This was conceived and partially written several years before I'd even had the idea to create my performance space of the same name. Someone had once derisively called me "the Billy Joel of the 90's" and I finally decided I should try writing some deliberately commercial material and see if the music business might show me a little more love. This was loosely modeled after the 1980 BJ hit, "You May Be Right"-- Bad Boy pursuing Nice Girl, except in my version she turns bad, too, and they live happily ever after. (At least I hope they do.) This remained unfinished for several years until someone recently told me of a semi-famous Nashville producer looking for rock songs for a new band -- the motivation I needed to wrap this up. The band loved the song, has now recorded it, and I'm told that when they debuted it at a West Virginia biker rally... THE CROWD WENT WILD. It's a strange life...
lyrics
WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE
Well, I made my entrance to the sound of broken glass
and I told your boyfriend he could kiss my ass
Standing in his Docker jeans
lookin' like a stockbroker at 17
Well, I never saw you since that sweaty summer night
and I thought you moved away to have your 2.5
So imagine my surprise
when I see you stumble in my lucky dive
Welcome to the Monkey House, my dear
Something tells me you might like it here
Underneath it all, it's all so clear
Welcome, welcome
Yeah, I used to see you in your daddy's Cadillac
Making pretty circles on the right side of the tracks
But the road can take you down
Look at all your new friends here in happytown
CHORUS
Underneath is all, you find out who you are
Who'd have ever pegged this girl for Maker's Mark?
Every broken dream tonight
has a thousand pieces left to catch the light
Catch the light
Welcome to the Monkey House, my dear
Something tells me you might like it here
Underneath it all, it's all so clear
Weclome to the Monkey House my dear
(Ooh-ooh, ah-ah)
Welcome, welcome, welcome
to the Monkey House
(Ooh-ooh, ah-ah)
Welcome, welcome, welcome
to the Monkey House
credits
from Songs-of-the-Week,
released February 19, 2016
Ira Marlowe: All vocals and instruments
Ira Marlowe's songs have appeared in indy films, been featured on NPR and Dr. Demento, and received a Parent's Choice Award. He's taught songwriting at UC Berkeley and penned the tunes for four shows by a Tony-winning theatre troupe.
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