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The Kinks — Apeman
Album: Lola vs. the Powerman and the Money-Go-Round , Pt. 1
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1769









Released: 1970
Length: 3:48
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I think I'm sophisticated
'Cos I'm living my life like a good homosapien
But all around me everybody's multiplying
Till they're walking round like flies man
So I'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages
In the zoo man
'Cos compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an ape man
I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
'Cos I'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man
I'm an ape man I'm a King Kong man I'm ape ape man
I'm an ape man
'Cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies
I am an ape man
In man's evolution he has created the cities and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And I'd be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle
'Cos the only time that I feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man
I'm an ape, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
I look out my window, but I can't see the sky
'Cos the air pollution is fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an ape man
Come and love me, be my ape man girl
And we will be so happy in my ape man world
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
I'll be your Tarzan, you'll be my Jane
I'll keep you warm and you'll keep me sane
And we'll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day
Just like an ape man
I'm an ape man, I'm an ape ape man, I'm an ape man
I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man.
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an ape man.
Comments (71)add comment
I'm reminded of the Librarian in Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Ook! Ook! :o)

This should be the theme song of Planet of the Apes
Oook! Oook! :o)
 Tylersmyler wrote:

oo oo ah ah oo oo ah ahh ooo ooo ah ahh ooo oo ahh ahh 



Can I quote you on that? 
The topic of this song still fits perfectly to 2024. An ape man is an ape man.
 Tylersmyler wrote:

oo oo ah ah oo oo ah ahh ooo ooo ah ahh ooo oo ahh ahh 



That's what she said.
Oh wow.  After all these years I still remembered most of the words.  Thanks for playing this Bill!
The sentiments of the song seem so relevant. Unfortunately sailing to a distant shore really won't help. There's no longer any place to hide.
So essential to the huge cultural and musical tsunami of their time. And yet The Kinks always stand apart. A comforting eddy beyond the crashing wave.
 timmus wrote:
 
Pretty amazing that 52 years later we all made it just fine.  I don't know what the future has in store, but at least world leaders have had enough restraint not to start WW3.


not feeling quite as secure about that currently (February 2023) with Putin threatening possible use of nuclear enabled weapons...
oo oo ah ah oo oo ah ahh ooo ooo ah ahh ooo oo ahh ahh 
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
 
Pretty amazing that 52 years later we all made it just fine.  I don't know what the future has in store, but at least world leaders have had enough restraint not to start WW3.
I know the Kinks can do better than this
 Bleyfusz wrote:



More than ever in 2022 - holy shit, how the years pass by!

+1
... will be applicable a couple more years I reckon until something fundamental changes...
Just goes to show that there is nothing new under the sun.
This sure could use a remastering.   Until then, I'll just crank up the volume myself.
 lizardking wrote:

Well I was alive in the 70s, just barley...born in '77 - at least I missed Disco!  Long Live RP!!


yeah, well disco...Do the Hustle did bring a whole new thing to our tiny Alaska backwoods prom night.  Followed by Fog Hat; what more could you ask for back then?
Dave has a memoir out "Living On A Thin Line" 
I thought this was Lola when it started.
This song is especially salient in the current circumstances (ie Russia/Ukraine).
The last 4 lines seem to have extra poignancy this morning. 

Slava Ukrani.
I call this the 'return to monke' song 🐒

GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
 skooba wrote:

Released in 1970.  Still applicable in 2018. 




More than ever in 2022 - holy shit, how the years pass by!
 dlirious wrote:

Hey Bill, there are other great songs on this album that need to be played.




I AGREE!
Hey Bill, there are other great songs on this album that need to be played.
 skooba wrote:

Released in 1970.  Still applicable in 2018. 



Agreed. Feels even more applicable on the eve of 2022.
Classic & Iconic!!!
will always be a 10 for me
Prescient.
Serving suggestion: follow this with James McMurtry's "Choctaw Bingo."
ok come on...music is supposed to be fun and light as well..these guys did that so well
"But with the over-population" - If they could see us now!
 hoboormsby wrote:

The first single I ever bought with my own pocket money. I'd been given Rolf Harris's "Two little boys" the preceding Christmas, so I like to think it was a big step forward.



I like your style.  Shame Rolf let everyone down so badly.  
The first single I ever bought with my own pocket money. I'd been given Rolf Harris's "Two little boys" the preceding Christmas, so I like to think it was a big step forward.
Released in 1970. Guessing it's mono since it sounds flat.
The way 2021 is starting, I want be an ape man!
 skooba wrote:
Released in 1970.  Still applicable in 2018. 

As I write this we are in the final 9 days of the Trump Administration. I don't need to say anything more. 

Not bad, but I prefer the Stones Monkey Man.   ; )
I admit this song is a guilty pleasure to my ears!
Ook! Ook! :o)
Troll on Apeman
 h8rhater wrote:


You could just take your Keester to PSD without all the drama.  Sheesh.
 

Solid 11.
These guys are special.
This is totally applicable right now!
 SmackDaddy wrote:
Bill - Need to follow this with I Wanna Be Like You (Los Lobos version) and it will all come full circle.
 
Top it off with "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey".

As Troglodytes we are not qualified to rate this song
Bill - Need to follow this with I Wanna Be Like You (Los Lobos version) and it will all come full circle.
Way ahead of its time: global crisis warning only slightly disguised with a Kinks' characteristically simple but catchy tune. 
Tell it like it is We should all be Ape Women and Men We would be in a more sane world With our true selves not ego minds
 kcar wrote:


If you were alive in the 70s and listened to FM radio, you heard this. Couldn't escape it. Lots of fun. 
 
True that.   Gotta love the lyrics.  Did this one help catalyze the back-to-the-land movement?  
apeman. trudat!
 h8rhater wrote:


You could just take your Keester to PSD without all the drama.  Sheesh.
 
Right?  Kinda like when you're eating something and someone says "YUCK" and then "Enjoy" - just let me eat in peace!  Or in this case, hear this FUN track....it's still a 9 for me...LLRP!!
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Good heavens do I hate the Kinks. Imma go ahead and PSD, ya'll enjoy this without me. Yech.
 

My stars, you could just take your Keester to PSD without all the drama.  Sheesh.
 kcar wrote:


If you were alive in the 70s and listened to FM radio, you heard this. Couldn't escape it. Lots of fun. 
 
Well I was alive in the 70s, just barley...born in '77 - at least I missed Disco!  Long Live RP!!
So great to hear this little gem again!
 lizardking wrote:
how the HELL did I never hear this track before?  (the answer is that I've never been a 'punk' fan, so a lot of the early punk or protopunk was not my thing, but jezz this is freaking AWESOME)

9 right off....awesome play BillG!


 

If you were alive in the 70s and listened to FM radio, you heard this. Couldn't escape it. Lots of fun. 
Not my favorite song of theirs, but I always love me some Ray Davies & the Kinks.
YYYYYeeeeeeeaaahhhh
Thank you so much for this song!
Released in 1970.  Still applicable in 2018. 

In man's evolution he has created the cities and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And I'd be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle
'Cos the only time that I feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man

 

Yeah, after yesterday, this doesn't sound like such a bad idea.
 glassman wrote:
Had this on 45 rpm

 
certainly me too - was a must at that time
7 because it is the Kinks and because the lyrics are great. 
Good heavens do I hate the Kinks. Imma go ahead and PSD, ya'll enjoy this without me. Yech.
Wise words.  Please keep this in the rotation, Bill!

how the HELL did I never hear this track before?  (the answer is that I've never been a 'punk' fan, so a lot of the early punk or protopunk was not my thing, but jezz this is freaking AWESOME)

9 right off....awesome play BillG!


Had this on 45 rpm
One ape-man's utopia may be another ape-man's dystopia.

YES! I remember the first time I heard this, and I FREAKED! The air pollution is a fuckin' up my eyes! Bill's right...it still resonates!