Japan, which also included Mick Karn, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri and Sylvian's brother Steve Jansen, started out as a confusing hybrid rock/sleaze outfit in the mould of David Bowie and The New York Dolls. Their music quickly evolved as, at least to begin with, they drew heavily on the influence of Roxy Music's art rock stylings. Their visual image developed in parallel and the band were (unwillingly) tagged as forerunners of the New Romantic movement.
Japan recorded five studio albums between March 1978 and November 1981. Their biggest hit single, the minimalist Ghosts, which reached the Top 5 in the UK charts in 1982, was a clear pointer to Sylvian's future direction. After a successful tour, the band split in late 1982, and Sylvian embarked upon a solo career.
Around the time of Sylvian's first solo album he collaborated with 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) on the soundtrack music for the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which produced a Top 20 hit single, Forbidden Colours.
Sylvian's debut solo album, the jazz and ambient-influenced Brilliant Trees (1984), met with critical acclaim and yielded the single Red Guitar, another Top 20 hit. Guest artists included Jon Hassell and Holger Czukay. His follow-up was an instrumental EP Alchemy which cemented his drift away from commercial pop
The EP was in turn followed by the double album Gone to Earth (1986), which flouted convention (and perhaps commercial wisdom) by featuring one record of songs (predominantly atmospheric ballads) and one consisting almost entirely of ambient instrumental tracks. Guest artists included guitarists Robert Fripp and Bill Nelson.
His third album, Secrets of the Beehive (1987), was more acoustic and oriented towards somber, emotive ballads laced with string arrangements by 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto). It yielded one of Sylvian's most well-received songs, Orpheus, and was supported by his first solo tour, 1988's "In Praise of Shamans". Sylvian's touring band included ex-Japan bandmates Jansen and Barbieri along with trumpeter Mark Isham, bassist Ian Maidman and guitarists David Torn and Robbie Aceto.
Never one to conform to commercial expectations, Sylvian then collaborated on several ambient music projects with artists including Holger Czukay and Russell Mills.
In 1991, a highly-anticipated Japan reunion (excluding Rob Dean) ended in acrimony. Sylvian insisted on calling the project and the album Rain Tree Crow, to the dismay of both his label Virgin Records (who were hoping for a hit "comeback" album) and his former bandmates. Guitarists Bill Nelson, Phil Palmer and Michael Brook augmented the quartet for the recording of the album.
In late 1991, Robert Fripp approached Sylvian and asked him to be part of a new King Crimson. Sylvian declined and instead suggested they work on a future collaboration resulting in the release of The First Day.
A period of relative musical inactivity followed, during which time Sylvian moved to the United States. Eventually in 1999, Sylvian released Dead Bees on a Cake. It showed the most eclectic influence of all his recordings, ranging from soul music to jazz fusion to Eastern spiritual chants, and most of the songs' lyrics reflecting Sylvian's inner peace with his marriage (to the wonderful poet/singer Ingrid Chavez), family and beliefs. Guest artists included longtime friend 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto), as well as Talvin Singh, Marc Ribot, Kenny Wheeler and Bill Frisell.
Sylvian parted ways with Virgin and launched his own independent label, Samadhi Sound. Sylvian experimented alone with treated sounds made from his guitar and computer. The results were recorded during February of 2003. A few months later, he released the album Blemish. The disc was stark in its sound and content. The lyrical subject matter dealt primarily with the impending dissolution of Sylvian's marriage. In 2005 The Good Son vs The Only Daughter was released, which was comprised of remixes of tracks from Blemish.
With the conclusion of "A Fire In The Forest Tour" in 2004, work resumed on a joint project between Sylvian and Jansen. Yet the course of the album took on a completely new tone after Sylvian decided to add keyboardist/vibraphonist/programmer Burnt Friedman to the proceedings and make him an equal partner in the collaboration. The band name of Nine Horses was adopted and the CD, titled Snow Borne Sorrow, was released in October of 2005. The sound was a return to more traditional avenues for Sylvian after the radical departure he took with Blemish. Elements of avant-garde jazz, pop, folk and electronic music were all blended together
Nine Horses' Money For All EP was released in 2006, which included new material as well as Burnt Friedman remixes of songs selected from their first disc.
News on Sylvian's website was released in March stating that "We're preparing for the release of David’s new album Manafon. It’s a powerfully bold, uncompromising work featuring contributions from Evan Parker, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe, Christian Fennesz, Otomo Yoshihide, and many more."
