When you look, what do you see? You only see the monkey not the man in me But now I'm back, and that's a fact Gonna show the next generation where I'm at
What I mean is to say The way that I was is the same as I am today Now if you're white, or if you're black Remember you can't get the monkey off your back
And now you're running and you're running and you're running away You're running from the monkey man And now you're running and you're running and you're running away You're running from the monkey man
I was lost, but now I'm found Some might even say that I've been around With the crowd I would move Mr. sophisticated just can't lose
Now in the style that I was dressed I was the steady reason no-one could test Yeah I was smart and I was cool No matter how hard they tried I was no-ones fool
And now you're running and you're running and you're running away You're running from the monkey man And now you're running and you're running and you're running away You're running from the monkey man
Did you hear what I say? Now did you hear what I say?
When you look, what do you see? You only see the monkey not the man in me But now I'm back, and that's a fact Gonna show the next generation where I'm at
What I mean is to say The way that I was is the same as I am today And if you're white, or if you're black Remember you can't get the monkey off your back
And now you're running and you're running and you're running away You're running from the monkey man