So I sat in the attic,
A piano at my nose,
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata...).

Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose,
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato...).

Ketchup (ketchup)
Soup and puree (Soup and puree),
Don't get left behind (get left behind)...

When a rattle of rats had awoken,
The sinews, the nerves and the veins.
My piano was boldly outspoken, in attempts to repeat its refrain.

So I stood with a knot in my stomach,
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel,
Sucking monkberry moon delight.

Monkberry moon delight,
Monkberry moon delight.

Well, I know my banana is older than the rest,
And my hair is a tangled beretta.
When I leave my pajamas to Billy Budapest,
And I don't get the gist of your letter (your letter...).

Catch up! (catch up),
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens),
Don't get left behind (get left behind)...

Monkberry moon delight...
Monkberry moon delight...



Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget

Track duration: 05:24


Monkberry Moon Delight song meanings
Add your thoughts

20 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I always hear this as an attack on Lennon, especially in the context of the Ram album. Among other things, the howling vocals are surely a parody of John's singing on his first record; 'the piano at my nose' a pun on John's trademark piano and his drug-taking (and it does sound VERY like 'a kilo up my nose'); and the pajamas mentioned recall John's peace-and-love sleep-in. The wind is a strong image in the Beatles song Because, which was inspired by Yoko, who had classical training, hence the cantata perhaps. I also wonder whether 'hose' isn't actually 'hoes'.
    I love the song and find it very funny - although it's easy to see why John wasn't amused.
    Flag Toby1974on March 29, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Don't forget, there is a pun: ketchup is pronounced like Catch Up. Then there is the line: Don't get left behind.LOL
    Ketchup, soup and puree are all things you can make out of tomatoes.

    The cocaine reference is not there, because the song is too old for the modern terms you think are there.
    Flag AuntyGoogoon October 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I've followed McCartney (The Beatles) since they first hit the airwaves. I'll add my opinion of Monkberry Moon Delight for posterity. I don't think it is about drugs. Sorry, druggies. It's abstract. Paul M. is a long time fan of abstract art. It's his lyrical contribution (many others as well) to this art genre. He has a great book out some years ago filled with his own abstract art.
    Flagged rchapmanon August 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about fucking a chick while she's on the rag.
    Flag kbphonosemanticson June 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:My interpreation is that it's another example of McCartney's ability to write lyrics by association. Some of these lyrics sound like they could have been wriiten by Tom Waite ("When a rattle of rats had awoken,The sinews, the nerves and the veins."), possibly the result of smoking copious amounts of weed.
    Flag Yovraon May 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Paul's website has the words as "So was I bound to crack with my head up this hose". And "In my hair is a tangled baretta".
    Flag TheBeckleson May 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"So I sat in the attic,
    A piano at my nose,
    And the wind played a dreadful cantata"

    Piano has 88 keys, a key is a measurement of a small amount of cocaine, generally what you would fit onto the end of your key. He was on a lot of cocaine.

    "Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose"

    People sometimes use a glass pipe to snort coke as it doesn't get stuck as much as it would in a rolled up note or piece of paper. I can imagine snorting from a broken pipe could be the cause of such discomfort.

    "My piano was boldly outspoken, in attempts to repeat its refrain"

    Anyone that's been in the depths of a coke binge will know that your confidence is boosted through the roof and your probably shouting to get a point across to whoever your talking to.

    "Well, I know my banana is older than the rest,
    And my hair is a tangled beretta."

    I get an image of a scruffy McCartney that's been up drinking all night and is a lil worn out, he attributes this to age.

    The repeating of "Don't get left behind" suggests that he has split a bag of coke with someone and is struggling to keep up with the lines being dished out to get his monies worth.

    ___________________

    There are several references to cocaine on this track from what I can see!


    Flag krsnik87on February 13, 2011   Link
  • -1
    Song Meaning:there is no meaning to this song. it's just lyrics put together while mccartney was writing this song. basically an unfinished song. did you ever hear the lyrics to yesterday. yesterday is a beautifully written song both lyrically and musically, but when it was first written it was called scrambled eggs and had completely different lyrics.
    Flag mcs727on September 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction: I remember first hearing this song when it came out in the '70s and had forgotten about it until a few weeks ago, bought it on iTunes, and had no clue what the lyrics were until now.

    The second line REALLY sounds like, " a kilo up my nose" and not "a piano at my nose", which adds more credence to this being about fame, drugs, booze. Listen to it a few times and see if you agree.
    Flag frankiethetunaon July 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:maaannnnn he was fukcin stoned when did that song, so he might as well have meant grass uuuuuuu
    Flag kookoookooon June 11, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain