We Don't Work for Free
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Lyrics
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All the stage lights are shinin bright, hey
And we work very hard, to make you stay, Rrraah
But it ain't no thing y'all
Cause I know that you can hang
We're not too expensive but you got, to, pay, Rrraah
Some say the money is the root, of all evilIt's not the love, but lust of it, that makes men greedy, oooh
You said, "You want to go for a ride? You gotta pay the fare"
So stop! You ain't got no money, you ain't got no beat
Hoooooh, say you
Got no satisfaction, won't you come and work for me
And I say to you
Can't you see baby, we don't work for free
You know you gotta live, but shit they give you stuff for free
Man these times are hard heyyy, ah don't nothin come easy-hee-ee-yeah
I just got good news, you want to come with me
Hey let's go uptown, I got somethin you should see
And my friends all say to you they say
Got no satisfaction, won't you come and work for me
And I say to you
Can't you see baby, we don't work for free
Finance, city life
You gotta work to afford paradise, huh
But if you livin in a glass house
Don't throw no stones, rrrraah!
Slave, trade, don't get laid
You gotta get paid, if you want to go places
Where you never been before
Ok baby, rrrraah!
Where you been before, don't matter with me
Better save your pennies nickels and dimes
'Cause we don't work for free-hee-ee-yeah
I just got good news (from the IRS) you want to come with me
C'mon let's go uptown baby, because we all drink for free
Hee hee hee, hee, haoowww, we don't work for free-heee
Gotta understand what I mean
Don't you want to come with me, can't divide yourself
Unless you work for free, ah c'mon now, and I don't know what to say
I forgot somethin that you should see
C'mon baby, you gotta come along with me, cause girl
I'm rea-dee-hee for you-uuu, are you ready for me?
I'm sure, I'm sure
And I say to you now, we don't work for free
C'mon baby, you gotta come along with me
Cause satisfaction is guaranteed (we don't work for free)
C'mon now, said I ready to jam
C'mon now, you gotta understand what I mean (we don't work for free)
I've got somethin that you should see
C'mon baby, you gotta hum along with me (we don't work for free)
Yeahhh, a yeeee hoo
We don't work for free
C'mon now, you gotta come along with me
And satisfaction is guaranteed (we don't work for free)
Baby, c'mon now, said here I am
C'mon now you gotta understand what I mean (we don't work for free)
I've got something that you should see!
Ah c'mon baby, don't you want to see? (we don't work for free)
And I'm ready for you so tell me, are you ready for, meeeeeeeeee
We don't work for free
No mo-ney, we-don't-work-for-free
Nah nah nah (we don't work for free)
No mo-ney, we-can't-work-for-free
C'mon now, you gotta understand what I mean
No mo-ney, we-don't-work-for-free
Aooohhwhwowwww! (we don't work for free)
No mo-ney, we-can't-work-for-free
C'mon now, you gotta understand what I mean (we don't work for free)
No mo-ney...
The song "We Don't Work for Free" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five is a commentary on the value of money and the importance of getting paid for one's hard work. The song starts with describing the dedication and hard work that the artists put into their performance to make the audience happy. However, they make it clear that they don't work for free, emphasizing the need for payment for services. The song points out that while some people say that money is the root of all evil, it's the lust of money that makes people greedy.
The song also touches on societal issues such as the need to work to afford a comfortable life. The chorus "We don't work for free" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of getting paid for hard work. The artists also address the issue of slavery, where people are forced to work without pay. They suggest that if you want to go places where you've never been before, you need to get paid for your work.
Overall, "We Don't Work for Free" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that highlights the significance of hard work and getting paid for it in society.
Line by Line Meaning
In the darkness of night, huh
The performance is taking place at night when it is dark outside.
All the stage lights are shinin bright, hey
The stage is well lit with stage lights.
And we work very hard, to make you stay, Rrraah
The performers are dedicating a lot of energy and effort to entertain the audience.
But it ain't no thing y'all
Despite their hard work, it is not a problem for the performers to deliver a good performance.
Cause I know that you can hang
The performers have confidence in the audience's ability to enjoy the performance.
We're not too expensive but you got, to, pay, Rrraah
While the performers are reasonably priced, the audience still needs to pay for their entertainment.
Some say the money is the root, of all evil
Many people view money as the cause of all problems in the world.
It's not the love, but lust of it, that makes men greedy, oooh
It is not the love of money that causes problems, but the desire to possess it over others.
You said, 'You want to go for a ride? You gotta pay the fare'
The performers refer to the common practice of having to pay for services.
So stop! You ain't got no money, you ain't got no beat
If you don't have money, you won't be able to enjoy the performance.
Hoooooh, say you
The performers are urging the audience to listen to their message.
Got no satisfaction, won't you come and work for me
If you are not satisfied with what you have, you can work to improve your situation.
Can't you see baby, we don't work for free
The performers are emphasizing that they require payment for their services.
You know you gotta live, but shit they give you stuff for free
Although living requires resources, there are things given for free to make life easier.
Man these times are hard heyyy, ah don't nothin come easy-hee-ee-yeah
Times are tough and nothing comes easy.
I just got good news, you want to come with me
The performers are offering an exciting opportunity.
Hey let's go uptown, I got somethin you should see
The performers are inviting the audience to join them in a new experience.
Finance, city life
The performers are commenting on the importance of financial resources for city living.
You gotta work to afford paradise, huh
Having to work is necessary to be able to afford luxuries and comforts in life.
But if you livin in a glass house
If you are privileged and live in a comfortable home.
Don't throw no stones, rrrraah!
The performers are warning people not to judge others if they are not in the same situation.
Slave, trade, don't get laid
The performers reference the past exploitation of slaves for economic gain and making a point of a lack of romance or intimacy in such a scenario.
You gotta get paid, if you want to go places
Having financial resources is necessary to be able to pursue different opportunities in life.
Where you been before, don't matter with me
The performers are not concerned with the audience's past experiences, only their present enjoyment.
Better save your pennies nickels and dimes
The performers suggest the audience needs to budget and save money.
'Cause we don't work for free-hee-ee-yeah
Reinforcing the point that their services require payment.
Yeahhh, a yeeee hoo
The performers are energized and enthusiastic.
No mo-ney, we-don't-work-for-free
Repetition to emphasize that their services require payment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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