ricky´s been kicking the gong
lickety split didn´t take too long
a junkie´s sick
a monkey´s strong
that´s what´s wrong

well, i guess he´s been messing around downtown
so sad to see the man losing ground
winding down behind closed doors
on all fours

mama, don´t you call him my name
he can´t hear you anymore
and even if he seems the same to you
that´s a stranger to your door
ask him what´s he come here for

oh my god, a monkey can move a man
send him to hell
and home again
with an empty hand in the afternoon
shooting for the moon

it´s halfway sick
and it´s halfway stoned
he´d sure like to kick
but it´s too far gone
they wind him down with the methadone
he´s all on his own

but baby, don´t you throw your love away
i hate to seem unkind
it´s only that i understand the man
that the monkey can leave behind
i used to think he was a friend of mine