certainly had a terrific vocal and textural range. Would love to see a reaction to You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) by Los Beatles, another strange crazy song that I love.

I was surprised to hear in the Beatles: Get Back show, John Lennon come in and say "Well, what are doing now cats and kittens?" The "Catch up" line in this always reminds me of Mia's Fox Force Five punchline in Pulp Fiction where Popa Tomato tells little tomato, who lagging behind, to "ketchup".

One of my favourite albums and a stand out track off it. Great reaction as usual dude your are my favourite music reactor! And Monkberry moon delight originally came off thier kids

From The Beatles Bible. “When my kids were young they used to call milk ‘monk’ for whatever reason that kids do - I think it’s magical the way that kids can develop better names for things than the real ones. In fact, as a joke, Linda and I still occasionally refer to an object by that child-language name. So, monk was always milk, and monkberry moon delight was a fantasy drink, rather like ‘Love Potion No. 9’, hence the line in the song, ‘sipping monkberry moon delight’. It was a fantasy milk shake.”. Paul McCartney

I have researched MMD fanatically, and the way I hear it, McCartney's tots called milk "monk" and so monkberry moon delight is a fantastical milkshake, and-- in Paul's trademark double meaning -- an awesome strain of flower. At heart of course it's a raver, with wonderful details--the two punning choruses: "Catsup! soup and puree" and "Catch up! cats and kittens", finding his kids in a barrel, "suckin' Monkberry Moon Delight". Sucking on a straw, or a doobie? I guess we'll never know. and in the ending rave: Paul: Here honey, try some of this. Linda: ::in choked, holding-in-a-hit-voice:: What is it? Paul: MONKBERRY MOON DELIGHT!!!!!!!! Priceless. Enjoyable reaction. Your appreciation is obvious, you don't talk over the music, and you get the jokes. All the best!

In 1993 Paul made a much better vocalized song called 'Winedark Open Sea' on his "Off the Ground" album. He uses that same raspy, throaty tone but with more infectious meaning.

Very fun track, it astonishes me that the 'Ram' album was so vilified in its day. Odd observation, I know, but I think John and George was feeling insecure at the start of their solo careers, due to Paul's talent, and really hit hard against him in 70/71.

Incredible song. Love it

Not only do I think this is one of Paul's greatest vocals, I think it's one of the greatest vocals in pop and rock-&-roll. The scats are awesome.

I love this song. It’s my favourite song on the album because it’s so raw and powerful yet isn’t really about anything.

PM shredding his vocal chords? That must’ve hurt! I thought Oh, Daring was his limit. Mad props! 👍 EDIT: I should’ve known that you’d pick that up, too! 😃

Man, I've been waiting for this one!

Although I consider myself to be a fan of The Beatles, I was not familiar with this album. So it has been nice to listen along and to hear Justin say, " tomato " like a true Englishman !

A nonsense song yet sung with such conviction it's utterly infectious. Impossible not to put a smile on your face. Totally madcap five minutes after the calm, pastoral opening track on side 2. His range and mastery of styles on this album are remarkable. You haven't done the White Album yet, but Helter Skelter was an earlier example of Paul shredding his vocals (year before Oh! Darling). I suspect 1959 Leiber and Stoller song Love Potion No. 9 was also an inspiration lyrically in which a man buys a love potion from a traveller. Check out my email by the way, JP, for more! [By the way, the next track 'Eat At Home' is quite a standard pop song, so might be worth doing that in tandem with 'Long Haired Lady' which will give you much more to talk about. Then for the next video, the very short reprise of 'Ram On' leading straight into the majestic closing track 'Back Seat Of My Car'.

Love this! And yes, it was so very refreshing! A vocal performance for the ages. It’s just great fun. A campfire song maybe?

I find that the descending baseline he chose, basically the same as "While my guitar gently weeps", the descending chromatic tetrachord, and then the coda at the end to be mesmerizing

Hi JP. DP from UK, enjoying some Afternoon Delight (of the monkberry moon variety). Love this song: sure, the lyrics don't mean much, but they fit so well phonetically. That is what Macca was all about, and is also what the critics hated about him at the time. It applies to Jeff Lynne too, but here is the master at work. Yes, this is raucous McCartney, which shows what a brilliant range of styles he had. Channelling your inner Sylvian, Justin? It's uncanny (well, it's something, anyway!). P.S. my song ref Afternoon Delight is by the Starland Vocal Band.

