Story Behind The Song

The song was originally written in the late 70's at the time artists like Graham Parker, Nick Lowe, and the incomparable Elvis Costello were coming on the scene with ironic twists to dark stories set in classic rockabilly and rock n roll arrangements. The Steely Dan character songs such as "Kid Charlemagne" and "Deacon Blues" were role models as well. Expecting to end up in one of those kinds of bands at some point, I wrote the song to have standing by.

Song Description

The song depicts the inner voice of an ambitious but impoverished fellow who, having learned the essential lesson of market capitalism, which is the need for capital itself, resolves to solve the problem in the quickest and most expeditious ways he can conceive of. The Reagan years were just beginning, and it was clear that things would be about money for a long time to come.

Lyrics

Gimme Money

Some people save ev'ry penny they make
So they can buy a Coupe de Ville
Some people light fancy cigarettes
With crisp one hundred dollar bills
Some people know how to chose their parents
Some know how to use their friends
I'm waitin' for the day when I can reach nirvana
In a brand new Mercedes Benz

Gimme money, gimme money, gimme money
A checkbook and a fake I.D.
Gimme money, gimme money, gimme cold hard cash
That's the only thing that matters to me

Well, I work every day, I bring home my pay
I guess I make about enough
But I never have any left over for champagne
Or any of that other good stuff
Ev'ry time I get a raise they always raise the prices
I wind up standin' still
I guess I'll have to marry Mrs. Rockefeller
And be the guy that writes her will

Gimme money, gimme money, gimme money
No sum too small or too large
Gimme money, gimme money, gimme cold hard cash
A Visa and a MasterCard

I'm an ambitious man, I've got nothin' to lose
I'm gonna play a game of chance
I'm gonna play a little sleight of hand
With the sleazy wizards of finance
Yes, the object of the game is to win. win, win
And you gotta have money to play
I'll be the CEO of an IPO
On $5,000 a day

Gimme money, gimme money, gimme money
It's the hedge fund life for me
Gimme money, gimme money, gimme cold hard cash
And the keys to the treasury
Convertible securities
My personal financial strategy
Just give all your money to me


© words & music by Doug Harvey

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Doug Harvey	Singer Songwriter	4/24/2013
Doug Harvey	Pop Rock	4/24/2013
Doug Harvey	Country	4/24/2013