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 
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 
And now you're running and you're running and you're 
running away 
You're running from the monkey man 
And now you're running and you're running and you're 
running away 
You're running 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 
And now you're running and you're running and you're 
running away 
You're running from the monkey man 
And now you're running and you're running and you're 
running away 
You're running from the monkey man 
Did you hear what I say? 
Now did you hear what I say? 
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 
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 the monkey off your back 
And now you're running and you're running and you're 
running away 
You're running from the monkey man