Jimmy Barnes (b. 1956) is an Australian rock singer.

Barnes was born… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Barnes (b. 1956) is an Australian rock singer.

Barnes was born James Dixon Swan on the 28th April 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Australia with his family when he was six years old.

He first came to public attention as the lead singer with popular Australian pub-rock band Cold Chisel, which he joined in 1973 and with whom he recorded seven albums between 1978 and 1983. When the band split up in 1983 he launched a solo career almost immediately; his first album, Bodyswerve, entered the Australian charts at number one. It was the first of a remarkable run of top charting albums for Barnes, as each of his first six solo albums entered the charts at number one, a feat that no other Australian artist is likely to match.

In 1986 Barnes recorded two singles with INXS, duetting with that band's singer Michael Hutchence on a cover of The Easybeats' "Good Times", and "Laying Down the Law", which was co-written by Barnes with INXS members Andrew Farriss and Hutchence. "Good Times" was used as the theme song for the Australia Made series of concerts that toured the country in the summer of 1986-1987. Both songs later appeared on the soundtrack of the 1980s teen vampire film The Lost Boys.

Following Hutchence's death in 1997, Barnes appeared live on stage with INXS at shows throughout Australia between 1999 and 2001.

His album Double Happiness, released in July 2005, reaffirmed his popularity, entering the ARIAnet albums chart at number one, his seventh album to do so. Barnes was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on the 23rd October 2005 for his solo career efforts. Coupled with Cold Chisel's previous induction, Barnes is the only artist to be entered into the Hall of Fame twice.

Barnes is also the father of singer David Campbell, who recently starred in the Australian production of the musical Sunset Boulevard, and was a contestant on the Australian television programme Dancing with the Stars. The two perform the duet "Wichita Lineman" on Double Happiness.

Money
Jimmy Barnes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want

You're lovin' gives me a thrill

But you're lovin' don't pay my bills
Now give me money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want

Money don't get everything it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want, wah

Money don't get everything it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want

Well now give me money
A lot of money
Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
Oh I want money
That's what I want
That's what I want, well
Now give me money
A lot of money
Wow, yeah, you need money
Now, give me money

That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want

Overall Meaning

In the song "Money" by Jimmy Barnes, the lyrics emphasize the importance of money in life. The first verse asserts that the best things in life may be free, but the singer wants money instead. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphatically demanding money as the only desirable thing. The second verse seems to suggest that despite the pleasure and joy derived from love, it cannot pay the bills, thus highlighting the value of money in everyday life. The pre-chorus "money don't get everything it's true, what it don't get, I can't use" suggests a recognition that possessions cannot buy all things in life. However, the conclusion of the song demands more money, asserting that with a lot of money, one can be free.

The lyrics in "Money" can be interpreted as a commentary on capitalism, suggesting that the acquisition of money is the most important goal for individuals under this system. The song could represent the struggle of someone trying to make ends meet in a capitalist society where money is essential for survival. Furthermore, this song may also be seen as a critique of individualism and materialism, as the singer demands money and independence, regardless of their impact on others.

Line by Line Meaning

The best things in life are free
There are certain things in life that are valuable, but they come without a monetary cost

But you can keep them for the birds and bees
However, those non-monetary valuable things are not useful to me as I am looking for something that can be exchanged for cash

Now give me money
I want money and that is my primary aim

That's what I want
My goal is to acquire a large amount of money

You're lovin' gives me a thrill
I enjoy receiving your affection and attention, it makes me happy

But you're lovin' don't pay my bills
However, it is not enough to sustain my financial needs and requirements

Money don't get everything it's true
Money cannot buy certain intangible things like love, happiness, or health

What it don't get, I can't use
But without money, there are certain things that are beyond my reach

Well now give me money
It is my strong desire to obtain a large sum of money

A lot of money
I want to acquire enough wealth to live my life without any financial constraints

Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
With financial freedom comes the ability to make choices without worrying about how they will affect one's economic situation

Oh I want money
Money is valuable to me, and I want more of it

Yeah, you need money
Money is essential to meet one's basic needs and live a comfortable life

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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