One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

Below are lyrics from Gillian Welch's "One monkey" song off her latest album Soul Journey (late like too long ago!) and a possible source for her phrasing and theme in a song by Big Maybelle that I heard on KPLU's All Blues program (Saturday and Sunday's @ 6pm- midnight, Blues Time Machine - always at 8). I believe that the topics are one and the same, Gillian's phrasing is just more focused on the train imagery. You know, I used to not like Gillian's "One monkey", it is so slow and prodding. But in the last year or so, I've come around. Check her song out on iTunes or somewhere. Try catching some of Big Maybelle's too, she's got style - completely different from Gillian.

"One Monkey", 2003

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board

Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board

There is a purpose, a running keep
There is a Captian, with a steady wheel
Wheel

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board

Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
Here comes the slow train
So get on board

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board

She’s at the station, running slow
Ready for leavin;, she’s gonna go
Go

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show

Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board

One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
One monkey don’t stop the show
Whoa, so get on board

Here comes the freight train
Here comes the freight train
So, get on board


"One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"
Big Maybelle, 1954

My baby jumped up this morning
And sat on the side of the bed
He said I'm leaving you baby
And this is just what I said

I said I can't make you stay if you want to go
But it's high time baby that you should know

One monkey don't stop no show
One monkey don't stop no show
So if you still want to go, go ahead
And I meant every word I said

My baby thought I was jiving
And he went right out the door
He left me about three in the morning
Hmm, I got me a man at four

Some women cry when their men leave 'em drylongso
But I found out something long time ago

One monkey don't stop no show
One monkey don't stop no show
So if he gets too big for his pants
Get a spring brand new one and give him a chance

I used to be chicken-hearted
And cry when he'd walk out the door
'Cause I was just young and simple
Ha! Ain't like that no more

'Cause I had a hard way to go 'fore I learned the score
But I'm here to tell you and I should know

One monkey don't stop no show
One monkey don't stop no show
I let him do anything he choose
'Cause there's a million men who can fill his shoes

One monkey don't stop no show
One monkey don't stop no show
One monkey don't stop no show
And you can tell them I told you so