the monkey off my shoulder

when I was a younger man

younger than I am

I let a monkey crawl up on my shoulder

he said we'll have fun

he said you can quit when you're done

he said we could just try one

well a few weeks later see he was still there

he was still up on my shoulder

and that little monkey whispered to me

he whispered how I oughta give in again

he said we'll have fun

he said you can quit when you're done

won't you just try one

well that monkey got bigger and bigger

he kept on whispering to me

that monkey kept saying there's new things to try

and I'll bet I know what you wanna see

well the monkey just kept getting stronger

till soon he was stronger than me

I could not handle the monkey 

but he knew how to handle me

every time

he said we'll have fun

he said you can quit when you're done

and even if you can't you'll tell yourself so

well that monkey had friends

and soon they all knew me 

they said

hey we know you and that ape on your shoulder

it must be tough 

to carry that big ape around

he loves to keep dragging you down

but I couldn't see

what that monkey did to me

or how the organ grinder was grinning

and he said we'll have fun

you can quit when you're done

and if not than you'll tell yourself so

either way you're mine for the grinding 

so keep on coming around

well I couldn't see

just how big was the problem

till I picked up a leather-bound book

 the book said Holy Bible

soon I met a man

with scars in His hands

He said He could get rid of the monkey

He said I AM better than all the world's fun

He said you'll never have to be done

so pick up your cross and follow Me My son

well I looked up with tears in my eyes

His smile was like the sunrise

then that monkey got real afraid

I said I'm so broken and hopeless

what would You have with me good Sir

He smiled and looked down upon me

broken and beaten down

He said I can take you out of this place you're in

even though you've put yourself there

He said I AM better than all the world's fun

He said you will never have to be done

so pick up your cross and follow Me My son

well He started to pick me up

and the monkey seemed to fall down

that monkey was screaming and throwing a fit 

but soon enough 

the monkey was on my shoulder no more