The Monkey Time is a song written by Curtis Mayfield originally performed by Major Lance in 1963. In Disney media, it is heard in the 1998 Disney direct-to-video film, The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story, which is the only song heard in this film.
Background[]
The song plays during the part where Mowgli encounters a group of chimpanzees led by the Tarzan Chimp in which it is sung by an offscreen singer where Mowgli plans to "party" with them, unaware that the chimps are tricking him and luring into a trap as well as a territory inhabited by monkeys known as "Monkey Town", much to Baloo's warning, fearing that Bagheera would not like that. The song fades when Mowgli encounters Chil who is sitting on a tree near the edge of the wolf pack's territory, leaving the lyrics incomplete.
Lyrics[]
There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready
Where people gather 'round, whenever they're ready
And then the music begins to play
You feel a groove comin' on its way
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Well, you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
Monkey Time
Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know that when the beat brings a feel, it's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically, you're on your way
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time
I do the Monkey, yeah (Do the Monkey Time)
I do the Monkey, yeah (Do the Monkey Time)
I twist them hips (Twist them hips)
I let your backbone slip (Let your backbone slip)
Now move your feet (Move your feet)
Get on the beat (Get on the beat)
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
Monkey Time
Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know that when the beat brings a feel, it's so hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically, you're on your way
Are you ready? (Are you ready?
Well you get yours, 'cause I got mine
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
I do the Monkey, yeah (The Monkey Time)
Give me a big strong line (Monkey Time)
You're looking real fine...
(fade)
There's a place right across town, whenever you're ready
Where people gather 'round, whenever they're ready
And then the music begins to play
You feel a groove comin' on its way
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Well, you can't go, 'cause I got no time
For the Monkey Time (Monkey Time)
Monkey Time
Now the dance that the people do, I don't know how it started
All I know that when the beat brings a feel, it's hard to get parted
And then the music begins to play
Automatically, you're on your way
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
But you can't go, 'cause I got no time
For the Monkey Time
Monkey Time...
(fade)
