The Main Monkey Business
by Rush

Album: Snakes & Arrows (2007)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is the first instrumental Rush did in 11 years, since "Limbo" from Test For Echo. It's the second longest (6:01) in their history behind "La Villa Strangiato" from Hemispheres (9:34).
  • The original version before recording was around 18 minutes long according to an interview with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee with HDNET. They referred the original as just plain "crazy" and said they toned it done for the CD release.
  • The title of the song comes from a phrase Geddy's mom used to describe someone up to no good.
  • In a Legends of Classic Rock interview, Geddy Lee said: "Long story short is, this person was up to hijinx and my mother was telling me, 'Well I think there was some monkey business involved,' and I said, 'What do you mean, monkey business? What kind of monkey business?' And she said, 'The MAIN monkey business.' So I love that phrase and every time I think of her saying 'The MAIN monkey business' it makes me laugh." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA, for all above

Comments: 1

  • Charlie from Wilmington , DeThis song is one of the best I have heard from Rush in a long time. I have been listening since about 1979. I recently went to the Philly show with a friend who had heard of Rush but never saw them live. Needless to say he was totally impressed, he was in awe with Neil's drum solo.
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