Fancy Passes
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics

Money isn't everything
Even though having plenty of money has advantages, it isn't everything in life

As anyone who's rich
This is a common sentiment held by people who actually have a lot of money

It can buy pain and misery
Money is not a guarantee of happiness and can sometimes result in unfavorable consequences

Or grief
The hurt or distress that a person can experience from a tragedy or a loss

Though money isn't everything
Despite the above statement, a lack of money can still impact someone significantly

I have a pauper's itch
I long and yearn for things that I don't have the money to acquire

So though I crave a brave
Even though I consider myself a brave person, my lack of money still limits me

Yes
This is a confirmation and resolve to take a chance

I'll take the chief!
I'll go for the highest choice available to me despite the challenges that may come with it

He bought me a cat
He bought me a beautiful, valuable cat as a gift

Siamese, imagine that
It's a rare and exceptional breed of cat

He keeps making
He continually demonstrates his admiration and love for me

Fancy passes at me
He makes attempts to show his wealth and resources through lavish gestures and gifts

Oh joy, now I've got
This is an exclamation of excitement and gratitude

Sixty feet of brand new yacht
He bought me a luxurious and expensive yacht that's sixty feet long

He owns New York or Spain
He has so much wealth that he could own a significant portion of two or more states or countries

But I don't know which
She is unaware of which states or countries he owns

He got fat in Uptown Manhattan
Implying he is wealthy; anyone who becomes 'fat' or overindulges in Uptown Manhattan signifies wealth

Poor Cinderella's got her a fella who's rich
Diana Ross views herself as a modern-day Cinderella who has found her own wealthy prince

Every penny, he's worth a plenty
This line highlights that the man's financial worth is significant and substantial

He owns United Airlines
He has so many resources that he owns a major airline company

That as well?
Puzzled, whether he also owns an airline corporation

He owns receding hairlines
This is a joke; his ownership extends to something as minuscule as hairlines

Oh, well!
This is an expression of resignation or acceptance even though the previous statement was found to be odd

He's not so hip
He's out of touch with trends, fashion, or interests that are popular or new

Or smart as a whip
He's not particularly intelligent or clever

But healthy, wise and wealthy
Despite the above statements, he's still healthy and wealthy; also suggesting he's wise

He bought me a summer place
He gifted me with a second home to be used in the summer

Somewhere out in outer space
It's a fanciful and humorous way of saying the summer home is in a remote or extreme location

What a man you've got, Diane
Someone is appreciating the quality of Dr. Ross's man or complimenting their relationship

Did he buy you a mink?
This is a fur coat and a way of asking if she has a luxurious coat

Mmmm..Passion pink
This confirms that she does have a pink mink coat

And a Cadi too?
A Caddy is a nickname for a Cadillac car; it's a way of asking if she has a luxury car

Mmmm, Baby blue
This means she has a blue Cadillac too

Your Romeo?
A reference to her lover

My Daddy Dough!
An affectionate term for a man who is financially generous to his loved one

I love him a lot
This affirms her deep care for her partner

How much has he got?
This displays the preoccupation with money or wealth

He's got a plot of ground
He owns a parcel of land

He found over oil
The piece of land he owns is found to have oil; hence, valuable

Oh, my how chic we are
This line indicates a measure of snobbishness that comes with being wealthy and fashionable

He bought New Jersey
An exaggerated statement that means he has a significant ownership claim in New Jersey or has massive resources to manipulate events in that state

So he could call me his girl
This suggests that he did it to impress her or as a symbol of his love

Oh, man, a feat we are!
This is an exclamation of pride or self-congratulation

Chocolate excites my tummy
Chocolate is one of the simplest things in life that still brings Diana joy

Ooh
An expression of pleasure, satisfaction, or amazement

He bought me a firm called Yummy
This means that he bought a company that Diana loves, and it's now hers to enjoy from the perspective of stocks or ownership

So
This is a linking word that connects the previous statement to the next one.

He's one of those gents
He's one of those sophisticated, wealthy, and generous men

With good bizness cents
He has good business acumen or is skilled at making good deals

And quarters, half's and dollars
He has money in all forms, i.e., coins, single bills, and large bills

Ding, dong, ain't it swell
This is an expression of delight or excitement

They just delivered the liberty bell
This is an item of historical significance to Americans and one that people would pay a lot to own

How sad all those Philadelphians will be
This is a sarcastic remark, suggesting that people from Philadelphia will be distraught that the Liberty Bell has been delivered somewhere else

I'll get half of what he owns
This indicates that she would get a large share of his wealth if something happened to him

To keep up with Mrs. L. B. Jones
Comparing with a rival who also has significant wealth and status; this could also signify her insecurity

And if he keeps making fancy passes
An indication that she might be getting tired of the grand gestures and would prefer something more tangible

I'll start holding evening classes
This is a reference to her previous role as a teacher

I'll give him sugar and molasses
This is a way of saying that she'll be sweet to him

And the life, I live
The kind of life she leads, full of comforts and extravagance

I'll live luxuriously
She'll maintain living a life characterized by luxuriousness and extravagance

From those late and evening classes
She implies that she probably wouldn't need evening classes because of her wealth and would luxuriate into the future

That sugar and molasses
That she'll be a loving and caring partner

Those fine and fancy passes at me
This refers to his many grand gestures of love and affection

Ooh wee
An expression of excitement or amazement

My honey, yeah!
An affectionate way of addressing her man and expressing gratitude.