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Solo forums => Paul McCartney => Topic started by: PaulieBear on March 03, 2008, 02:17:49 AM

Title: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 03, 2008, 02:17:49 AM
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE YELLING ABOUT?!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 03, 2008, 02:49:02 AM
Haven't a clue. Great song though.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: alexis on March 03, 2008, 03:06:40 AM
I always thought it was a cheap, sweet wine "suitable" for middle- and high schoolers, like "Annie Green Springs" or "Boone's Farm" for those of a certain age and locale. Just a depraved upbringing, I suppose.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: DaveRam on March 03, 2008, 10:05:57 AM
I think he's showing off to Linda on Monkberry Moon Delight , look Linda i can do all these tricks with my voice ,a time of mad love i think for them  :)
Brilliant song from a brilliant album  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Andy Smith on March 03, 2008, 03:40:15 PM
i think it was a nonsense song but of course it's a great track!
you can't read anything into it, haha! ;D
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: wingsman on March 03, 2008, 11:00:47 PM
Those screams are probably the highest notes he ever reached. It's amazing.  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 04, 2008, 02:12:46 AM
I love the song. and his voice is awesome he just seemed very...troubled. :P
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Wordno on March 05, 2008, 06:33:47 AM
His voice was definitely at its strongest and best when he sang this song. He could sing the highest notes and the lowest notes and the deepest notes. I think his voice started to weaken around 1973 and 1974. He never sang with that deep voice again after 1973.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 15, 2008, 08:56:26 PM
it's sad I was watching him at the Olympia I think the other night and it just didn't seem the same.
poor paulie :'(
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Geoff on March 16, 2008, 12:27:10 AM
I wonder if it wasn't written with Linda and the kids in the room. It sounds like it grew out of a demented family sing along. Great cheeky throwaway.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: wingsman on March 16, 2008, 12:27:59 AM
Anyway, Paul's voice is still really good. I mean, the man is over 65 years old.
The other day I was watching "Good Vibrations" sung by Brian Wilson on a 2003 or 2004 concert, and the poor man was distroyed.

And yes, "Monkberry Moon Delight" is one of Paul's greatest vocal performances. I've always tried to reach the highest notes when he, during the last seconds of the songs say, Monkerry Moon Deli-i-i, i-i-i, i-i-i... and on and on... I still don't understand how he can reach those notes. Good for you Macca!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on March 17, 2008, 06:40:07 AM
Love it! Love it!  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: ohyea on March 18, 2008, 03:36:16 AM
i love it too. i heard the song for the 1st time about a week ago... hehehe!!! 8)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 19, 2008, 02:34:30 AM
when I first heard it I didn't think it was him because his voice did not sound the same. I give the man props for still going strong today and his voice is different but still great.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Wordno on March 19, 2008, 02:38:29 AM
Quote from: 977
when I first heard it I didn't think it was him because his voice did not sound the same. I give the man props for still going strong today and his voice is different but still great.


I don't mean this in an offensive way but how did you think his voice sounded? During 1968-1972 his voice was deep and powerful like that. Listen to some of his songs on The White Album, Let it Be, McCartney and Ram, his voice has that very deep sound.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 19, 2008, 02:41:56 AM
Quote from: 403


I don't mean this in an offensive way but how did you think his voice sounded? During 1968-1972 his voice was deep and powerful like that. Listen to some of his songs on The White Album, Let it Be, McCartney and Ram, his voice has that very deep sound.

well I didn't mean literally not knowing who it was but it was a stretch. I think it was mostly because it was a different kind of song. I hadn't heard a song like that from him ever so I guess I should have just said it was different.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on March 19, 2008, 03:12:56 PM
Paul has a lot of range vocally and he can sing basically any type of song.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 19, 2008, 03:15:48 PM
yeah I see that listening to more of his music.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Andy Smith on March 22, 2008, 12:25:55 AM
i thought it was a mess when i first heard it, but realised it was quite a great rocker , no
matter what the heck it meant!  :P
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: PaulieBear on March 22, 2008, 12:41:12 AM
hey is your picture and mine with the red shirt related?!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Andy Smith on March 22, 2008, 10:36:13 PM
Quote from: 977
hey is your picture and mine with the red shirt related?!

