King Missile is a band that has been led in various incarnations by poet/si… Read Full Bio ↴King Missile is a band that has been led in various incarnations by poet/singer John S. Hall since 1986. Their work, in the group's current configuration, is a type of Performance Art Rock with John S. Hall's spoken word. In their first inception, as King Missile(Dog Fly Religion), the band's sound was a neo-pyschedelic blend of Dada influenced music and occasional spoken word as well as conventional singing. Their music became more accessible with the departure of Dogbowl and the notable addition of former Bongwater guitarist Dave Rick . The group is probably best known for the 1993 radio hit Detachable Penis. They'd achieved a cult following via college radio with their 1986 song "Jesus Was Way Cool". They were an anchor band for the legendary independent label Shimmy Disc. Now known as King Missile III (pronounced "the third"), the group released its ninth album, Royal Lunch, in 2004.

King Missile III 1998 - present

* John S. Hall - vocals: singing and spoken word
* Sasha Forte - bass, violin, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
* Bradford Reed - pencilina, drums, percussion, synthesizer, backing vocals

Give me a Dollar
King Missile Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(screamed)
Give me a dollar!

Hey!

Give me a dollar!

I want a dollar!

I need a dollar!

You got a dollar?!

So give me a dollar!

(spoken)
Give me a dollar with your phone number on it and I'll call you.

Give me a dollar with your name on it and I'll write you a song.

Give me a dollar with nothing on it, and I'll love you forever. I will be your best friend.

Give me a dollar with strings attached, and I will sign on the dotted line.

(screamed)
Give me a dollar!

Give me a dollar!

I want a dollar!

You got a dollar?!

So give me a dollar!

Now!

(spoken)
There are beautiful birds, here and there, on the television. They're beautiful. But they don't have any dollars to give me, so fuck them, I need a dollar. I went out of my way a long way to say this, and this is not a joke â?? give me a dollar. Please. Give me a dollar. Oh, wait. This is a joke.

I'm just kidding. I don't need a dollar. I'll be fine. I have a few dollars right here in my pocket and I'm expecting a check in the mail, and I just got a new job, and I have some shows coming up, and a lot of people owe me money â?? I don't need a dollar, I'm fine. I was kidding. Don't give me a dollar â?? give it to someone who needs it. In fact, here. Do you need a dollar? I have eight dollars, and I only need a couple to get me through the next few days. So here. Have a dollar. You can have this dollar. Please. Take it. Please. Thank you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of King Missile's song "Give Me a Dollar" revolve around a simple yet persistent request for a dollar. The repetition of the lines "give me a dollar," "I want a dollar," and "you got a dollar?" is delivered in a mix of screams and earnest appeals. The singer offers different scenarios in which a dollar could be given, such as with a phone number or a name for a song, or even with nothing attached. The singer even offers to be the giver's best friend if given a dollar with nothing on it. The song ends with the singer admitting that they don't actually need a dollar and urging the listener to give it to someone who needs it more.

The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the value we attribute to money and how we assign worth to individuals based on their financial status. It also speaks to the desperation and urgency of wanting something that may seem small and insignificant but feels necessary in the moment.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me a dollar!
The singer is demanding that someone give them a dollar

Hey!
A way of getting someone's attention

I want a dollar!
The singer desires a dollar

I need a dollar!
The artist requires a dollar

You got a dollar?!
A question asking if someone has a dollar

So give me a dollar!
A demand for someone to give the singer a dollar

Give me a dollar with your phone number on it and I'll call you.
The singer requests a dollar with the giver's phone number on it, offering to call them in return

Give me a dollar with your name on it and I'll write you a song.
The artist requests a dollar with the giver's name on it, offering to write them a song in return

Give me a dollar with nothing on it, and I'll love you forever. I will be your best friend.
The artist offers unconditional love and friendship to the giver of a dollar with nothing on it

Give me a dollar with strings attached, and I will sign on the dotted line.
The artist is willing to sign a contract if given a dollar with strings attached

Now!
An intensifier to their demand for a dollar

There are beautiful birds, here and there, on the television. They're beautiful. But they don't have any dollars to give me, so fuck them, I need a dollar. I went out of my way a long way to say this, and this is not a joke – give me a dollar. Please. Give me a dollar. Oh, wait. This is a joke.
The artist expresses annoyance at the beautiful birds on TV for not giving them a dollar, followed by a plea for a dollar which later reveals to be a joke

I'm just kidding. I don't need a dollar. I'll be fine. I have a few dollars right here in my pocket and I'm expecting a check in the mail, and I just got a new job, and I have some shows coming up, and a lot of people owe me money – I don't need a dollar, I'm fine.
The singer admits that they do not actually need a dollar, stating their reasons why they are financially stable

I was kidding. Don't give me a dollar – give it to someone who needs it. In fact, here. Do you need a dollar? I have eight dollars, and I only need a couple to get me through the next few days. So here. Have a dollar. You can have this dollar. Please. Take it. Please. Thank you.
The singer urges others to give money to those in need, and offers a dollar to someone who may need it more than they do

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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