Ricky's been kicking the gong   Lickety split didn't take too long   A junkie's sick   A monkey's strong   That's what's wrong      Well, I guess he's been messing around downtown   So sad to see the man losing ground   Winding down behind closed doors   On all fours      Mama, don't you call him my name   He can't hear you anymore   And even if he seems the same to you   That's a stranger to your door   Ask him what's he come here for      Oh my god, a monkey can move a man   Send him to hell   And home again   With an empty hand in the afternoon   Shooting for the moon      It's halfway sick   And it's halfway stoned   He'd sure like to kick   But it's too far gone   They wind him down with the methadone   He's all on his own      But baby, don't you throw your love away   I hate to seem unkind   It's only that I understand the man   That the monkey can leave behind   I used to think he was a friend of mine