What is the Meaning of Dance Monkey by Tones and I

While the song Dance Monkey may seem like a free spirited song backed by a happy go lucky dance track in the background — the song actually has a darker side and meaning.

The phrase “dance monkey” is an analogy for puppets or rather a term used to describe a slave and master.

The macaque monkey is often stolen from its mother and forced to dance in the streets of Indonesia. The term Topeng Monyet means “Dancing Macaque” or essentially, dancing monkey.

To say dance monkey is a metaphor for someone that is being forced to do something, either actively or passively without realizing it. 

So for this song the meaning of dance monkey becomes clear, especially after watching the music video. It is essentially describing the repetitive processes we do in life without a second thought because we either have to or feel we need to.

With that in mind let’s dive into the lyrics of the song to get better clarification.

Verse

They say oh my god I see the way you shine

Take your hand, my dear, and place them both in mine

You know you stopped me dead while I was passing by

And now I beg to see you dance just one more time

Ooh I see you, see you, see you every time

And oh my I, I, I like your style

You, you make me, make me, make me wanna cry

And now I beg to see you dance just one more time

While at first glance this seems to hint at being struck, possibly love struck with someone, but the reality is it screams “caged” all throughout the verse. 

I see the way you shine, meaning I am at your show or performance. Take my hand and place them both in mine — follow the leader. You stopped me dead while I was passing by can be best thought of as people walking down the street and coming upon a street performer where they are so impressed they stop in their tracks and watch. And I beg to see you dance just one more time, means it was so exceptional they want to see you do it again.

We then go into I see you, see you, see you every time. This is because the performance is always in the same location and they are always passing through the area. You make me, make me, make me wanna cry is a moral dilemma where they know what they are seeing is wrong but what they are seeing is also so amazing they can’t help but want to see it again.

Chorus

So they say

Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh, oh, oh

I’ve never seen anybody do the things you do before

They say move for me, move for me, move for me, ay, ay, ay

And when you’re done I’ll make you do it all again

If you’ve been reading this far you can already see where the chorus leads. The master is telling the monkey to dance, issuing commands. When you’re done, I’ll make you do it all again clearly shows the cruel relationship between the master and monkey.

The analogy extends into our everyday average lives. Almost all of us feel compelled to go to work and slave away at a job or do things we feel compelled or obligated to. No matter what, when we’re done with a day’s work that we dreaded, we’ll get up and do it all again.

It’s a brilliant metaphor for the average human life.

Verse

I said oh my god I see you walking by

Take my hands, my dear, and look me in my eyes

Just like a monkey I’ve been dancing my whole life

But you just beg to see me dance just one more time

Ooh I see you, see you, see you every time

And oh my I, I like your style

You, you make me, make me, make me wanna cry

And now I beg to see you dance just one more time

And here we go into the second verse with the metaphor becoming even clearer. “Just like a monkey I’ve been dancing my whole life” now the artist makes it clear that the slave monkeys are a metaphor for the average human life.

The song then goes into the chorus and outro which reiterates the enslavement many of us endure.

While many of us played this song on repeat without a second thought, some of you finally began to wonder what this song actually meant.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below.