‘Apeman’ is a 1970 song by the English rock band the Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies and appears on the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. Written as a call to return to nature amidst the crowding and industry of the city, the song features calypso stylings. Like its predecessor, ‘Lola’, it had to have a lyric re-dubbed for commercial release. ‘Apeman’ was a successful follow-up to ‘Lola’, reaching number five on the British charts. It has since attracted critical acclaim.
‘Apeman’, alongside many other songs from the Lola vs. Powerman album, was written by Ray Davies during a family trip to Cornwall in July 1970. In the song, Davies is fed up with the modern world and declares that he wants to "sail away to a distant shore and make like an apeman". He also expresses how man created our problems and, given half a chance, he would leave the cities and traffic to live in the jungle. It reflects the nostalgia expressed on the albums Lola vs. Powerman and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
Davies wrote the song as a follow-up to ‘Lola’ and confirmed that, "in a way", it was his declaration of getting back in touch with nature. He also recounted an encounter with a fan in San Francisco about the band's gay appeal following ‘Lola’: “Oddly enough, I'd already made 'Apeman', as a follow-up to 'Lola' and it was just ready to come out when I met a fan in San Francisco who said 'you've got to make a record after 'Lola' or they'll all think you're gay, or something. You gotta make a record like 'Superman' or 'Gorilla Man'!' And I said, 'That's really strange! My new record is called 'Apeman'!' But if I'd deliberately set out to do that I probably would have come off looking even more like a queen!”
While it did not do as well on the US Pop Singles chart as its predecessor ‘Lola’ did, only reaching number 45, it was a major hit in the UK, peaking at number five in the singles chart, their last Top 10 entry in their home country. It was also the band's Top 10 hit in Australia, where it reached number nine.
Ray Davies had to re-dub the line "the air pollution is a-fogging up my eyes" for the radio, and for their November 1970 performance on Top Of The Pops, because it sounded too much like "the air pollution is 'a f---ing' up my eyes." The Kinks had the same situation with their previous single, ‘Lola’ where Ray had to replace the line "Where you drink champagne and it tastes just Coca-Cola" with "Cherry cola" for airplay.
Labels – Pye (UK), Reprise (US)
Songwriter – Ray Davies
Producer – Ray Davies
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]I think I'm sophisticated
'Cause I'm living my life like a good homosapien
But all around me everybody's multiplying
'Til they're walking round like flies man
So I'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages
In the zoo man
'Cause compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an ape man
[Verse 2]
I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilized
'Cause 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
[Chorus]
I'm an ape man
I'm an ape ape man
I'm an ape man
I'm a King Kong man
I'm voodoo man
I'm an ape man
'Cause 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
[Spoken Interlude]
"In man's evolution he has created the city and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And I'd be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle"
[Chorus]
'Cause 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 man
I'm an ape ape man
I'm an ape man
I'm a King Kong man
I'm a voodoo man
I'm an ape man
I look out the window, but I can't see the sky
'Cause the air pollution is a-fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an ape man
[Bridge]
Come on and love me
Be my ape man girl
And we'll be so happy
In my ape man world
[Chorus]
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 voodoo 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 voodoo 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