Justin Townes Earle, born January 4, 1982 in Nashville, TN, was an American alt-country singer-songwriter who walked the line between old-time country and modern acoustic Indie music by breathing new life into early country, blues and gospel forms.
His first release, Yuma, in 2007 was a stark and beautiful set of songs written while Earle was fresh out of rehab and is now re-released by Bloodshot Records, who have a further three albums on their catalogue.
The Good Life, Midnight At the Movies (Americana award nominee) and the latest Harlem River Blues show Earle's characteristic charm, wit and rhythm to the forefront.
2009 saw him touring with Old Crow Medicine Show, The Felice Brothers and Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings as a member of The Big Surprise tour and he has been touring solidly through 2010 making fans all along the way. In 2011, he received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for his "Harlem River Blues," from the album of the same name.
His fourth release "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now", released in 2012 was met with critical acclaim, it was listed at #37 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "The son of country-rock renegade Steve Earle has grown into a songwriter to rival his dad."
Earle died on August 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 38. His death was announced by his label on social media on August 23. The cause of death was not immediately announced, but Nashville police said they were investigating the death as a probable drug overdose. On December 1, 2020, Earle's family confirmed that he died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Ain’t Got No Money
Justin Townes Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me some money
Don't want your honey
I can make my own
Well now, you keep you sugar
Well I, I'm plenty sweet
Oh, give me some money
Or just leave me alone
I've been taken in pieces, I've been sold off cheap
I've been spread out all over the Southeast
Well now, in my travels I have found [?]
I'm still looking for my heart
Now I'm running low on gasoline
Well now, come on honey, give me what I need
I ain't got no money, baby
Give me some money
I don't want your honey
I can make my own
Well now, you keep your sugar
Well I, I'm plenty sweet, Lord
Give me some money
Or just leave me alone
Oh I, I've been mistreated, I ain't got no [?]
Left to give, I'm all used [awful?]
I ain't playing, you know what I need
Well come on, baby, don't be cheap
Give me some money
I ain't got no money
I don't want your honey
I can make my own
Well, you're sugar sweet
Button, I'm plenty sweet
Give me some money
Or just leave me alone
Well, I ain't got nothing but what you see
Darling, I'm on the [?]
So give it up, honey, I don't want everything
I just need enough to get to New Orleans
Aw well, give me some money, baby
Ain't got no money
I don't want your honey
I can make my own
Well now, you're sugar sweet
But I, I'm plenty sweet, Lord
Give me some money
Or just leave me alone
I said, give me some money
Give me some money
Give me some money
Give me some money
The lyrics to Justin Townes Earle's song "Ain’t Got No Money" portray a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. The singer rejects the idea of relying on others for financial support, insisting that they can make their own money. They dismiss the offer of love or affection ("I don't want your honey") and assert their own worth and sweetness ("I, I'm plenty sweet"). The repeated plea for money suggests a desire for freedom and the ability to pursue their own desires without being bound by financial constraints.
Throughout the song, the singer alludes to their past experiences of being taken advantage of or undervalued ("I've been taken in pieces, I've been sold off cheap" and "I've been mistreated, I ain't got no [?]"). These experiences have shaped their perspective and left them seeking something more. They express a restlessness and a feeling of searching for something that is missing, possibly referencing the search for love or a deeper connection ("I'm still looking for my heart"). The line "I ain't playing, you know what I need" suggests a certain level of determination and directness, emphasizing their need for financial support.