looks like it a bit dosen't it,  ;D

Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: glass onion on February 18, 2009, 07:57:48 PM
top song,top album.one of pauls' best vocals....what a cracking voice!yeah-a big purple patch for pauls' voice 68-72,although you could pick other songs off of later albums and say that his voice sounded just as good....some lovely bits on "i've had enough"(london town)and also i know that the lyrical content isnt there,but also "rockestra".
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Penny Lane on February 19, 2009, 03:10:46 PM
Quote from: 977
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE YELLING ABOUT?!

Yeah, I ask myself the same thing too when I listen to "Soily."  LOL.  Odd lyrics!  Paul has a thing about bananas; he mentions them in "MMD" and "Hi Hi Hi"...not sure what that's all about but I'm afraid to ask.  Anyway, I love Paul's vocals here.  He has such great range.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: DaveRam on February 19, 2009, 04:56:50 PM
The lyrics are so druggy think that weed he was smoking , really zapped his brain , the best drug song outside The Beatles ?
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 19, 2009, 05:13:46 PM
Quote from: 977
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE YELLING ABOUT?!
Drink a couple of glasses of Monkberry Moon Delight and you'll be yelling too.   :)

I think there's a lot of imagery in this song.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: glass onion on February 23, 2009, 10:00:21 AM
you don't have to make sense in all songs that you write-elementary penguin and all that jazz.monkberry moon delight is a delight to listen to!!!enjoy for what it is!!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: dylanjohn on February 25, 2009, 06:04:35 PM
I always thought it was about afternoon sex, or maybe taking a little "smoke" break.

Just my two cents.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: I_Will on December 14, 2009, 03:44:46 AM
I love this song. I don't care what it means, but the vocals are AWESOME. Plus the melody is a great one to move to  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: eroz0 on December 15, 2009, 10:22:48 AM
I adore this song. His voice is simply amazing in it.

He has said that the song was inspired by his daughters (Heather and Mary). Monkberry Moon Delight was the name they used  for a fruit drink/milkshake Linda would make for them. And they liked to hide in a barrel in the yard to drink it. So the line "two youngsters concealed in a barrel, sucking monkberry moon delight" is actually true.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on December 16, 2009, 08:43:28 PM
I adore this song. His voice is simply amazing in it.

He has said that the song was inspired by his daughters (Heather and Mary). Monkberry Moon Delight was the name they used  for a fruit drink/milkshake Linda would make for them. And they liked to hide in a barrel in the yard to drink it. So the line "two youngsters concealed in a barrel, sucking monkberry moon delight" is actually true.

Was it Paul who said it? Could you, please, say when he said it or maybe where?  :)
In fact, everything is clear now! Paul is playing the piano kind of in the attick, gets a bit tired and lonely. He can hear somebody in the yard, playing, but he imagines they are some enemies, and the wind is blowing on the roof, beating on his brains like also some enemy. He can hear Linda cooking preparing tomato soup-pure. He is falling asleep, the piano is up his nose... but suddenly rats wake him up, he stretches his muscles, stands up feeling hungry and looks out of the window. And what does he see? Two youngsters have crawled into the barrel (it must have been lying, cause they were used to doing it quite often) and are drinking with abandon Monkberry Moon Delight! Great!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: eroz0 on December 16, 2009, 10:09:47 PM
Was it Paul who said it? Could you, please, say when he said it or maybe where?  :)
In fact, everything is clear now! Paul is playing the piano kind of in the attick, gets a bit tired and lonely. He can hear somebody in the yard, playing, but he imagines they are some enemies, and the wind is blowing on the roof, beating on his brains like also some enemy. He can hear Linda cooking preparing tomato soup-pure. He is falling asleep, the piano is up his nose... but suddenly rats wake him up, he stretches his muscles, stands up feeling hungry and looks out of the window. And what does he see? Two youngsters have crawled into the barrel (it must have been lying, cause they were used to doing it quite often) and are drinking with abandon Monkberry Moon Delight! Great!

