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 of 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, and 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 would dress I was the steady reason no-one could test Yes 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 Now did you hear what I say? Aah aah aah Now did you hear what I say? Aah aah aah 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 this monkey of 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 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, but you can't get away From the monkey man From the monkey man