Written by: Chuck Berry
Recorded: 3 September 1963
Producer: Ian Grant
Released: 30 November 1994 (UK), 5 December 1994 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar
Paul McCartney: bass
George Harrison: rhythm guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Live At The BBC
The Beatles recorded four different versions of Chuck Berry's Too Much Monkey Business for BBC radio in 1963, one of which can be heard on the Live At The BBC collection.
Berry first released the song as a single in 1956. It first entered The Beatles' live repertoire in 1960, and remained there until they signed to EMI.
The group's first recorded version was for the BBC's Saturday Club programme. Along with five other songs, they performed it at Broadcasting House in London on 16 March 1963, for a show which was broadcast live.
A second version was performed on 4 April, for the Side By Side programme. This was recorded at the BBC Paris Studio in London, and broadcast on 24 June.
They returned to Too Much Monkey Business again on 1 June, during the second Pop Go The Beatles show. Again recorded at the BBC Paris Studio, this was broadcast on 11 June. All these early versions can currently only be heard on bootlegs.
The Beatles' final attempt at the song took place on 3 September, and was broadcast seven days later. They kicked off the 13th edition of Pop Go The Beatles with the song, which was eventually selected for inclusion in 1994's Live At The BBC.
Lyrics
Running to and fro
Hard working at the mill
Never fail in the mail
Yeah, come a rotten bill, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Salesman talking to me
Trying to run me up a creek
Says you can buy it, go on try it
You can pay me next week, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Blond hair, good looking
Tryin' to get me hooked
Want me to marry, settle down
Get a home, write a book, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Been to Yokohama
Been a-fighting in the war
Army bunk, army clothes
Army chow, army car, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Same thing every day
Getting up, going to school
No need to be complaining
My objection's overruled, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
For me to be involved again
Working in the filling station
Too many tasks
Wipe the windows, check the tires
Check the oil, dollar gas, ow!
Too much monkey business
Too much monkey business
Don't want your botheration
Get away, leave me
I’d always thought of this as The Yardbirds’ Chuck Berry tune – until I heard The Beatles version, that is…
This has to be John on Lead for atleast the solo it sounds just like his other solos
Agreed. John is definitely the lead guitarist on this track because the solo has bits exactly the same as his solo in “Long Tall Sally”. I’m glad this was pointed out.
The lyric is “Too much monkey business for me to revive again” Not involved again
No, you are wrong. it is “…for me to be involved IN”.
To clarify- that is how Chuck Berry wrote it and performed it. Lennon, in every version, always say “..involved again” instead, so Joe has the Beatles’ version lyrically correct.
Masterful vocal by John — how many others could pull it off like him!