Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1968 that ha… Read Full Bio ↴Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1968 that had several hits in Canada, the United Kingdom, and a number of other European countries in the early 1970s. The breadth of their popularity expanded internationally, including in the USA, with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog, which featured their hits "Hair of the Dog" and a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts". They have continued to record and tour for more than fifty years.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth_(band)

Studio albums
Nazareth (1971)
Exercises (1972)
Razamanaz (1973)
Loud 'n' Proud (1973)
Rampant (1974)
Hair of the Dog (1975)
Close Enough for Rock 'n' Roll (1976)
Play 'n' the Game (1976)
Expect No Mercy (1977)
No Mean City (1979)
Malice in Wonderland (1980)
The Fool Circle (1981)
2XS (1982)
Sound Elixir (1983)
The Catch (1984)
Cinema (1986)
Snakes 'n' Ladders (1989)
No Jive (1991)
Move Me (1994)
Boogaloo (1998)
The Newz (2008)
Big Dogz (2011)
Rock 'n' Roll Telephone (2014)
Tattooed on My Brain (2018)
Surviving the Law (2022)

Greens
Nazareth Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woke up this morning crawled out between the sheets
My woman was warm, kisses oh so sweet
Wanted to stay but I had to go
Headed for the factory, made myself some dough

[Chorus]
I said greens is what I mean
Well it don't keep ya warm as lovin'

But it sure pays for that fun in between

Got me some new wheels bright red fast and mean
Felt good drivin' around in that machine
Cruisin' 'round puttin' on a show
Couldn't make the payment the car just had to go

[Chorus]

Gotta make some changes, gotta get myself in gear
Thing's are gettin' heavy, I'm cuttin' out of here
Take my woman, make some speed
Don't know where I'm going but I sure know what I need

[Chorus:Repeat x2]

Overall Meaning

The Nazareth song Greens is an ode to the working class struggle of a man who wakes up next to his woman but has to leave for the factory to make some money that will pay for their fun in between. The opening lines of "Woke up this morning crawled out between the sheets, My woman was warm, kisses oh so sweet" sets the tone of the song, drawing our attention to the fleeting pleasures that the singer of the song experiences while he is with his woman. However, he has to leave and head for the factory, as work is what pays for his lifestyle and enables him to live the momentary pleasures of life.

The chorus of the song conveys the crucial theme of the song, where the singer declares, "greens is what I mean, well, it don't keep ya warm as lovin', but it sure pays for that fun in between." The phrase 'greens' refers to money or cash, and the singer is emphasizing the importance of money to enjoy the pleasures of life. The singer, however, wants to make changes and get out of the current situation, and perhaps this realization stems from him not being able to make the payment for his car, which he had bought for the purpose of putting on a show.

In conclusion, Greens is a song that portrays the predicaments of the working class and their struggles to make a living. Despite experiencing the pleasures of life, the singer realizes the importance of accumulating wealth to lead a better life and to move on to better things.

Line by Line Meaning

Woke up this morning crawled out between the sheets
My day started by getting out of bed, leaving behind a comfortable feeling of safety and warmth.

My woman was warm, kisses oh so sweet
My partner gave me a warm, loving welcome and sweet kisses.

Wanted to stay but I had to go
Although I wanted to stay with my partner, I had responsibilities I had to attend to.

Headed for the factory, made myself some dough
I went to work at the factory to earn some money.

I said greens is what I mean
I prioritize making money, which is what 'greens' represents to me.

Well it don't keep ya warm as lovin'
While money doesn't offer the same warmth and emotional connection as love with another person, it still serves a purpose in life.

But it sure pays for that fun in between
Money can pay for enjoyable experiences and moments in life.

Got me some new wheels bright red fast and mean
I acquired a new car that was bright red, fast, and fierce.

Felt good drivin' around in that machine
I enjoyed the feeling of driving my new car around.

Cruisin' 'round puttin' on a show
I drove my car around to show it off and make an impression.

Couldn't make the payment the car just had to go
I couldn't afford to keep up with the car payments, so I had to part with it.

Gotta make some changes, gotta get myself in gear
I need to make changes and take action to improve my life.

Thing's are gettin' heavy, I'm cuttin' out of here
My burdens and problems are weighing me down, so I need to leave this situation behind.

Take my woman, make some speed
I plan to escape with my partner and move quickly towards a better life.

Don't know where I'm going but I sure know what I need
Although I am unsure of my destination, I know what I need for myself and my partner to move forward.

Chorus
The chorus repeats the message of how money, represented by 'greens', can pay for enjoyable moments in life.

Chorus:Repeat x2
The chorus repeats again to emphasize its message about the value of making money.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Dan McCafferty (non Mountain title, Darrell Sweet, Manuel Charlton, Peter Agnew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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