Signifyin' Monkey

Said the signifyin' monkey to the lion one day

"Hey, there's a great big elephant down the way

Goin' 'round talkin'

I'm sorry to say

About your momma in a scandalous way

Yes, he's talkin' 'bout your momma and your grandma too

And he don't show too much respect for you

Now, you weren't here and I sure am glad

'Cause what he said about your momma made me mad"

Signifyin' monkey

Stay up in your tree

You are always lyin' and signifyin'

But you better not monkey with me

The lion said, "Yeah, well, I'll fix him

I'll tear that elephant limb from limb"

Then he shook the jungle with a mighty roar

Took off like a shot from a forty four

He found the elephant where the tall grass grows

And said, "I come to punch you in your long nose"

The elephant looked at the lion in surprise

And said, "Boy you better go pick on somebody your size"

But the lion wouldn't listen

He made a pass

The elephant slapped him down in the grass

The lion roared and sprung from the ground

And that's when that elephant really went to town

I mean he whipped that lion for the rest of the day

And I still don't see how the lion got away

But he dragged on off more dead than alive

That's when that monkey started his signifyin' jive

Signifyin' monkey

Stay up in your tree

You are always lyin' and signifyin'

But you better not monkey with me

The monkey looked down and said, "Ooh, wee

What is this beat up mess I see

Is that you, lion?

Ha, ha, do tell

Man, he whipped your head through a head to a fare thee well

Give you a beatin' that was rough enough

And you supposed to be king of the jungle

Ain't that some stuff?

You big overgrown pussycat

Don't you roar

I'll hop down there and whip you some more"

The monkey got to laughin' and jumpin'  up and down

But his foot missed a limb and he plunged to the ground

The lion was on him with all four feet

Gonna grind that monkey to hamburger meat

The monkey looked up with tears in his eyes

And said, "Please, mister lion, I, I apologize

I meant no harm, please let me go

And I'll tell you somethin' you really need to know"

Signifyin' monkey

Stay up in your tree

You are always lyin' and signifyin'

But you better not monkey with me

The lion stepped back to hear what he'd say

And that monkey scampered up a tree and got away

"What I want to tell you," the monkey hollered then

"Is if you fool with me, I'll sick elephant on you again"

The lion just shook his head and said, "You jive

If you and your monkey children wanna keep alive

Up in them trees is where you better stay"

And that's where they are to this very day

Signifyin' monkey

Stay up in your tree

You are always lyin' and signifyin'

But you better not

No, you better not

You are always lyin' and signifyin'

But you better not monkey with me