God Bless the Child
Billie Holiday Lyrics


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(Mama may have, Papa may have)
(But God bless the child that's got his own)

Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Yes, the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone and spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own





(God bless the child, the child that's got his own)

Overall Meaning

In "God Bless the Child," Billie Holiday sings about the importance of self-sufficiency and the value of having one's own resources. The lyrics suggest that those who have financial stability are often rewarded, while those who struggle to make ends meet are often left behind. Holiday draws from religious and cultural sources, referencing both the Bible and the African-American tradition of celebrating individual achievement.


The song begins with the refrain, "Mama may have, Papa may have, but God bless the child that's got his own." This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the importance of personal independence. Holiday goes on to explain that "them that's got shall get" and "them that's not shall lose," quoting directly from the Bible. She notes that this pattern is a constant, in both ancient times and the present day.


Line by Line Meaning

(Mama may have, Papa may have)
Even if your parents are wealthy


(But God bless the child that's got his own)
God blesses the child who has their own money


Them that's got shall get
Those who have wealth will continue to gain more


Them that's not shall lose
Those who don't have wealth will continuously lose out


So the Bible said and it still is news
This concept has been around for a long time and remains true today


That's got his own
The child who has their own money and resources


Yes, the strong gets more
Those who are already well off will keep gaining more wealth


While the weak ones fade
The poor will continue to fall behind and struggle


Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Being poor will never be good enough to succeed


Money, you've got lots of friends
People will only be friendly to you if you have money


Crowding round the door
People will overwhelm you with attention when you have money


When you're gone and spending ends
People will stop caring about you once you run out of money


They don't come no more
People will leave you behind once you lose your wealth


Rich relations give
Wealthy family members may offer assistance


Crust of bread and such
They may offer basic necessities, but not much more


You can help yourself
You must rely on yourself to improve your situation


But don't take too much
Don't be greedy or you may lose what you've gained


(God bless the child, the child that's got his own)
God blesses those who are financially independent




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Arthur Herzog, Billie Holiday

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Anonymous


on As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By - Anna Nalick - Lyrics

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you"
On that, you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by

Moonlight and love songs, never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

Musical Interlude

Moonlight and love songs, never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and hate
Woman needs man, and man must have mate
That no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

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