Tweeter and the Monkey Man

"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is a song by rock music supergroup The Traveling Wilburys that first appeared on the 1988 album Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.

Background

The songwriting credit goes officially to all members of the band, but the song is published by Bob Dylan's Special Rider Music label, indicating that the main writer is Dylan, who is also the lead singer on the record. This is partially contradicted by George Harrison's account of the song in "The True History of the Traveling Wilburys" documentary:

"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" was really [written by] Tom Petty and Bob [Dylan]. Well, Jeff [Lynne] and I were there too, but we were just sitting there around in the kitchen, and he was for some reason talking about all this stuff that didn't make much sense to me, you know, it was that Americana kinda stuff and we got a tape cassette and put it on and then transcribed everything they were saying.^[2]

"Tweeter and The Monkey Man" is sometimes regarded as a playful homage to the songs of Bruce Springsteen, who was often hailed as "the next Dylan" early in his career. The lyrics include the titles of many Springsteen songs, and the song borrows many of Springsteen's themes. The setting of the song itself is New Jersey, Springsteen's home state and the setting for many of Springsteen's own songs. New Jersey locations such as Rahway Prison and Jersey City are mentioned by name. Springsteen song title references include: "Stolen Car", "Mansion On The Hill", "Thunder Road", "State Trooper", "Factory", "The River", and the song made popular by Springsteen but written by Tom Waits, "Jersey Girl". Additionally, "Lion's Den" and "Paradise" are each mentioned and prominently enunciated in the song, each being the title of a Springsteen song released after the Traveling Wilburys album.

Only Petty, Harrison, Dylan and Lynne took part in recording the song. This is the only Wilburys song on Vol. 1 not to feature Roy Orbison on lead or backing vocals.

Composition and lyrical content

Dylan sings lead on the song's verses (with the rest of the group joining, excepting Orbison, singing backup on the chorus sections). At five verses in 5 minutes 27 seconds, "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is the longest Traveling Wilburys song put to record. The chorus was originally part of a verse, but was chosen later for the refrain.

The song tells the story of two drug dealers – Tweeter and the Monkeyman – their nemesis, the "Undercover Cop," and the cop's sister, Jan, a longtime love interest of the Monkeyman. Some lyrics imply that Tweeter was a transwoman, for example: "Tweeter was a boy scout / before she went to Vietnam...". Later in the song, Jan is quoted as saying of Tweeter, "I knew him long before he ever became a Jersey girl."

Throughout the ballad, the demise of Tweeter, the Monkeyman, and the Undercover Cop, as well as Jan's fate, are examined.

Cover versions

Canadian rock band Headstones recorded a cover of the song for their debut album Picture of Health, and the song became a radio hit in Canada. The lyrics were changed somewhat, including eliminating the implication of Tweeter changing genders.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed a cover of the song several times in 2013, including the Beacon Theatre on May 20, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 14, and the Firefly festival (Dover, DE) on June 22. The performance from the Beacon appears on the group's digital album Live 2013.

P. Paul Fenech (The Meteors) covered this song on his solo album International Super Bastard in 2010.

Freek de Jonge recorded a version in Dutch on his 2002 album Parlando, under the title 'Libelle en mug'.

References

External links

• Comment by Morten Felgenhauer on George Starostin's Music Reviews site – Discussing the song and Springsteen connections.
• "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" page at The Dylan Lyric Commentaries
• Explanation and analysis of the song at everything2.com.