Since we've been talking about a predatory industry that wants to tie up your money with them for the rest of your life and your heirs' lives if you will it to them, here is a fun post about money in songs, I posted five years ago.
After hearing me sing (of course singing is kind) a few lyrics to "Money," by Pink Floyd, my daughter suggested a post on songs with "money" in the title. The song begins with a cash register ringing up sales, then proceeds with a well-known base guitar lick. Here are the first few lines:
"Money, get away
Get a good job with good pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash"
I think the most famous money song is by The O'Jays called "For the love of money." It is based on the biblical verse from Timothy, "For the love of money is the root of all evil." The song starts with the words "Money, money, money, money…money," Then they repeat it five more times before heading into the gist of the song. Here is a verse late in the song:
"I know money is the root of all evil
Do funny things to some people
Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime
Money can drive some people out of their minds"
Another favorite is courtesy of Donna Summer. "She works hard for the money," is a pulsating disco song that she is known for, but this one has more meaningful lyrics like this one:
"It's a sacrifice working day to day
For little money just tips for pay
But it's worth it all
To hear them say that they care"
Shifting gears to rock-n-roll, an early Dire Straits song poked fun at MTV with "Money for nothing." Mark Knopfler was joined on this song with a haunting harmony from Sting. In essence, it is hard-working people wishing they were MTV singing stars as they lament without realizing the hard work and dues they had to pay:
"Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb."
Two other songs about money are worth mentioning. AC/DC sang of money in "Money talks" and Notorious B.I.G. rapped on about "Mo money, mo problems." The former speaks of how popular one is with money noting all the things they can buy, while the latter speaks to how that popularity causes more problems with folks coming out of the woodwork asking for some.
Let me close with a song which comes from the play and movie "Cabaret." It is quite the comical farce and force in the play with a title similar to that of Pink Floyd's, "Money." Here is a sample:
"Money makes the world go around
The world go around
The world go around
Money makes the world go around
It makes the world go 'round."
Money is needed to provide a roof over our heads and feed and clothe our children. These songs look at its acquisition and power from a variety of views. From the documentary movie "I AM," the key lesson is money cannot make you happy, but the absence of money can make you unhappy. That sums it up nicely.
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