They formed in 1979 after Vangelis had been rumoured to replace Rick Wakeman in Yes a few years before. Anderson had contributed to Vangelis' albums "Heaven and Hell", "See You Later" and "Opera Sauvage".
They released a total of four albums with Anderson writing the lyrics and Vangelis composing the music: "Short Stories" in 1980, "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" in 1981, "Private Collection" in 1983, and "Page of Life" in 1991, which got re-released in 1998 with some additional tracks of which Vangelis reportedly did not approve. There are also two compilations, called "The Best of Jon & Vangelis" (1984) and "Chronicles" (1994)
Money
Jon & Vangelis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where all the rich, the kings and queens,
Presidents of politics
And emperors of oh so clean.
Oh so clean.....oh so clean
Oh so clean.....oh so clean
Song for money. Song for money.
Song for money. Song for money.
Song for money. Song for money.
The system loves the richest boy,
The richest sheiks of Arabie.
The system loves the richest girl.
A modern mind is climbing free.
The walls are clean, the body dry,
No memory can confuse her why
Because if I'm not there this way,
Our crazyness is here to stay
Money, money, money, money, money - MONEY!
Money, money, money, money, money - MONEY!
Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money
Have you seen the shouts us down,
We overroll Manhattan town, we
Hold the uncle by the family,
Fakers countin' Tokyo 'round me
Money, money, money, money, money - MONEY!
Song for money. Song for money.
Song for money. Song for money.
Song for money. Song for money.
Song for money. Song for money.
The system loves the richest boy,
The richest girl is in the world.
They'll buy her life for everything
Her food, her clothes, her car, her dream
Freedom can't invest itself,
It's all a game for someone else.
One thing sure, it's real you see
When you got conspiracy.
Money grubs,
Money greeds,
Money chops,
Money speeds,
Money breaks,
Money burns.
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
It's only money.
It's only money.
It's only money.
It's only money.
The song "Money" by Jon and Vangelis is a commentary on the role of money and wealth in society. The lyrics describe a world where the rich and powerful are celebrated, and those without money are ignored or oppressed. The chorus repeats the word "money" over and over, emphasizing its significance in this world.
The first verse talks about a magazine that features the rich, powerful, and famous. These figures are seen as "oh so clean," suggesting that their wealth has made them morally superior. However, the repetition of "oh so clean" could also be interpreted as sarcastic, implying that money cannot truly cleanse a person's sins. The next few lines describe how the system favors the rich, and how modern society idolizes them. The walls are clean and the body is dry, emphasizing the superficiality of this culture. The chorus again emphasizes the importance of money in this world.
The second verse continues to describe the world of the rich and powerful. They are able to shout down anyone who challenges them, and they hold the "uncle by the family," suggesting that they have control over the government. The lyrics then switch to a more introspective tone, talking about how freedom is a game for someone else. The final lines suggest that conspiracy is a reality, hinting at how the wealthy may be involved in corrupt or criminal activities.
Overall, "Money" is a critique of the way in which society values money and wealth, and how it can corrupt individuals and institutions.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen the magazine
Have you noticed the publication filled with images of the wealthy and powerful?
Where all the rich, the kings and queens,
It features people who are financially rich, monarchs or heads of state.
Presidents of politics
Political leaders are included as well.
And emperors of oh so clean.
Also featured are rulers who are seemingly pure or virtuous.
Oh so clean.....oh so clean
This purity is emphasized.
Song for money. Song for money.
The song is about money and its influence.
The system loves the richest boy,
The societal structure favors wealthy males.
The richest sheiks of Arabie.
The wealthiest people from wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia are highly regarded.
The system loves the richest girl.
Girls who come from wealthy backgrounds are similarly advantaged.
A modern mind is climbing free.
People who possess progressive thinking are becoming more prominent.
The walls are clean, the body dry,
The world is orderly and without chaos.
No memory can confuse her why
These individuals are not confused by past events or setbacks.
Because if I'm not there this way,
However, if I am absent from this ideal, then it is apparent that there is chaos.
Our crazyness is here to stay
This madness is so insidious and embedded in society that it cannot be reversed.
Money, money, money, money, money - MONEY!
Repeatedly mentions the power of money.
Have you seen the shouts us down,
Have you witnessed the suppression of those who protest or dissent?
We overroll Manhattan town, we
Like a wave, large groups of people move through the city, disrupting the status quo.
Hold the uncle by the family,
The elites maintain their sovereignty, using their family connections to maintain their positions.
Fakers countin' Tokyo 'round me
People with dubious intentions surround me, including counterfeiters or fraudsters.
Money grubs,
Those who have an insatiable desire for money.
Money greeds,
Individuals who are consumed by their desire for wealth and material possessions.
Money chops,
Those who seek to gain profits by cutting corners or acting dishonestly.
Money speeds,
Wealth allows people to hurry or accelerate past others.
Money breaks,
Money can also cause damage or break things down.
Money burns.
Money can consume or destroy things as well.
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
Pause for a moment and reconsider the consequences of money.
It's only money.
Money is not the most important thing in life.
It's only money.
Repeating the previous distinction to emphasize the point.
It's only money.
Once more, money is not the most important thing in life.
It's only money.
This idea is made clear for the final time.
Contributed by Emma V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
A Thing
It's a shame such a great song ain't even on Spotify...
Thank you for uploading.
Sun God
it is
Myxtly
@Sun God Is it called something else? i still cant find it
A Thing
@Myxtly might be available in certain regions. I couldn't find it either.
runningwild09
I'd be happy to have it just on Amazon Music lol
FIND MUSIC
A great song from a great album. Possibly their best, but that is a tough competition. RIP Vangelis.
ุ
And i still listen into it decade later, what a great song it is. Also RIP Vangelis
Friends I Talked To
Thank you so much for uploading this. Been looking for a high-quality version for a while.
RajteR
It is masterpiece
8 ANTHEM
ジョン&ヴァンゲリスによるおそらく最も洗練されたラップミュージック