You got a superb crooner voice, Sylvian style, that was funny !

Don’t worry about the pen in your hand friend. I love stationary but I look at my hand and I’m holding a joint.

such amazing song ...

Even among these comments, there are people saying "Paul should have used his considerable talents on something more serious." No. He's the songwriter. He gets to do whatever he wants. And time has borne him out on that s being a good exercise in silly.

The video of this is quite fun. Five millionaires - 2 current at the time and three future ones who were about 12, 5 and 4 years old at the time.

the Goat songwriter

You're in for a treat.

2 hidden gems of McCa of that era. I'll give you a ring Yvonne's the one Hope you can react to them when you finish the album. And

I just discovered how your reviews are that much better after a couple of pints of Dab! 🤭 Love your guitar solo!! Btw - another goofy fun song that I would love to get your take on his Hey St. Peter by Flash and the pan. Yes, I have suggested it b4 but it fell on deaf ears! 🤐

Great impression of David Sylvian, Justin 👏👏👏

The first second and thirrh albums from beatles solos Carreer are phenomenal

Great Song. Great fun.

Paul Mccartney should make more bass with his voice. It´s as good as his bass playing

Delicious.

It turned out I was more often in the mood for the 'RAM' album than for the song 'Monkberry Moon Delight'. As a result, this was a frequently skipped song. I mean, I was playing the album almost every day in the summer - so maybe I can be forgiven?

Perfect example of everything that makes Paul awesome. What a fraking vocal performance.

This is Paul McCartney unleashed

His wife Linda was the female vocal on this and other tracks. Paul's best albums are this one (Ram) and Band on the run imo.

10:51 Funniest comeback I've ever heard in a reaction video!

need to do DS impressions earlier in the morning.

This is my favorite Paul McCartney song ever 🤷🏾‍♂️ijs The arrangement it's clever and catchy

Oh, you found out by yourself what it is about. Of course, I should have known before I wrote my comment - which I have deleted by now 🥛. A surreal fun song, love it.

OMG Paul McCartney channels Tom Waits! At least for the verses. With regards to your singing career... keep the day job. If it helps, I had to as well.

A great nonsensical song which shows, not only Paul's funnier side, but his great vocal range. He was the Best vocalist then and still blows everyone else away

"So, what did you do with the money?" "What money?" "The money your mom gave you for singing lessons..."

I listened at their time.....learn y share.....neoliberal music bien sick.....get back at races

I've seen "Monkberry Moon Delight" described as a recipe for the world's most disgusting milkshake. (milk, ketchup, can of soup, cats and kittens...)

Although the words are nonsense, they kind of remind me of Dylan!

Pau mccartney 1984

Similar to I am the Walrus nonsense.

Baa, Ram, Ewe. I'd be a little salty, screaming, songster too. If my old lady made me live off vegetable stew! Wouldn't you? If Linda was feeding the whole group, "Band On the Run" was certainly very true! Peace & Love to all and good day to you.

And this is how Linda and Paul announced their going vegetarian. "Ketchchup ! Soupe and purée!" Imagine how John and Yoko would have make the same announcement.

Justin, I think you've seen how Ram had a difficult history, and this song is sort of emblematic of it. I think people were frustrated with this album that a songwriter of McCartney's skill was tossing off songs like this that seemed sort of half-assed, and not putting his considerable prowess into something more serious. It's a catchy tune, to be sure.

Lesser.McCartney for sure.

Most of the album I like.This song doesn't do it for me.I don't like the forced vocals. that said it is a jaunty song

You can't tell me that at this stage, this guy wasn't just taking the piss... Basically he knew he could get away with anything off the back of the beatles, and was just taking the mick. Absolutely dreadful. Musically a plodding, repetitive dirge, but those vocals! I mean, what was that about. The delivery that of some grotesque vaudevillian... absolute garbage.