The Ballad of Monkey McGraw
West End Company

[Act 1: Prologue]

[Am] In the heart of the [G] jungle, where the [F] vines inter- [C] twine
Lives a [Dm] curious cre- [Am] ature, with a [G] heart so di- [C] vine
His [Am] name is Monkey [G] McGraw, a [F] legend so [C] tall
He [Dm] dances through [Am] treetops, with [G] grace to en- [C] thrall

[Act 1: Scene 1]

[Am] Oh, the jungles are [G] wide, and the [F] skies are so [C] blue
With each [Dm] leap and each [Am] bound, a new [G] world to pur- [C] sue
From the [Am] break of the [G] dawn, to the [F] twilight's last [C] call
I [Dm] swing through the [Am] life that a- [G] mazes us [C] all

[Act 1: Scene 2]

Monkey McGraw: 
[Chorus]
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] Dancing through [C] forests, de- [G] fying each [C] law
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] The heart of the [C] jungle, he's [G] seen by us [C] all

[Act 1: Scene 3]

Elder Monkey:
[Am] Oh, young McGraw, your [G] spirit soars [F] high
But be- [Dm] ware of the [Am] shadows that from [G] dangers do [C] lie
The [Am] jungle's a maze with [G] secrets so [F] deep
Keep your [Dm] heart open and your [Am] soul in the [G] leap

[Act 2: Prologue]

[Am] From the rivers to [G] mountains, his [F] adventures un- [C] fold
He un- [Dm] covers new [Am] stories, from the [G] timid to [C] bold
With [Am] friends by his [G] side, through [F] laughter and [C] song
In the [Dm] heart of the [Am] wild, he knows [G] he be- [C] longs

[Act 2: Scene 1]

[Am] Together we [G] conquer, the [F] fears and the [C] might
With each [Dm] step, we [Am] wander into [G] dreams of the [C] night
We’re [Am] stronger as [G] one, under the [F] moon’s gentle [C] call
In the [Dm] dance of the [Am] jungle, we [G] rise, never [C] fall

[Act 2: Scene 2]

[Chorus]
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] Dancing through [C] forests, de- [G] fying each [C] law
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] The heart of the [C] jungle, he's [G] seen by us [C] all

[Act 2: Scene 3]

[Am] So [G] remember the [F] tale of the [C] monkey so [Am] brave
In the [Dm] heartbeat of [Am] nature, his [G] legacy en- [C] graves
With [Am] love and ad- [G] venture, for- [F] ever he [C] roams
In the [Dm] enchanted [Am] forest, he’s [G] found his true [C] home

[Chorus (Finale)]
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] In the heart of the [C] jungle, he's the [G] bravest of [C] all
[Am] Monkey McGraw, [G] Monkey McGraw
[F] A hero to [C] cherish, for- [G] ever we’ll [C] call

Certainly! For "The Ballad of Monkey McGraw," I recommend a lively yet gentle drum beat that aligns with the adventurous yet heartfelt nature of the song. The tempo should reflect a medium pace to maintain the whimsical and grandiose feel. Here's a suggestion:

Drum Beat

1. Verse (Act 1: Prologue & Act 1: Scenes 1-3)
   • Kick Drum: On beats 1 and 3
   • Snare Drum: On beats 2 and 4
   • Hi-hat: Eighth notes throughout
2. Chorus
   • Kick Drum: On beats 1 and 3 (with accents on 1)
   • Snare Drum: On beats 2 and 4 (with accents on 4)
   • Hi-hat: Eighth notes with an open hi-hat on the "and" of 2 and 4
3. Bridge / Elder Monkey's Solo (Act 1: Scene 3)
   • Kick Drum: Play a syncopated rhythm, incorporating hits on "and" beats
   • Snare Drum: Continue on beats 2 and 4, with light ghost notes on the "e" and "a" of each beat
   • Hi-hat: Sixteenth notes lightly, to pick up the dramatic feel

Tempo

The suggested tempo is 100 beats per minute (BPM).

This tempo allows for the storytelling to be dynamic and expressive while retaining a sense of forward motion that captures the adventurous spirit of Monkey McGraw.

Example of Drum Pattern for Verse

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 
K   S   K   S   
X X X X X X X X 
(kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat eight notes)

(K: Kick, S: Snare, X: Hi-hat)

Example of Drum Pattern for Chorus (with dynamics)

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 
K   S O K   S O 
X X X X X X X X 
(kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, open hi-hat on the "and" of 2 and 4)

(S: Snare, K: Kick, O: Open Hi-hat)

Using this drum pattern while keeping the tempo at 100 BPM should help maintain the intended atmosphere of "The Ballad of Monkey McGraw."