Reared on Motown backbeats, 70s groove bands, and gospel wails, multi-talen… Read Full Bio ↴Reared on Motown backbeats, 70s groove bands, and gospel wails, multi-talented artist Angela Johnson has a knack for creating songs that infuse the classic elements of music’s yesteryear into a dynamic and contemporary brew distinctly her own. Her critically-acclaimed solo albums They Don’t Know (2002 Purpose) and Got To Let It Go (2005 Purpose) introduced Angela as a soothing soul singer with a stealth, gut-punching alto and a sensitive songwriter of deceptively simple melodies that moved listeners from romantic sways to back-burning sweats. Her most recent offering, A Woman’s Touch (2008 Purpose) is a single-producer project that furthers Angela’s evolution as an erudite production talent and continues a legacy of female musician/producers not seen since the pioneering days of Patrice Rushen and Angela Winbush. Boasting the crème de la crème of soul and R&B, from Rahsaan Patterson and Eric Roberson to Maysa and Julie Dexter, A Woman’s Touch is more than an indie soul project, it is an industry event unseen since the timeless producer albums of Quincy Jones and Norman Conners. When considered alongside a body of work that includes two solo masterpieces and two highly-hailed group projects as the lead singer of the soul-funk band, Cooly’s Hot Box, Angela’s fifth studio release is a revealing testament to the time and commitment Angela has spent honing her multi-faceted skills to a spit-shined perfection. To thrive for over 15 years in this bare-knuckle business of music requires talent, beauty, a strong constitution, and steely determination—qualities Angela has possessed since day one. Her enduring career isn’t surprising to those in the know; Angela’s talents and tenacity have made it seem destined. As a musical child prodigy who played piano by age 4 and violin by age 9, it appears Angela Johnson was born for music. She certainly was prepped for this glorious—and occasionally brutal ride—by her upstate New York rearing in the tough industrial town of Utica, NY. There, as a teenage choir director and church organist in her Baptist church, Angela received her first critical training on how to rouse a crowd through the power of song. Refinement as a musician and performer came through a fated stint at State University of New York (SUNY) in Purchase. At SUNY, Angela studied as a violin major and met her fellow students and future Cooly’s Hot Box bandmates, including close collaborator Christian Urich of the cult favorite, Tortured Soul. Several years of singing lead and writing for Cooly’s Hot Box produced three dance hits (“What A Surprise,” “Make Me Happy,” and “We Don’t Have To Be Alone”), a doomed label deal with Virgin Records that still produced Cooly's commendable debut Take It, and a much celebrated sophomore project (Don’t Be Afraid, Get On) under Angela’s current label home, Purpose Records, signaled the end of the Cooly's era. After departing Cooly’s in 2002, Angela met the industry as a grown woman of esteemed talents with an experience earned doctorate in music business chicanery. The year also found a newly motivated Angela Johnson determined to show the world what she could do as an artist, alone. Since her 2002 solo debut, They Don’t Know, and its auspicious follow-up, Got To Let Go, Angela Johnson has been making the kind of honest soul music that has inspired promoters, music lovers and industry insiders everywhere to make sure that everyone knows exactly who she is. With the 2008 release of A Woman’s Touch, interest in Angela’s music has exploded throughout the music scene, from radio to industry bloggers the word is out. Even before A Woman’s Touch, Angela’s talents as a singer, songwriter and producer have been in high demand. With songs featured on HBO’s The Wire, UPN’s Kevin Hill, FX’s The Shield, and WB’s Roswell, and a 2005 national TV advertising campaign with Cooly’s Hot Box for SBCglobal.net (AT&T/Cingular) already under her belt, soon everyone will be whistling an Angela tune. Madison Avenue aren’t the only ones taking notice of Angela’s talents. Artists like Conya Doss (“Emotions”), Seek (“Journey Into Day”), Laurnea (“No Shame”), and Reel People (“Can’t Stop”) have all sought out Angela Johnson’s unique sound to grace their projects. More than an artist’s musician, Angela’s a proven hit producer and songwriter with a 2001 top ten, gold selling hit, “Angel,” for Japanese R&B superstar, Double. It’s because of Angela’s track record for helping talented artists’ deliver some of their most memorable work that A Woman’s Touch track listing reads like the who’s who of contemporary soul. On her latest project Angela expertly guides Grammy award-winning artists like Gordon Chambers (“Get Away”) and Claude McKnight of Take 6 (“Here I Stand”) through unexpected, tropical soundscapes, revealing different sides of these familiar talents. As the writer, producer and arranger of every track of A Woman’s Touch, Angela repeatedly illuminates recognizable artists through the different lenses of her unique musical kaleidoscope. Whether it’s pushing Frank McComb (“Play”), labelmate Monet (“That’s Just The Way”) or Eric Roberson (“Let Me Know”) to move their soulful sounds to the dance floor or lifting the curtain on her solo-worthy backing singers Lisala (Walkin’) and Tricia Angus (“Not The One”) on compositions that places their ample voices firmly center stage, Angela’s never predictable. Even when she allows trademark artists to do what they do best, like Maysa on the romantic “More Than You Know” or Rahsaan Patterson’s funky “Dream Flight”, Angela Johnson still manages to put her indelible stamp on the music. A Woman’s Touch also illustrates Angela’s ear for arranging persuasive, radio-friendly material that would be at home on any adult contemporary, smooth jazz or progressive soul station. Catchy duets like Jazzhole front man Marlon Saunders (“Wait On A Maybe”) with newcomer Lenora Jaye, or Angela’s own vocal collaborations with band mate Ernesto Abreu (“Amal”) or Lisala and Tricia Angus (“Crying Over You”) confirm that independent soul needn’t ever be dull or esoteric to be good. Then again, that’s Angela Johnson’s work, to keep the music simple, yet vibrant to the ear. It’s the music she’s best at that is perhaps most reflective of whom Angela is as an artist, wife, mother, and as a woman: a strong, uncomplicated, uncompromising melody determined to play all the keys of life. Six years after the release of her solo debut and countless more steadily riding the music industry rollercoaster to prominence, A Woman’s Touch, parades an artist at her peak. Still in fighting form with a point to prove, Angela Johnson is an ever-evolving talent with an unquenchable desire to feed her listeners that good, soul-nurturing music their hungry for.

