Written by: Chuck Berry
Recorded: 3 September 1963
Producer: Ian Grant
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: bass
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Live At The BBC
The Beatles recorded four different versions of Chuck Berry's Too Much Monkey Business for BBC radio in 1963, one of which can be heard on the Live At The BBC collection.
Berry first released the song as a single in 1956. It first entered The Beatles' live repertoire in 1960, and remained there until they signed to EMI.
The group's first recorded version was for the BBC's Saturday Club programme. Along with five other songs, they performed it at Broadcasting House in London on 16 March 1963, for a show which was broadcast live.
A second version was performed on 4 April, for the Side By Side programme. This was recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London, and broadcast on 24 June.
They returned to Too Much Monkey Business again on 1 June, during the second Pop Go The Beatles show. Again recorded at the BBC Paris Studio, this was broadcast on 11 June. All these early versions can currently only be heard on bootlegs.
The Beatles' final attempt at the song took place on 3 September, and was broadcast seven days later. They kicked off the 13th edition of Pop Go The Beatles with the song, which was eventually selected for inclusion in 1994's Live At The BBC.
Lyrics
Running to and fro
Hard working at the mill
Never fail in the mail
Yeah, come a rotten bill, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Salesman talking to me
Trying to run me up a creek
Says you can buy it, go on try it
You can pay me next week, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Blond hair, good looking
Tryin' to get me hooked
Want me to marry, settle down
Get a home, write a book, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Been to Yokohama
Been a-fighting in the war
Army bunk, army clothes
Army chow, army car, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Same thing every day
Getting up, going to school
No need to be complaining
My objection's overruled, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Working in the filling station
Too many tasks
Wipe the windows, check the tires
Check the oil, dollar gas, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Don't want your botheration
Get away, leave me
Related articles:
- Radio: Side By Side
- Radio: Pop Go The Beatles
- I Got To Find My Baby
- Radio: Pop Go The Beatles
- Sure To Fall (In Love With You)
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