Monty Got A Raw Deal

Album: Automatic For The People (1992)
Play Video
  • Monty, this seems strange to me
    The movies had that movie thing
    But nonsense has a welcome ring
    And heroes don't come easy

    Now nonsense isn't new to me
    I know my head, I know my feet
    But mischief knocked me in the knees
    Said, "just let go, just let go"

    I saw the ocean meet the man
    I saw you buried in the sand
    A friend was there to hold your hand
    Said, "walk on by"

    So, I went walking through the street
    I saw you strung up in a tree
    A woman knelt there said to me
    Said, "hold your tongue, hold your tongue"

    You don't owe me anything
    You don't want this sympathy (waste your breath)
    Don't you waste your breath (waste your breath)
    For the silver screen

    That nonsense doesn't mean a thing
    They tried to bust you in a sting
    But virtue isn't everything
    So, don't waste time

    Now, here's a rhyme that you can steal
    Put this on your reel to reel
    Mischief threw a rotten deal
    Monty's laying low, man
    He is laying low
    Just let go
    Just let go

    You don't owe me anything
    You don't want this sympathy (waste your breath)
    Don't you waste your breath (waste your breath)
    Monty, this seems strange to me Writer/s: Billy Berry, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Briancurtismith from IgnoretrumplandI say it's about a Python named Monty
  • Joshua from La Crosse, WiJudging from the title, R.E.M. must have also had a different Monty (namely Monty Hall, of Let's Make A Deal game show fame) in mind as well.
  • Joe from Baltimore, MdOne of the best songs from "Automatic For The People" next to "Man On The Moon," "Nightswimming," and "Ignoreland."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.