Top 10 Songs About Money
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Money can be quite an inspiration to penning a hit song! Whether it be making money, losing money, spending money, wasting money, etc., the subject has been the focus of countless songs impacting pop culture.
With this in mind here’s our list of the top 10 songs about money!
10. Li’l Wayne, featuring T-Pain – “Got Money”
- “Got Money” was released in 2005 and peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- If you like flashing your money and spending it frivolously, then this hip-hop classic is for you.
- Both Li’l Wayne and T-Pain are known for their jewelry, clothing, extravagant lifestyles, and lavish spending habits, so this song is a tribute to what they do best.
- Savers and investors, beware, this song is not for you!
9. The Beatles – “You Never Give Me Your Money”
- Written in 1969, this song is a lament about The Beatles then-Manager, Allen Klein.
- As Paul McCartney, the song’s principle songwriter, stated “This was me directly lambasting Allen Klein’s attitude toward us: no money, just funny paper, all promises and it never works out. It’s basically a song about no faith in the person. John saw the humor in it.”
- The second verse of the song, “Out of college, money spent . . .” is reference to The Beatles early years when they all left college with no money and few job prospects, all in the hopes of making it big in the music and entertainment business.
- Thus, the lyrics “Oh that magic feeling, nowhere to go.”
- This song appeared on the second side of the “Abbey Road” album as part of a medley of songs.
- Abbey Road is still considered one of the most iconic album covers of all time.
8. The O’Jays – “For the Love of Money”
- Released in 1973, “For the Love of Money” appears on The O’Jay’s “Ship Ahoy” album.
- This song is about all the evil and devious things people are willing to do in order to make money.
- It also describes some of the ways that money can change people.
- The song’s title is taken from 1 Timothy 6:10 in the Bible which reads “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
- The song was used as a theme song for the Donald Trump show “The Apprentice,” to which the O’Jays issued a cease and desist letter.
7. Kanye West, featuring Jamie Foxx – “Gold Digger”
- This song spent 10 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
- Released in 2005, this song is exactly about what the title indicates – a woman who makes romantic or sexual advances toward a rich man in order to get her hands on his money.
- This song also warns listeners what to look for when dealing with potential gold diggers as well as the possible repercussions.
6. The Pet Shop Boys – “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)”
- This song peaked at #10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list in 1986.
- This song suggests that even if life has not presented you with opportunities, you can still create some new great ones on your own.
- The song is written from the perspective of a man who describes himself as being intellectual and educated with the lyrics addressed towards another individual, identified as having “looks” and “brawn.”
- This individual with looks and brawn is then invited by the intellectual and educated person in a scheme to “make lots of money.”
- Thus, the lyrics:
I’ve got the brains
You’ve got the looks
Let’s make lots of money
You’ve got the brawn
I’ve got the brains
Let’s make lots of money
5. Loggins and Messina – “Danny’s Song”
- This song was written by Kenny Loggins as a gift for his brother Danny on the birth of his son, Colin.
- The song was originally written by Loggins in 1966 when he was a senior in high school.
- It first appeared on Loggin’s 1971 album “Gator Creek” and a year later on the album “Sittin’ In,” the debut album by Loggins and Messina.
- Though the song was a marginal hit for Loggins and Messina, Anne Murray took it all the way to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- “Danny’s Song” is about there being more important things in life than money, with love being one of them.
- Essentially, this song is all about the importance of love over money.
- Not many people remember the title of the song, but recall it more for the chorus:
Although we ain’t got money
I’m so in love with you honey
4. Dire Straits – “Money for Nothing”
- In 1985, “Money for Nothing” held the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 for three weeks and was one of the biggest hits of the summer and entire year.
- This was Dire Straits’ biggest single of their career from their most successful album “Brothers in Arms.”
- Songwriting credit is shared between Mark Knopfler and Sting.
- According to Knopfler, he used the MTV network slogan “I want my MTV” after seeing an MTV advertisement featuring the Police and setting it to the tune of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (written by Sting), hence the co-writing credit.
- Although the song really serves as a critique of “MTV pretty boys” in the music industry at the time, by today’s standards some of the lyrics would be considered offensive and unacceptable.
3. Pink Floyd – “Money”
- This timeless, rock classic was released in 1973 by Pink Floyd on their massively successful album “Dark Side of the Moon.”
- The song begins with the sounds of coins, a cash register, and receipt tearing before launching its signature guitar riff.
- “Money” is really about the battle between materialism and greed versus helping those without it.
- Essentially, it talks about money being a zero-sum game – that is, if I have a dollar that means you don’t.
- Ironically, “Money” helped Pink Floyd make a lot of it as the song originally charted up to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has remained a rock mainstay for more than 50 years.
2. Puff Daddy and Family – “It’s All About the Benjamins”
- In 1997, this song appeared at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.
- As might be anticipated from its title, this song is all about how money can buy you anything and everything you want – houses, cars, designer clothes, jewelry, etc.
- And the more you make, the better off you are as these lyrics focus on the high life and all the pleasures that come with it.
- While not everyone may think life is all about money, Puff Daddy gives you his take on what he might think about the subject.
- Various Artists – “Money (That’s What I Want)”
- This song has been covered by everyone from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones to John Belushi and a countless number of bar bands.
- Originally penned by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, it was originally recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 and became Motown Record’s first hit in June 1960.
- It reached #2 on the Billboard R&B charts and #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- In 1979, The Flying Lizards released a new wave version of the song and has been a cult favorite ever since.
- “Money (That’s What I Want)” is listed as number 288 on Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
So there you have it, the top 10 songs about money! Of course, not everyone’s list is the same. So, what songs would make your top 10 list?