I love your little story.  :D

Paul talked about it in an interview, but I don't remember when or where. I'll try to find it.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on December 16, 2009, 10:41:17 PM
I love your little story.  :D

Paul talked about it in an interview, but I don't remember when or where. I'll try to find it.

Thank you very much! I would appreciate it so much!!!  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on December 26, 2009, 01:39:17 AM
Paul talked about it in an interview, but I don't remember when or where. I'll try to find it.


This it?

http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html (http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on December 26, 2009, 09:07:33 PM
This it?

[url]http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html[/url] ([url]http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html[/url])


Very nice interview! Thank you! But I don`t think it is it, cause Paul says quite little about the song MMD itself and the meaning of the lyrics, especially the fact who were the youngsters in the barrel, which erozO mentioned. However maybe erozO meant this interview?
What do you know about the lyrics of MMD, Hello Goodbye?  :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on December 26, 2009, 11:25:11 PM
Jane, I mentioned that there might be some imagery in Monkberry Moon Delight.  I guess only Paul knows if there is or isn't.  But I enjoy the lyrics and the mental pictures I have each time I listen to it.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on December 27, 2009, 10:30:53 PM
Is it possible to ask Paul, I wonder? But I don`t think he would be serious, he would prefer to keep people in the dark, making them guess and WONDER, as we do...  :(
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: eroz0 on December 28, 2009, 10:55:17 AM
This it?

[url]http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html[/url] ([url]http://dmme.net/interviews/macca.html[/url])


No, that's not the one. Lovely interview, though, I've never seen that before, thanks for the link.

I've tried to find the one I'm talking about, but so far no luck. I wish I could remember which one it is. He talks very clearly about his inspiration, about Linda making the drink and the kids playing around etc.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on December 28, 2009, 09:12:16 PM
He talks very clearly about his inspiration, about Linda making the drink and the kids playing around etc.

Many people believe that the song is more political or reflecting personal relationships than inspired by the family daily routine. All the more so because the album Ram is directed against John, some think most of the songs concern John, some think only two or three. So it would be a real breakthrough if you could find the interview and the link.   2ch
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: maybebaby on December 29, 2009, 07:48:23 AM
This is what Paul said about the song in Club Sandwich No 72 (Winter 1994):

When my kids were young, they used to call milk "monk", for whatever reason that kids do - I think it's magical the way that kids can develop better names for things than the real ones. In fact, as a joke, Linda and I still occasionally refer to an object by that child-language name.

So, monk was always milk, and monkberry moon delight was a fantasy drink, rather like 'Love Potion No 9', hence the line in the song "sipping monkberry moon delight". It was a fantasy milk shake. Linda has always been very good at making milk shakes and our family is quite into them.
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: maywitch on January 19, 2010, 10:36:36 PM
Many people believe that the song is more political or reflecting personal relationships than inspired by the family daily routine. All the more so because the album Ram is directed against John, some think most of the songs concern John, some think only two or three. So it would be a real breakthrough if you could find the interview and the link.   2ch

I think there are a couple of brief subtle things directed towards John but otherwise I think that's it.  Paul did have other things going on in his life.  I don't remember Paul ever going into the kind of detail about MMD that is being discussed(about the kids drinking it in a barrel) but he definitely said in interviews that the name was inspired by his kids' name.  Like the Club Sandwich interview, that is similar to the version I always remember hearing.