David Sylvian's official website: www.davidsylvian.com
Money For All
David Sylvian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can I check that bag
Is there something inside here
That could help you relax
Did you find something
You were looking for
Freedom has its price now
I'll take that coat
Remove them shoes
Should a guy like me
Be afraid of a man like you
All change
All change
Wipe your nations shame from you
It's not where your born
It's the things that you do
Money for all
Money for all
Revolution socialism
read it in the rag
There's a gun at your head
Put the money in the bag
Money for all
Have you tried this game
When you're feeling tired
Keeps you entertained
'Til your card expires
So you missed the broadcast
Or do you feel the same
Only someone's said the city's gone
Down in flames in our name
All change
All change
Let gasoline fumes fill the air
Let's show that mother how much you care
All change
All change
Wipe your nations shame from you
It's not where your born
It's the things that you do
Money for all
Money for all
Hey there soldier
Who's your concubine
With a trigger happy finger and a nicotine flame
She's a diamond mine
All change
All change
Let revolution fill the air
Let's show that monkey how much you care
Money for all
There's a mean looking elephant
Pounding at your door
It's dining at your table
Sleeping on your floor
Money for all
Money for all
Revolution socialism
Read it in the rag
There's a gun at your head
Put the money in the bag
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-
la-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-
la-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-laa
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
The lyrics of David Sylvian's "Money For All" present a critique of capitalism and materialism through its use of imagery and metaphors. The song calls attention to the idea that money can buy one’s comfort and freedom, suggesting the materialistic nature of the society where people are willing to pay for their liberation. The opening line “Wanna step on through” sets the tone of the song, with Sylvian offering to assist the listener in their quest for enlightenment or freedom. The second line “Can I check that bag?” is a direct reference to security measures, but also metaphorically suggests that society is judging people by their possessions and wealth.
The lines “Have you tried this game / When you're feeling tired / Keeps you entertained / 'Til your card expires” uses the concept of a card game as a metaphor for how people are willing to be entertained and distracted by material possessions until they can no longer afford them. The song also critiques the role of media, with the line “Or do you feel the same / Only someone's said the city's gone / Down in flames in our name” suggesting that the media misinforms people to gain their attention.
The repetition of “All change” throughout the song implies that change is necessary for an individual and society to progress. The last verse “There's a mean looking elephant / Pounding at your door / It's dining at your table / Sleeping on your floor / Money for all" reinforces the notion that capitalism and materialism lead to a state of mind where people lose control over their lives, while others blindly consume and exploit the resources.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanna step on through
Do you want to enter or pass through?
Can I check that bag
May I inspect your bag?
Is there something inside here
That could help you relax
Do you have any objects that could aid in your relaxation?
Did you find something
You were looking for
Did you uncover any item you were seeking?
Freedom has its price now
Wanna buy some more
Having freedom comes with a cost, would you want to pay it?
I'll take that coat
Remove them shoes
I'll take your coat and shoes.
Should a guy like me
Be afraid of a man like you
Should somebody of my stature fear someone of your status?
All change
All change
Change is happening.
Wipe your nations shame from you
It's not where you're born
It's the things that you do
Erase the shameful acts of your country, it's not where you were born but how you act.
Money for all
Money for all
Everyone should have access to money.
Revolution socialism
read it in the rag
There's a gun at your head
Put the money in the bag
Articles describe socialism and revolution, there's a threat, give up your money.
Have you tried this game
When you're feeling tired
Keeps you entertained
'Til your card expires
Have you played this game? It keeps you entertained when you're tired, until your card is no longer usable.
So you missed the broadcast
Or do you feel the same
Only someone's said the city's gone
Down in flames in our name
Did you miss the news or do you feel the same? Someone said the city was destroyed in our name.
Hey there soldier
Who's your concubine
With a trigger happy finger and a nicotine flame
She's a diamond mine
Who's your companion, soldier? She's dangerous and valuable.
Let gasoline fumes fill the air
Let's show that mother how much you care
Release gasoline fumes and demonstrate how much you care.
There's a mean looking elephant
Pounding at your door
It's dining at your table
Sleeping on your floor
There's a danger at your doorstep, eating at your table, and sleeping on your floor.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-
la-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-
la-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-laa
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-laa
Put the money in the bag
The chorus repeats the phrase 'Put the money in the bag' with musical inflections.
Contributed by Logan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.