Money Is Not Our God
Killing Joke Lyrics


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"Money is not our god - ready"

Nine tenths of the law than sic
Is possession
Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Success defined by acquisition stinks!
So busy trying to make a living I forgot about living
Yes I do
So busy trying to make a living I forget about life

The best things I found in life were my birthright
Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
Will you cash in all your shares for gods clean air?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?

Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first,repeat to yourself
Ahhh money!, money is not our god!

Mine!
The best things in life are free
Mine!
I own the beach and the blazing sunset
Mine!
I own the waves and the fresh air
Mine!
I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
Say to yourself
All these things are mine!

Repeat after me!
Money's not our god

Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?




First things first,repeat to yourself
Ahhh money!

Overall Meaning

The song "Money Is Not Our God" by Killing Joke is a commentary on the obsession with material possessions and wealth that runs rampant in capitalist societies. In the first verse, the lyrics highlight the absurdity of equating possession with power, and how life is reduced to a physical matter that is considered sacrilegious. The chorus emphasizes that we are so preoccupied with accumulating wealth that we forget about the simple joys of life. The second verse speaks to the idea that true happiness and contentment can be found in nature and simple pleasures, like green fields and clear blue skies, rather than through the acquisition of material possessions. The final verses ask us to recognize the control we give to money and the imbalance that results from it, urging us to assert our ownership over life's natural treasures instead.


This song reflects the punk ethos of resistance against consumerism and the commodification of the human experience. Killing Joke critique the idea that money is a pathway to happiness and instead suggest that we should value our personal experiences and the natural world around us. The lyrics are a call-to-action to break free from the obsession with wealth and to focus on living a fulfilling and meaningful life.


Line by Line Meaning

Money is not our god - ready
We don't worship money as the be-all and end-all of our existence.


Nine tenths of the law than sic
The one who owns or possesses something could easily claim ownership, regardless of who previously owned it.


Is possession
Having something in our possession is not a true reflection of who we are or the life we lead.


Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Our existence should not be judged or solely based on material possessions, as it is disrespectful or offensive to our true selves.


Success defined by acquisition stinks!
Measuring our success solely by how much we acquire or accumulate is a foul or unpleasant practice.


So busy trying to make a living I forgot about living
We tend to be too focused on the need to survive and forget that we should also be living our best lives.


Yes I do
The singer agrees that they forgot about life while trying to earn a living.


The best things I found in life were my birthright
The singer believes that there are certain things in life that we inherently deserve just by being born.


Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
The natural beauty of our surroundings is more valuable to the singer than any material possession.


Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
The singer asks the listener whether they would give up their material possessions in exchange for natural beauty.


Will you cash in all your shares for gods clean air?
The singer asks the listener whether they would trade their investments for the purity of natural surroundings.


Is your answer yes,or no,to these painful truths?
The singer questions whether the listener agrees with their perspectives about the value of natural beauty.


Do you grovel to your master?
The singer asks whether the listener is subservient to money as if it were their master.


Do you beg like a dog?
The singer asks whether the listener debases themselves in the pursuit of money.


First things first,repeat to yourself
The singer highlights the importance of putting what truly matters first.


Ahhh money!, money is not our god!
The singer repeats the title lyric to reinforce that money should not be worshipped like a god.


Mine!
The singer claims ownership over the beauty of nature.


The best things in life are free
The things that bring us true joy or happiness cannot be bought with money.


I own the beach and the blazing sunset
The singer asserts their connection to nature and all its beauty.


I own the waves and the fresh air
The singer takes pride in the natural elements and claims them as their own.


I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
The singer experiences and savors the moment of beauty provided by nature.


Say to yourself
The singer raises the listener's self-awareness.


All these things are mine!
The singer reminds the listener that they too can claim ownership over the beauty of nature.


Repeat after me!
The singer invites the listener to echo their words of encouragement.


Money's not our god
The singer reinforces the message that money is not the ultimate goal in life.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY COLEMAN, KEVIN WALKER, MARTIN CLIVE ATKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Oseanacoceanblue

As I loose my job as a disability worker after 16 years
I play this song very loudly …
I’ve played this song since I was 16
I’m 49
Killing joke please fucking deliver us a new album
These times are trying

And yes I’ve fucking lost everything
My wife family house possessions soon to go

Back to my birth rite
Money is not my fucking god



@topher2179

Nine tenths of the law than sic
Is possesion
Life expressed in matter is a blasphemy
Success defined by aquisition stinks!
So busy trying to make a living i forgot about living
Yes i do
So busy trying to make a living i forget about life
The best things i found in life were my birthright
Green fields mean more to me than a brand new car
Will you swap your hi-fi for a clear blue sky?
Will you cash in all your shares for Gods clean air?
Is your answer yes, or no, to these painful truths?
Is your answer yes, or no, to these painful truths?
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first, repeat to yourself
AHHH MONEY!, Money is not our GOD!
Mine!
The best things in life are free
Mine!
I own the beach and the blazing sunset
Mine!
I own the waves and the fresh air
Mine!
I drink the milk of the stars in this beautiful moment
Say to yourself
ALL THESE THINGS ARE MINE!
Money's not our God
Do you grovel to your master?
Do you beg like a dog?
First things first, repeat to yourself
AHHH MONEY!



All comments from YouTube:

@aubindemontfalcon5967

Killing Joke is my all-time favorite band.
Jaz Coleman is fabulous, he opens people's eyes on realities of this world. KJ's songs are more relevant now that it was at the time !

@henkdegroot5872

I'm playing this and other music of this band and it's never boring......GREAT BAND!!!!!!

@Oseanacoceanblue

As I loose my job as a disability worker after 16 years
I play this song very loudly …
I’ve played this song since I was 16
I’m 49
Killing joke please fucking deliver us a new album
These times are trying

And yes I’ve fucking lost everything
My wife family house possessions soon to go

Back to my birth rite
Money is not my fucking god

@gr3y_eminence

You are not alone my friend. The 15th of March 2020 was the beginning of a new reality for me here in New York, I left the city, which has bought time. The last three Killing Joke records: Absolute Dissent, MMXII (maybe MMXXII haha) and Pylon definitely are in my rotation. Jaz did a song "The Day the Earth Went Mad" under his own name with a video last year.

@adamturner1563

New EP. hope it helps brother. Hope you've found a new vagina for yourself. Work is always there. 👍

@danozmatlan3467

Hang in there brother. Truth and light will prevail, you and family will be taken care of 🔥 🙏 😎 drummer Martin Atkins is my friend from New Jersey 🐻

@l2vla

One of the master piece of KJ. A wall of sound and malicious anger. RIP #GEORDIE VIVA #killingjoke

@SCOTT-ki3ve

This song gets more relevant every day. Life was the Garden of Eden when this came out compared to now. This song was a warning and nobody listened. Our lives sound like this song now, and it's gonna get worse. The pedals are all pushed to the floor

@Emulous79

And now, in the present day, see all the swamp drained, all the corruption revealed. From Epstein to the scapegoating of Prince Andrew to... just take your pick looking around.

@panpansiddall8383

I agree.. my girlfriend has gone for a holiday & wrote today... Men are toys to exploit to get money! Not 100% what she wrote but that's the inclination

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