you can set a monkey trap
anytime you get lonely
and if you catch a monkey
you’ll have a friend so easily
you can set a monkey trap
in kitchen basement or your room
but if you forget trap is there
the trap won’t trap the monkey
the trap will trap you
Wyatt is the name
of a boy who lives near Washington D.C.
his best friend is a monkey
a monkey whose name is Monkey
all around Washington D.C.
there’s monkey traps everywhere hidden
even if a sign says, ”No monkey traps here”
to every rule, there’s an exception
and then a big net will fall down, scoop the monkey up
he’ll be stuck inside, crying for help
but no one will come, he’s got to eat his dinner there
and learn to hang around himself
Daniel is the name
of an evil cow
evil cause he’s a boy
and most cows are girls you find around
he’s not so much evil now
as just misunderstood
he’s kind of selfish, kind of lazy
and though he’s not evil,
he’s not always so good
he visited his nephew
his nephew’s named Balloon
who lives near Washington D.C.
with Wyatt and a monkey named Monkey too
he says “I want that monkey”
Wyatt says “You can’t have him”
Evil Cow says “Give me that monkey
with me he’s coming back”
Wyatt says “But he’s my best friend”
Evil Cow says “I don’t care
I want a monkey of my own”
and Wyatt says to him “Evil Cow get out of here!”
and Evil Cow comes back disguised
as a chicken named Frank
and says “Hello my name is Frank
Wyatt I’d like to thank
you for taking care of Monkey
who belongs to me
he just fell in your monkey trap
but now I’ll take him back
and take him home with me”
but Wyatt’s not fooled
he sees the black-and-white spots
that many a cow gots
he know it’s Evil Cow he sees
with fake chicken beak
he says “No no no no no
Monkey belongs to me!”
then Evil Cow gets mad and sets a monkey trap
chases Monkey round the room, and yells out a MOO!
when he steps in his own trap, gets caught in his own net
and Wyatt says to him, “Evil Cow that’s what you get!”
if you try to be someone you’re not to get what you want
you’ll find that in the monkey trap you fell
if you try to take what’s not yours, the conscience will be
a monkey trap filled with guilt of to tell
Elizabeth’s the name of
my sis who goes by Liz
and Elizabeth’s the name of
my friend who goes by Beth
and all around there’s Zoe, Allison, Libby and Bobby Jean
all my nicknames for Elizabeth
other than Betsy and Betty
Biz, Sissy, Tibby, Wizzy and Lizzy, Isabella and Izzy
all these Elizabeths, they make me dizzy
and Katie is the name
of a girl that I once knew
when my sister Liz left home, I missed her so
Katie became like a sister too
and now Kate is the name
of the sister of my friend
but my friend is not a Liz
my friend is a Beth
Beth and Kate have a nephew
a brand-new nephew named Reid
Evil Cow says, ”Maybe they’ll give Reid a cow
and name it after me”
and Wyatt is the name of
my very own nephew
who will learn there’s monkey traps
in life that try to grab
and try and capture you
the world weaves a web, ties it around everyone we met
we’re all connected yeah it’s true
and the voices in your head of cows, family and friends
will help you put together all the clues
you can set a monkey trap
anytime you get lonely
and if you catch a monkey
you’ll have a friend so easily
you’ll go on adventures together
but if you’re not careful they’ll lead
back to monkey trap that snaps
and then you will be stuck hanging upright by your feet
back to the monkey trap that snaps and then you will be stuck
hanging upright by your feet
credits
from The Year of the Cow,
released October 30, 2012
Sam Russell-vocal & guitar, Shelby Earl-vocal, Michael Spaly-banjo, Ken Nottingham-upright bass/harmonica, James Apollo-piano, Noah Strom-pump organ, John Tomlinson-accordion, Dave Forrester-drums
Deft writing, otherworldly lyrics, and thematic nuance are always just below the surface on Will Sprott's latest. Bandcamp Album of the Day Jul 10, 2023