Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
Money Lender
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fat spender you're a money lender
Message sender you're a mind bender
Oh you worry me
Money you got it hot dawg
I'm gonna fight with you, gonna climb your hill
Oh you dragged me down
Money you got it I got none why's that
Pound for pound
You beat a snake in the grass
A cross-eyed toad a thieving rogue
And they don't move as fast
Pound by pound
You stowed the money away
You're greasy palm was seen to stray
Oh money lender what you got to say
Hey money lender tried to take my life away
Money you got it hot dawg
Turning like a stag trying to survive
How do you know if I'm dead or alive
Asking you for once are you surprised
I've had enough of your lies
I've been patronised, victimised
I've been treated unkind
Can it be that I trusted you brother of mine
Hey money lender I aint gonna surrender
Hey people arranger can you feel the danger
Oh you dirty dog
Money it's evil hand it over
Hey money lender you're a ticket vendor
One black suspender for a hot dog
It's getting hard to remember who are you
The lyrics to Ian Gillan's song Money Lender depict the frustrations and anger of the singer towards an individual or entity that has wronged him financially, and the subsequent attempts to fight back and seek justice. The opening lines are a sarcastic taunt towards the uncaring and selfish money lender, who seems to be more interested in his profits than the well-being of others. The singer is aware of the destructive power of money and how it can corrupt even the most benevolent individuals. The repetition of the phrase "Money you got it hot dawg" is a grim acknowledgement of the hold that money has over our lives and how it can make us do things that we would never have considered otherwise.
The second stanza is a declaration of war, a promise to take on the money lender and to strive for victory. The lines "Pound for pound, you beat a snake in the grass, a cross-eyed toad, a thieving rogue" are a metaphorical representation of the dishonest and manipulative tactics employed by the money lender, and how they are able to outmaneuver even the most cunning of creatures. The singer is aware that the fight will be a long and arduous one, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to emerge victorious.
The third and final stanza is a cry for help, an admission of defeat, and a plea for mercy. The singer is tired of being treated unfairly and feels like he has been betrayed by someone he once trusted. He is disheartened by the realization that he is unable to fight the system and that no one seems to care about his plight. The lines "Hey money lender, tried to take my life away, turning like a stag trying to survive, how do you know if I'm dead or alive" are a poignant depiction of the struggles of someone who is caught in the clutches of debt and is struggling to make ends meet.
Overall, Money Lender is a scathing critique of the banking system and the rampant greed and corruption that it perpetuates. It is a call to action, a plea to society to take a stand against those who seek to exploit us for monetary gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Fat spender you're a money lender
You are a wealthy individual who spends large amounts of money and in turn lends money to others.
Message sender you're a mind bender
You manipulate people's thinking through the messages you send.
Oh you worry me
Your actions or intentions cause me to feel uneasy or concerned.
Money you got it hot dawg
You possess a large amount of wealth that you flaunt proudly.
I made my mind up to go for the kill
I have resolved to take decisive action and defeat you.
I'm gonna fight with you, gonna climb your hill
I will engage in a physical, metaphorical or financial struggle with you and overcome the obstacles you put in my way.
Oh you dragged me down
Your actions or influence have caused me to suffer negative consequences or setbacks.
Money you got it I got none why's that
You have accumulated an abundance of wealth while I have scarcely any, and I'm curious how you achieved this.
Pound for pound
Taking into account all factors, including size or strength, pound for pound you are superior to others.
You beat a snake in the grass
You have successfully outwitted or defeated someone who is deceitful or treacherous.
A cross-eyed toad a thieving rogue
You have bested individuals who are unscrupulous, dishonest or corrupt.
And they don't move as fast
Although they exhibit these negative traits, they are not as effective or quick as you at achieving success.
Pound by pound
Again, taking into account all factors, pound by pound you are superior to others.
You stowed the money away
You have hidden or protected your wealth from others, possibly for nefarious reasons.
Your greasy palm was seen to stray
You have been caught participating in shady or unethical financial transactions.
Oh money lender what you got to say
I want to know your thoughts, opinions or explanations about the situation.
Hey money lender tried to take my life away
You attempted to harm or kill me, likely due to a financial or other dispute.
Turning like a stag trying to survive
I'm attempting to navigate a difficult situation, likely related to finances, and am struggling to stay alive.
How do you know if I'm dead or alive
You are indifferent to my well-being or whether I'm alive or dead.
Asking you for once are you surprised
I'm requesting your opinion or reaction to a surprising or unexpected turn of events.
I've had enough of your lies
I'm tired of being deceived by you and no longer want to tolerate it.
I've been patronised, victimised
I have been treated with condescension, and have been made a victim of your manipulation or wrongdoing.
I've been treated unkind
You have not treated me with respect, kindness or fairness.
Can it be that I trusted you brother of mine
I once placed my trust in you, possibly due to our familial relationship, and am now realizing that trust was misplaced.
Hey money lender I aint gonna surrender
I refuse to give up or submit to your demands or pressures, even if it means losing financially.
Hey people arranger can you feel the danger
I'm asking someone who arranges or manages people, likely a manager or leader, if they are aware of the risks or hazards posed by the situation.
Oh you dirty dog
You are a contemptible or unpleasant person, possibly due to your dealings or actions.
Money it's evil hand it over
I view money as a corrupting influence and demand that you relinquish it to me.
Hey money lender you're a ticket vendor
You are a provider or seller of something, possibly relating to financial transactions or investments.
One black suspender for a hot dog
You have achieved wealth through commerce involving incongruous or illogical combinations.
It's getting hard to remember who are you
Your true identity or motivations are becoming increasingly murky and difficult to discern.
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ruth Granz
What a voiiiiice!!!
Stavros Stavros
My bank manager should listen to more Gillan, she might just release me from the mill wheel around my neck.
PERNELLSGIRLful
oh my...dimple alert + 5 o´clock shadow...fainting fit ...