Although the official songwriting credit is given to all members of the band, it is thought that Bob Dylan is the main songwriter because he sings lead vocals and published the song under his Special Rider Music label. However, this is partially contradicted by George Harrison's account of the song in the 2007 documentary The True History of the Traveling Wilburys:
"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" was really [written by] Tom Petty and Bob [Dylan]. Well, Jeff [Lynne] and I were there too, but they were just sitting there around in the kitchen, and he was for some reason talking about all this stuff that didn't make much sense, you know, and we got a tape cassette and put it on and then transcribed everything they were saying.[2]
Harrison also recalled that he and Lynne then contributed the chorus, beginning with the line "And the walls came down", based on an idea of Dylan's from the same tape.[3]
"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is sometimes regarded as a playful homage to the songs of Bruce Springsteen, who was often hailed as "the next Dylan" early in his career. The lyrics include the titles of many Springsteen songs, and the song borrows many of Springsteen's themes. The setting of the song itself is New Jersey, Springsteen's home state and the setting for many of Springsteen's own songs. New Jersey locations such as Rahway Prison and Jersey City are mentioned by name. Springsteen song title references include: "Stolen Car", "Mansion on the Hill", "Thunder Road", "State Trooper", "Factory", "The River", and a song made popular by Springsteen but written by Tom Waits, "Jersey Girl". Additionally, "Lion's Den" and "Paradise" are each mentioned and prominently enunciated in the song, each being the title of a Springsteen song released after the Traveling Wilburys album.
Only Dylan, Harrison, Petty and Lynne took part in recording "Tweeter and the Monkey Man," making it the only song on Vol. 1 not to feature Roy Orbison in any capacity.
Composition and lyrical content
"Tweeter and the Monkey Man" contains five verses in 5 minutes 27 seconds, making it the longest Traveling Wilburys song put to record. Dylan sings lead on the song's verses, with the rest of the group (except Orbison) singing backup on the chorus.
The song tells the story of two drug dealers – Tweeter and the Monkey Man – their nemesis, the "Undercover Cop", and the cop's sister, Jan, a longtime love interest of the Monkey Man. Some lyrics raise a question regarding Tweeter's gender identity, for example: "Tweeter was a boy scout / before she went to Vietnam ..." Later in the song, Jan is quoted as saying of Tweeter, "I knew him long before he ever became a Jersey girl."
Throughout the ballad, the demise of Tweeter, the Monkeyman and the Undercover Cop, as well as Jan's fate, are examined.
Personnel
The Traveling Wilburys
Bob Dylan – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Canadian rock band Headstones recorded a cover of the song for their 1993 debut album Picture of Health. It was released as the album's third single in 1994 and became a radio hit in Canada. The lyrics were changed somewhat, including eliminating the implication of Tweeter changing genders and replacing some American references with Canadian ones, such as the inclusion of the band's hometown of Kingston.
^Smax, Willy (dir.) (2007). The True History of the Traveling Wilburys (DVD). Traveling Wilburys; Willy Smax and Olivia Harrison (producers). Wilbury Record Co. Event occurs between 7:40 and 7:55.