I love this song.  I love how he sings it.  It's so unhinged, it kind of has a crazy sort of apocalyptic sound to it. :)  I especially love when he gets to the line about "Two youngsters concealed in a barrel" the way he just belts "youngsters" to the swell of the music. Very cool, very rockin'. :)
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Jane on January 20, 2010, 09:21:10 PM
but he definitely said in interviews that the name was inspired by his kids' name.  Like the Club Sandwich interview, that is similar to the version I always remember hearing.

Please, could you explain what you mean? I can`t get it. Sorry.  ;sorry
And about the Club too.  ???

Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 27, 2011, 11:29:13 PM
Please, could you explain what you mean? I can`t get it. Sorry.  ;sorry
And about the Club too.  ???




Better late than never.  Here's what maywitch meant:  http://arizonalily.org/lilyflower/club-sandwich/Grab-Bag/mccartney-interview-72.shtml (http://arizonalily.org/lilyflower/club-sandwich/Grab-Bag/mccartney-interview-72.shtml)

What the heck is a "monkberry moon delight?" From Shelli Bennion, North Highlands, CA, USA
When my kids were young they used to call milk, "monk", for whatever reason that kids do - I think it's magical the way that kids can develop better names for things than the real ones. In fact as a joke, Linda and I still occasionally refer to an object by that child-language name.
So, monk was always milk, and monkberry moon delight was a fantasy drink, rather like 'Love Potion No 9', hence the line in the song, "sipping monkberry moon delight". It was a fantasy milkshake. Being an American, Linda has always been very good at making milk shakes and our family is quite into them.


Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: chimac on August 28, 2011, 12:53:13 AM
This tune seems to be more a less a vocal exercise by Paul, to sort of test the limits of what he could do at that time.  As a song, it's mostly a throwaway.  Nonsense lyrics over a fairly generic rock beat.  Still, it's a guilty pleasure because he never quite "lets it rip" like that anywhere else.  I've found myself playing it for people who made comments about Paul's vocal abilities being "limited" or "he always sings the same way".

Thanks to the poster who sent Paul's explanation for the song's "meaning".  I always wondered!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Toejam on August 28, 2011, 08:45:27 AM
I always thought Linda was singing 'soup and pureee' and guess what? She was!! ha2ha
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: chimac on August 30, 2011, 12:10:50 AM
I always thought Linda was singing 'soup and pureee' and guess what? She was!! ha2ha

I learned something new.  I thought it was "simply puree'd" or something like that, if only because of the "Ketchup, Ketchup...Catch the Cadence".  Unless I've got that part wrong too!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on March 28, 2012, 03:18:26 AM
I just about forgot that my car has a CD changer in the trunk.  My Ram CD has been in there for more than a year and when I switched to the CD player this evening, this is what I heard...


Paul McCartney - Monkberry Moon Delight (MusicVideo) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrthE_waCV8#ws)


What is it?     MONKBERRY MOON DELIGHT!!
Title: Re: Monkberry Moon Delight
Post by: Hello Goodbye on October 02, 2012, 04:37:20 AM
Here's the instrumental...


http://youtu.be/r6fhI_eBlW8 (http://youtu.be/r6fhI_eBlW8)




...and here are the lyrics:


So I sat in the attic,
A piano up my nose,
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata...).

Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose,
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato...).

Ketchup (ketchup)
Soup and puree (soup and puree),
Don't get left behind (get left behind)...

When a rattle of rats had awoken,
The sinews, the nerves and the veins.
My piano was boldly outspoken, in attempts to repeat its refrain.

So I stood with a knot in my stomach,
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel,
Sucking monkberry moon delight.

Monkberry moon delight,
Monkberry moon delight.

Well, I know my banana is older than the rest,
And my hair is a tangled beretta.
When I leave my pajamas to Billy Budapest,
And I don't get the gist of your letter (your letter...).

Catch up! (catch up),
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens),
Don't get left behind (get left behind)...

Monkberry moon delight...
Monkberry moon delight...



Have a a glass of Monkberry Moon Delight and sing it!