Lyrics Monkey To Man - Elvis Costello, The Imposters

Monkey To Man

A long time ago, our point of view
Was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew
And now the world is full of sorrow and pain
And it’s time for us to speak up again
You’re slack and sorry
Such an arrogant brood
The only purpose you serve is to bring us our food
We sit here staring at your pomp and pout
Outside the bars we use for keeping you out
You’ve taken everything that you wanted
Broke it up and plundered it and hunted
Ever since we said it You went and took the credit
It’s been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to man
Monkey to man
Every time man struggles and fails
He makes up some kind of fairy tales
After all of the misery that he has caused
He denies he’s descended from the dinosaurs
Points up to heaven with cathedral spires
All the time indulging in his base desires
Ever since we said it He went and took the credit
It’s been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from monkey to man
Monkey to man
Big and useless as he has become
With his crying statues and his flying bomb
Goes 'round acting like the chosen one
Excuse us if we treat him like our idiot cousin
He hangs up flowers and bells and rhymes
Hoping to hell someone’s forgiven his crimes
Fills up the air with his pride and praise
He’s a big disgrace to our beastly ways
In the fashionable nightclubs and finer precincts
Man uses words to dress up his vile instincts
Ever since we said it He went and took the credit
It’s been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from monkey to man