Sheldon Alan "Shel" Silverstein (25th September 1930 – 10th May 1999) was a… Read Full Bio ↴Sheldon Alan "Shel" Silverstein (25th September 1930 – 10th May 1999) was an American poet, songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books.

Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.

Everybody's Makin' It Big but Me
Shel Silverstein Lyrics

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Elvis, he's a hero...he's a superstar,
And I hear that Paul McCartney drives a Rolls Royce car.
And Dylan sings for millions,
And I just sing for free.
Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.

Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.
Everybody's makin' it big but me.

Neil Diamond sings for diamonds,
And here's ole rhinestone me.
Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.

Well, I hear that Alice Cooper's got a foxy chick
To wipe off his snake, keep him rich.
And Elton John's got two fine ladies,
And Doctor John's got three.
And I'm still seein' them same old sleezoes
That I used to see.

Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.
Everybody's makin' it big but me.
I've got charisma
And personality.
How come everybody's makin' it big but me?

Well, I paint my face with glitter
Just like Bowie does.
And I wear the same mascara
That Mick Jagger does.
And I even put some lipstick on --
That just hurt my dad and mom.
Everybody's makin' it big but me.

They got groupies for their bands,

And all I got is my right hand.
And everybody's makin' it big but me.

Overall Meaning

"Everybody's Makin' It Big but Me" is a satirical commentary on the commercialization of modern music and the disparity between established artists and those struggling to make it big. Silverstein takes a humorous approach to criticize the music industry's obsession with fame, material wealth, and extravagant lifestyles, and the myth of the overnight success. In the song, Silverstein compares himself to other well-known musicians of the time, such as Elvis, Paul McCartney, Dylan, Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Elton John, and Doctor John, all of whom he believes are living a lavish lifestyle while he remains unnoticed and unrecognized.

The song's repeated refrain, "Everybody's makin' it big but me," highlights the envy and frustration that many aspiring artists feel when they see their more famous counterparts living a glamorous life. Silverstein's use of hyperbole and melodrama adds to the satirical tone of the song, as he exaggerates the absurdity of the music industry's obsession with fame and fortune.

The lyrics also provide a glimpse into Silverstein's personal life, as he describes his attempts to imitate the styles of other musicians, such as painting his face like David Bowie and wearing mascara like Mick Jagger. The use of the phrase "same old sleezoes" suggests a sense of disillusionment and despair, as Silverstein remains trapped in a cycle of poverty and obscurity.

Overall, "Everybody's Makin' It Big but Me" is a witty, sarcastic critique of the music industry's obsession with fame and fortune, and its disregard for artistic merit and meaningful expression.

Line by Line Meaning

Elvis, he's a hero...he's a superstar, And I hear that Paul McCartney drives a Rolls Royce car.
Celebrity's like Elvis and Paul McCartney have achieved so much fame that they have become heroes and are successful enough to afford luxury cars.

And Dylan sings for millions, And I just sing for free. Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.
Musicians like Bob Dylan have millions of fans and make a lot of money from singing, while the singer is not as fortunate and has to perform for free. Thus, everyone seems to be more prosperous than the singer.

Neil Diamond sings for diamonds, And here's ole rhinestone me. Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me.
Neil Diamond sings about diamonds and success while the singer is less successful and feels like an old rhinestone without any fortune or fame.

Well, I hear that Alice Cooper's got a foxy chick To wipe off his snake, keep him rich. And Elton John's got two fine ladies, And Doctor John's got three. And I'm still seein' them same old sleezoes That I used to see.
Other celebrities, including Alice Cooper, Elton John, and Doctor John, are successful enough to have multiple women in their lives, while the artist still has the same low-quality relationships as before, making them feel left behind.

I've got charisma And personality. How come everybody's makin' it big but me?
Despite having a lot of charisma and personality, the artist feels left behind as everyone else around them is more successful and famous than they are.

Well, I paint my face with glitter Just like Bowie does. And I wear the same mascara That Mick Jagger does. And I even put some lipstick on -- That just hurt my dad and mom.
The singer tries to copy successful musicians like David Bowie and Mick Jagger by wearing makeup but is not getting the same success. However, their parents do not appreciate this change and may even be hurt by it

They got groupies for their bands, And all I got is my right hand. And everybody's makin' it big but me.
Other musicians have groupies who admire them, while the singer does not have any fans and is alone with only their right hand. This sense of isolation makes the singer feel that they are not as successful as others.

Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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