Money Don't Grow On Trees
Angela Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Okay, Coconut man, Moon Head and Pea
You ready?
Seems like everybody's got a price,
I wonder how they sleep at night
When the sale comes first
And the truth comes second.
Just stop for a minute and smile
Why is everybody so serious?

Acting so damn mysterious?
Got your shades on your eyes
And your heels so high
That you can't even have a good time
Everybody look to their left (yeah)
Everybody look to their right
Can you feel that (yeah)
We're paying with love tonight?
It's not about the money, money, money
We don't need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain't about the (uh) ch-ch-ching ch-ching
Ain't about the (yeah) bl-bling-bl-bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
We need to take it back in time,
When music made us all unite!
And it wasn't low blows and video hoes,
Am I the only one getting tired?
Why is everybody so obsessed?
Money can't buy us happiness
Can we all slow down and enjoy right now?
Guarantee we'll be feeling alright
Everybody look to their left (to their left)
Everybody look to their right (to their right)
Can you feel that (yeah)
We're paying with love tonight?
It's not about the money, money, money
We don't need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain't about the (uh) ch-ch-ching ch-ching
Ain't about the (yeah) bl-bling-bl-bling

Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag

Overall Meaning

In Angela Johnson's song "Money Don't Grow on Trees," the lyrics describe the obsession that people have with money and their preoccupation with always having more. The song starts off with the acknowledgement that everyone seems to have a price, but questions how they can sleep at night when they put making money before the truth. The lyrics suggest that people should stop taking themselves so seriously and should just enjoy the moment.

The chorus emphasizes that the focus should not be on money, but on making the world a better place and bringing people together through music. The lyrics suggest that people need to stop being obsessed with money and start focusing on the things that really matter, such as happiness and unity.

Overall, "Money Don't Grow on Trees" is a call to action for people to stop being so materialistic and start living for the moment. The song suggests that instead of worrying about money, people should focus on bringing love and happiness into the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Okay, Coconut man, Moon Head and Pea You ready?
The singer is playfully addressing Coconut man, Moon Head, and Pea and asking if they are ready.

Seems like everybody's got a price, I wonder how they sleep at night When the sale comes first And the truth comes second.
The singer is pointing out that many people prioritize money and material goods over honesty and integrity and wonders how they can justify their actions.

Just stop for a minute and smile Why is everybody so serious? Acting so damn mysterious? Got your shades on your eyes And your heels so high That you can't even have a good time
The singer is encouraging people to stop taking themselves so seriously and to let loose and have fun.

Everybody look to their left (yeah) Everybody look to their right Can you feel that (yeah) We're paying with love tonight?
The singer is asking people to look around and notice the love that is present and to embrace it instead of focusing on material things.

It's not about the money, money, money We don't need your money, money, money We just wanna make the world dance, Forget about the price tag
The singer is emphasizing that the real goal is not money but rather creating joy and happiness through dancing and enjoying life.

Ain't about the (uh) ch-ch-ching ch-ching Ain't about the (yeah) bl-bling-bl-bling Wanna make the world dance, Forget about the price tag
The singer repeats that the focus should not be on money or material possessions but on creating a world where people can dance and be happy.

We need to take it back in time, When music made us all unite! And it wasn't low blows and video hoes, Am I the only one getting tired?
The singer longs for a time when music brought people together and laments the current state of music that seems to prioritize sexualization and controversy over unity.

Why is everybody so obsessed? Money can't buy us happiness Can we all slow down and enjoy right now? Guarantee we'll be feeling alright
The singer questions society's obsession with money and reminds listeners that true happiness cannot be bought. She encourages everyone to slow down and enjoy the present moment, promising that doing so will bring about positive feelings.

Contributed by Addison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS