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It's Money That Matters Lyrics

Artist: Randy Newman
Album: Land Of Dreams

Of all of the people that I used to know
Most never adjusted to the great big world
I see them lurking in book stores
Working for the Public Radio
Carrying their babies around in a sack on their back
Moving careful and slow

(Chorus)
It's money that matters
Hear what I say
It's money that matters
In the USA

All of these people are much brighter than I
In any fair system they would flourish and thrive
But they barely survive
They eke out a living and they barely survive

When I was a young boy, maybe thirteen
I took a hard look around me and asked what does it mean?
So I talked to my father, and he didn't know
And I talked to my friend and he didn't know
And I talked to my brother and he didn't know
And I talked to everybody that I knew

(Chorus)
It's money that matters
Now you know that it's true
It's money that matters
Whatever you do

Then I talked to a man lived up on the county line
I was washing his car with a friend of mine
He was a little fat guy in a red jumpsuit
I said "You look kind of funny"
He said "I know that I do"

"But I got a great big house on the hill here
And a great big blonde wife inside it
And a great big pool in my backyard and another great big pool
beside it
Sonny it's money that matters, hear what I say
It's money that matters in the USA
It's money that matters
Now you know that it's true
It's money that matters whatever you do"

Comments/Interpretations

by Pietro Cella on 6/6/2008 3:03pm
How fucking true!!!

by Anonymopottomus on 7/20/2008 8:09am
In any fair system they would flourish and thrive
But they barely survive
They eke out a living and they barely survive.

I've never forgotten those words. They fit perfectly myself and friends.

by Felix on 1/26/2009 12:14am
Sounds like "Anonymopottomus" would favor redistribution of wealth rather than work to get ahead.

by Rich Dude in ATL on 10/18/2009 3:05pm
Felix has a point, but only a small one. Those that work hardest earn least (think about it). Rich guys know that; that's why we like to get others to do it for us; we're basically lazy. Newman is brilliant ... and correct.

by Hello Mo on 6/13/2011 10:18pm
Satire anyone?

by life on 6/16/2011 5:45pm
mr randy hit the nail on the head. he called it right on and twill never ever change

by dazinoz on 11/21/2011 7:36am
I think Mark Knopfler wrote the song for Randy to sing, but nevertheless how the sentiments have stood the test of time...tragically!! Shame the song doesn't get played much.

by scurfies on 3/2/2012 6:29am
What a great combination, Randy Newman and Mark Knopfler. Both of them have proven that, with talent and sincerity, it is possible to be successful making intelligent music, even if what seems to sell the most is inane crap.

by Bos gaurus on 3/29/2012 10:53pm
Felix: "Sounds like "Anonymopottomus" would favor redistribution of wealth rather than work to get ahead."

No, he didn't say that. Nor does the song say that. There is nothing wrong with redistributing wealth from fat little rich fucks in red jumpsuits to the people who did the actual hard work that made them rich in the first place.

by Michael C on 6/20/2014 7:55pm
Just go out and purchase some residential REO's fix them up, and sell for a profit. Then use that money to leverage a loan from the SBA and buy multi-family properties. I did, it works. Capitalism good! Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

by Eddie on 7/16/2014 4:04am
Actually Mark Knopfler co-produced the album, the song was on (Land Of Dreams) and plays guitar - but Randy Newman wrote the song by himself!

by Stalin on 11/5/2021 4:08am
Great commie song