"ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW"

For diversion, I decided to stop spinning the radio dial looking for talk shows when I came across an "oldies" rock and roll program on my local station, KONP, recently and just listen. I have decided that I need to do that more often. It was enjoyable. It disturbs me to hear the attacks on rock and roll. I enjoyed it in my youth. In three minutes or so, a lot of fun can be had.

The first song that got me going was "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" by the Honeycombs (?Honeycones). I believe the host said it was from 1971. I am not sure I remember it. The sound was familiar, but not the words. Amazingly, as I have gotten older, I can understand the words better - - - I mean, I hear the individual words better now. I used to have more trouble with the lyrics. Why is that? I thought old people were supposed to have more trouble in that department. The meaning may still elude me.

Despite the grammar, or because of it, there is an important message. Life goes on. At least, where there is what I believe is a "Divine Spark." The human spirit is not to be trifled with. It came from God.

Then, there were the associations that set into motion. On the subject of monkeys, I happened to think of that old claim that if you took a hundred monkeys (I forget the number really) and gave them each a typewriter and enough paper and time, they would duplicate every work of literature ever produced. Did I really believe that? I am not sure. I don't now. Not even if you increased the number of monkeys, assumed they would never run out of trees for the paper, and gave them free maintenance contracts on their typewriters. Hell, not even if you gave them modern wordprocessors. (Does anyone other than an old rock and roller remember what a typewriter is)? What would happen if one of the monkeys accidently pushed the "Spell Checker?" Well, "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show." What if two did? Three?

I believe that all those monkeys and all those machines and all the support would never reproduce even one short story. There is no "divine spark."

But, now here is the best part - - - even if they did, it would take a Divine Being, God - - - to find it.!

Ain't life a bitch? A bitch or a monkey, a gangsta or a ho, even many don't stop no show. Perhaps better, as another tune I heard that night expressed, "Life's a Rock, but the Radio Rolled Me." (Reunion, year ??). I vaguely recall hearing this one, once. Once is enough. The title alone is worth the price. Roll on. You must. Without the rock is ok too. "A rolling rock (or rocker or stone or stoned rocker) gathers no moss." (Let's give it a rest).

I am not pleased with some of the directions rock and roll went. I just recall that there were many who hoped that's the way it would go to justify their claim that it was evil. I know that only evil is evil. It was as if someone were saying that we expect it to take a wrong turn, and we will only allow it to continue if it does and proves us correct in our prediction. Think about that. Read some Loren Eisley.

Rock and roll was "demonized." What happened? Men were "demonized" by the feminists. What happened? Drugs were "demonized." What happened? Even violence was "demonized." What happened?

Among the greatest disappointments in my life is the failure of our institutions to point out and fight evil. Evil must be given an equal footing with good. We must be non-partial. We must consider all views. We must even provide a venue. Crap! Rock and roll was not evil. If it has been corrupted, somebody wanted it to be. If it has been corrupted, so have the newspapers, the schools, the courts, the churches, etc.. Are they also then evil? Do we remove them, or do we remove the evil?

How?

A way will be revealed.

"One monkey don't stop no show."

Copyright © 2005, Donald L. Beeman. All rights reserved.

Other Essays
Table of Contents
HOME