Look Out Johnny (There's A Monkey On Your Back)
Hollies · Another Night [1991]
Johnny was a pusher on the east side
pushing anything to be pushed
Laid something on a guy who didn't get high
Didn't know the guy was a hood
Wheeling-dealing Johnny got frightened
thought the best place was out of town
Packed up his bags and threw them in the back
Packed up his bags and threw them in the back
of his Chevy put his foot flat down
Look out Johnny there's a monkey on your back
You better beware there Johnny
'cause the monkey's packin' a gat
Drivin' over red lights speeding down the freeway
Johnny Johnny get away
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Johnny thought he'd do something clever
Turning south on the old Coast Road
Pushing 94 swerving leaning on the door
trying to shake off his heavy load
Crossed the state line feeling safer
Drinking in the corner of a bar
In walked a guy looked the barman in the eye
said "Hey is Johnny in here"
chorus
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Be good
You better beware there Johnny
there's a monkey on your back
Look out Johnny 'cos the monkey's packin' a gat
Drivin' over red lights speeding down the freeway
Johnny Johnny get away
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Look out Johnny there's a monkey on your back
(repeat)
pushing anything to be pushed
Laid something on a guy who didn't get high
Didn't know the guy was a hood
Wheeling-dealing Johnny got frightened
thought the best place was out of town
Packed up his bags and threw them in the back
Packed up his bags and threw them in the back
of his Chevy put his foot flat down
Look out Johnny there's a monkey on your back
You better beware there Johnny
'cause the monkey's packin' a gat
Drivin' over red lights speeding down the freeway
Johnny Johnny get away
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Johnny thought he'd do something clever
Turning south on the old Coast Road
Pushing 94 swerving leaning on the door
trying to shake off his heavy load
Crossed the state line feeling safer
Drinking in the corner of a bar
In walked a guy looked the barman in the eye
said "Hey is Johnny in here"
chorus
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Be good
You better beware there Johnny
there's a monkey on your back
Look out Johnny 'cos the monkey's packin' a gat
Drivin' over red lights speeding down the freeway
Johnny Johnny get away
You better beware there Johnny
There's a monkey on your back
Look out Johnny there's a monkey on your back
(repeat)
Look Out Johnny (There's A Monkey On Your Back)
Hollies' 1967 track 'Look Out Johnny (There's A Monkey On Your Back)' stands as a quintessential example of British Invasion pop-rock. Recorded during the height of the group's success, the song features the band's signature harmonies and driving rhythm section, characteristic of their work on albums like 'Another Night'. The title and lyrics reference the classic nursery rhyme, a common trope in mid-60s pop that added a playful, slightly mischievous tone to the composition. Released in the UK, the song exemplifies the energetic and melodic style that defined the era's youth-oriented music scene, showcasing the band's ability to blend traditional pop structures with contemporary production techniques.