The Smart Monkeys Survive : Lyrics Elvis Nash

I’ve seen men bet their lives on a crooked smile,

Loaded dice and a bad last mile.

Heard ‘em laugh like luck was tame,

Till the devil came to collect their name.

You can drink all night, you can talk real loud,

But the truth doesn’t bend to the toughest crowd.

Every jungle’s got teeth and vines,

And only some learn the warning signs.

Pre-Chorus

You can blame the world, you can curse the rain,

But rules don’t change just ‘cause you complain.

Chorus (Hook)

The smart monkeys survive, the stupid ones die,

That’s the law of the jungle, no alibi.

No saviors coming, no second try,

The smart monkeys survive, the stupid ones die.

Verse 2

I watched a king swing too damn fast,

Thought he’d outrun his shadowed past.

Chest out proud, mind shut tight,

Didn’t see the trap till it snapped shut right.

Wisdom whispers, fools just shout,

One reads the room, one storms out.

A loaded gun don’t care who’s right,

And daylight doesn’t forgive the night.

Pre-Chorus

You can roll them bones, you can tempt that flame,

But gravity, don’t forget your name.

Chorus (Hook)

The smart monkeys survive, the stupid ones die,

That’s the law of the jungle, no alibi.

No mercy clause, no reason why,

The smart monkeys survive, the stupid ones die.

Bridge

It ain’t about money, muscle, or pride,

It’s knowing when to run, when to hide.

Some learn scars, some learn pain.

Some write checks, some get paid.

Verse 3

I’ve lived somewhere in between

And learned to read what ain’t unseen.

I count my steps, I watch my back,

I don’t chase glory down a crack.

Still breathing means I listened once,

When instinct spoke instead of hunch.

You don’t win wars by proving you’re brave,

You win by staying out the grave.

Final Chorus (Double Hook)

The smart monkeys survive, the stupid ones die,

That’s the truth carved sharp, no lullaby.

Say it slow, let it burn your pride—

The smart monkeys survive…

The stupid ones die.

Outro

Yeah, the jungle keeps score

Every damn time.