When you look, what do you see? You only see the monkey not the man in me But now I'm back and that's a fact Gonna show the next generation where I'm at Now what I mean is to say The way that I was is the same as I am today Now if you're white or if you're black Remember you can't get the monkey off your back You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man I was lost, but now I'm found Some might even say that I've been around With the crowd I would move Mr. Sophisticated just can't lose Now in the style that I was dressed I was the steady reason no one could test Yeah, I was smart and I was cool No matter how hard they tried I was no ones fool You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man Did you hear what I say? (Did you hear what I say?) Did you hear what I say? (Did you hear what I say?) You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man When you look, what do you see? You only see the monkey not the man in me Well, now I'm back and that's a fact Gonna show the next generation where I'm at Now what I mean is to say The way that I was is the same as I am today And if you're white or if you're black Remember you can't get this monkey off your back You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running and you're running away (You're running away) From the monkey man You're running and you're running but you can't get away (You're running away) From the monkey man From the monkey man, from the monkey man