Monkey & Bunny

The titular Monkey & Bunny

(Overdubs)

***Monkey & Bunny*** is the fourth song from The Residents & Renaldo & The Loaf's collaborative album '*Title In Limbo.*' The album's cover art seemingly is based on imagery from the song.

## History

When Renaldo & The Loaf visited Ralph Records in March of 1981, to help write and produce a short film to promote Songs For Swinging Larvae, the duo of course met with their contemporaries and heroes, The Residents. The Residents were working on Mark of the Mole at the time, but of course wanting to seize the opportunity of having the six of them together, decided to write and record an album during the four days before Renaldo & The Loaf had to return to England.

On Day One, the group recorded a 34 minute jam tape, which was given slight overdubs on the second day. The suite was dubbed '4 Daze,' but no further work went on in the group's last 2 days together.

Two years later, whilst The Residents were touring The Mole Show through Europe, the sextet met up backstage at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, where conversation one again turned to the 4 Daze suite. Deciding they really aught to complete it, they all scheduled to re-meet in San Francisco in September, where they would craft the tape into a ready to release album.

Unfortunately, David Janssen was unable to book time off, and so instead recorded tape loops for Brian Poole to use during the sessions.

The group decided to adapt the second song on the tape, 'Long Song,' into 'Monkey & Bunny.' The song features The Residents on lead vocals, with Poole performing backing vocals.

### Later Uses

The song quickly became a classic, and has been featured on three separate '*Best of'* compilations; Ralph Before 84, Hell!, and 80 Aching Orphans.

An abridged version of the song was performed during the 'Eyeball Show,' tour, and was expanded to the full length version by the time of the 13th Anniversary Show.

For the group's 20th anniversary album, Our Finest Flowers, The Residents re-recorded the song as 'Jungle Bunny;' incorporating instrumental elements from Picnic in the Jungle. The album 'RMX' claims to feature a remix of said track, but it is in fact Picnic in the Jungle.

## Lyrics

```
There was a little man
Who ran a shoe shine stand
Everyday the man would sweep
Clutter from the busy street

```

```
He seldom said a word
That anybody heard
There was something in his face
That could never be erased

```

```
Like a broken pup
He looked up from the cup
He drank his morning coffee in
And wiped the dribbles from his chin

```

```
And when his eyes met mine,
He made a little whine
He came within an inch or two
And then he whispered "I hate you"

```

```
"How did he know?"

```

```
"Once I had some pets
And let them starve to death
It was a funny little monkey
And a big white Easter Bunny
They lived in little cages
And sometimes in rages
I would turn them upside down
And drag the monkey all around"

```

***13th Anniversary Version***

```
What About A Shoe-Shine?
What About A Shoe-Shine?
What About A Shoe-Shine?
Want A Shiny Shoe?
What About A Shoe-Shine?
For You?

```

```
There was a little man
Who ran a shoe shine stand
Everyday the man would sweep
Clutter from the busy street

```

```
He seldom said a word
That anybody heard
There was something in his face
That could never be erased

```

```
Like a broken pup
He looked up from the cup
He drank his morning coffee
And wiped the dribbles from his chin

```

```
And when his eyes met mine,
He made a little whine
'Came within an inch or two
Then he whispered "I hate you"

```

```
Tell Me Straight
Tell Me Straight
Tell Me Straight
Tell Me Straight
Tell Me Straight

```

```
"How did he know?"

```

```
"Once I had some pets
And let them starve to death
It was a funny little monkey
And a big white Easter Bunny
They lived in little cages
And sometimes in rages
I would turn them upside down
And.. and drag the monkey all around"

```

***'Jungle Bunny' Version***

```
Once there was a little man
And they called him Shoe-Shine Sam
Everyday the man would sweep
Clutter from the busy street

```

```
Seldom did he said a word
At least that anybody heard
Well, there was something in his face
That could never be erased

```

```
Could it be true I understand
the meaning of that shoe-shine man?
Could it be true I understand
the meaning of that shoe-shine man?

```

```
Like a little paper pup
He looked up from the broken cup
He drank his morning coffee in
And wiped the dribbles from his chin

```

```
Then I felt his eyes met mine,
And he made a little whine
He came within an inch or two
And then he whispered "I hate you"

```

```
Could it be true I understand
the meaning of that shoe-shine man?

```

```
"Once I had some pets
And I let them starve to death
It was a silly monkey
And a big white Easter Bunny
They lived in little cages
And sometimes in rages
I would turn them upside down
And drag the bunny all around"

```

## Releases

* Title In Limbo (1983)
* Ralph Before '84 (1984)
* Hell! (1986)
* The Eyeball Show Live In Japan (1986)
* Live In The USA! 13th Anniversary Tour (1986)
* 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Holland (1987)
* Not Available / Selections From Title In Limbo (1988)
* Our Finest Flowers (1992)
* Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town (2003)
* RMX (2009)
* 13th Anniversary Show - Ritz NY - Jan 16, 1986 (2010)
* 80 Aching Orphans (2017)
* 4 Daze (2017)

#### Versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1983 Studio Version (5:01)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 1985 Live Version (4:23)
3. ↑ 1986 February Live Version (4:33)
4. ↑ 1986 October Live Version (5:14)
5. ↑ 1992 'Jungle Bunny' Version (2:48)
6. ↑ 2006 RMX Version (2:01)
7. ↑ 1986 January Live Version (2:37)
8. ↑ 1981 Demo Version (4:27)

1. ↑ https://www.renaldoloaf.com/portfolio/title-in-limbo-w-the-residents/