The repeated chorus drives home the message of the song - that the singer is in need of money and is unwilling to settle for anything less. The lyrics convey a sense of assertiveness and self-reliance, reflecting the desire for independence and autonomy.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't got no money, baby
I am lacking in wealth, my dear
Give me some money
Please provide me with monetary resources
Don't want your honey
I am not interested in your affection
I can make my own
I am capable of generating my own income
Well now, you keep your sugar
Kindly retain your sweetness
Well I, I'm plenty sweet
As for myself, I possess sufficient sweetness
Oh, give me some money
Oh, grant me some financial assistance
Or just leave me alone
Alternatively, depart from me and cease interfering
I've been taken in pieces, I've been sold off cheap
I have suffered fragmentation and been undervalued
I've been spread out all over the Southeast
I have been dispersed throughout the southeastern region
Well now, in my travels I have found
In my journeying, I have discovered
I'm still looking for my heart
I am still searching for my emotional center
Now I'm running low on gasoline
At present, my fuel supply is nearly depleted
Well now, come on honey, give me what I need
Therefore, my dear, please provide me with what I require
I've been mistreated, I ain't got no
I have experienced unfair treatment, and I lack
Left to give, I'm all used
I have nothing remaining to offer, I am completely used up
I ain't playing, you know what I need
I am not joking, you are aware of my requirements
Well come on, baby, don't be cheap
Please, my love, do not act stingily
Give me some money
Provide me with financial resources
I ain't got no money
I do not possess any wealth
I don't want your honey
I am not interested in your affection
I can make my own
I have the ability to generate my own income
Well, you're sugar sweet
Well, you possess a great deal of sweetness
But I, I'm plenty sweet
However, I am already sufficiently sweet
Give me some money
Grant me some financial assistance
Or just leave me alone
Or simply depart from me and cease interfering
Well, I ain't got nothing but what you see
Well, I possess nothing except what is visible to you
Darling, I'm on the
Darling, I am in a difficult situation
So give it up, honey, I don't want everything
Therefore, surrender it, my dear, I do not wish for everything
I just need enough to get to New Orleans
I simply require a sufficient amount to reach New Orleans
Aw well, give me some money, baby
Oh well, please provide me with monetary resources, my dear
Ain't got no money
I do not possess any wealth
I don't want your honey
I am not interested in your affection
I can make my own
I have the ability to generate my own income
Well now, you're sugar sweet
Well, you possess a great deal of sweetness
But I, I'm plenty sweet, Lord
However, I am already sufficiently sweet, my Lord
Give me some money
Grant me some financial assistance
Or just leave me alone
Or simply depart from me and cease interfering
I said, give me some money
I stated, please provide me with monetary resources
Give me some money
Provide me with financial resources
Give me some money
Grant me some financial assistance
Give me some money
Provide me with monetary resources
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Justin Townes Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rowen Tabusa
JTE has inspired me like no singer songwriter in recent history. He was scheduled to come and play in Hawaii a few years ago and cancelled a few days before the performance. I was really saddened thinking maybe his demons were catching up with him.
Incase fans of his music may not know there is a way to show your appreciation for the legacy of music he has bestowed on us. His wife Jennifer and young daughter Etta has setup a Go Fund Me page to gather funds to pay for the substantial bills that he left behind.
GoFundMe.com > Earle Family Aftermath
MR Who
Hell yes !! The Americana music movement is alive and well
Wells Julien
Aint no more...
Marky Ortiz
Good Gawd!!! This brother is one hell of a talent.
Josh David
My God, this is incredible!
Jennifer Beetz
given the self imposed vacuum I spend most of my life in? well, somehow Justin Townes Earle poked a hole through and after going out of my head for him, trying to contact him and succeeding... only then did I realize he has a famous father... I think that along with wondering what rock I've been living under he was a tiny bit pleased that I loved his music based entirely on his music rather than anything else. (meanwhile, wow! his father ain't all that hard to listen too either! who knew! anyway, my world will never be quite the same. I listen to this album everyday.
Brazen lil hussy
I still love the rawness of Yuma. And the absolute near damn perfect "Harlem River Blues" there to with "Slippin and Sliding" and of course the excellent "Rogers Park" with the kinda Springsteen vibe on the record, it's one of the rare times they captured JTE just right..and sadly..it seemed so here too.
Johnny BushHogg
Music is life and the only thing I understand completely.
rustygoldfanatic
Great tune great album,his father must be so proud of him,keeping it in the family.
Jeff Kenny
Love it!