big monkey man

A classic s.k.a. reggae song from.

I heard Any Winehouse doing the cover at the end one of her shows on TV.

'...it's no lie, it's no lie
Huggin up the big monkey man....'

Backbencher

In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a member of parliament (MP) or a legislator who occupies no governmental office and is not a frontbench spokesperson in the Opposition, being instead simply a member of the "rank and file". The term dates from 1855.1 The term derives from the fact that they sit physically behind the frontbench in the House of Commons.

A backbencher may be a new parliamentary member yet to receive high office, a senior figure dropped from government, someone who for whatever reason is not chosen to sit either in the ministry or the opposition shadow ministry, or someone who prefers to be a background influence, not in the spotlight.

on the bum

Just relaxing, associated with homeless people with not much to do. A bit like a beach bum, hanging around in and out of bars.

I read the quote in a Jack Kerouac book, 'Piers Of The Homeless Night' 'And since I'm well and on the bum again & ain't got nothing else to do, but roam, long-faced, the real America....' and thought I'd check if there was a meaning on here but now I've read the section again I get what it means even more!

'Hey man, how's your day been?'

'well since I lost my job, I haven't had much to do. Been on the bum a lot'