Slaid Cleaves’ music is marked by both the quirky blend of isolated eccentricity and steely resilience of his Yankee upbringing and the weathered soul of Texas, the state he has called home for over a decade now. First registering on the national folk scene by winning the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk competition in 1992, Cleaves released his national debut No Angel Knows (Philo/Rounder) in 1997, following a string of self-released albums and many nights logged in folk clubs as both a performer and a soundman. Met with effusive critical praise, No Angel Knows was followed by Broke Down (Philo/Rounder) in 2000, which expanded his audience exponentially by virtue of its exceedingly well-crafted songs and rugged Gurf Morlix production. In addition to the title track, a Rod Picott collaboration that won Song of the Year at the Austin Music Awards in 2001, Broke Down featured a couple of interpretations of other writers’ songs prefiguring Slaid’s later work, including a poignant reading of fellow Austinite Karen Poston’s “Lydia.”
Following Broke Down came 2004’s Wishbones (Philo/Rounder), a richly detailed exploration of life’s darker corners where still a ray of hope somehow shines. Wishbones climbed to the top of the Americana Radio chart coming in at #1 for 2004 while Slaid toured relentlessly promoting the album. It was after the recording of Wishbones that Cleaves began to consider the endeavor that became Unsung. “Over the years,” Cleaves explains, “as I grew as a songwriter, my songs began to make up the bulk of my sets. But I continued to throw in the odd song by a hero or friend, both in my shows and on the records I made. I did that partly out of tribute to my influences, but also to give my set, or album, some context and some variety.” These are songs from the songwriter trenches – compositions Cleaves first heard at late-night song-swaps, open-mic nights, during downtime at recording sessions, and on modest self-released CDs. Thanks to the work of producers David Henry and Rod Picott (a long-time Cleaves cohort and fellow Mainer), the performances and backdrops on Unsung are as evocative and captivating as the songs themselves. Cleaves’ gifts as an interpreter are such that the line between singer and song vanish completely.
"Cleaves tells gorgeously compact stories in a voice packed with Texas trail dust." -- Entertainment Weekly
"...one of the finest singer-songwriters in Texas." -- Neil Strauss, The New York Times
Millionaire
Slaid Cleaves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
gambled with a man, won me another
bought me a gun and i robbed my brother
i'm bad but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
i'm bad but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
i hopped on a ship and i sailed on some waves
dealt in rum and i dealt in slaves
he's gone but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
chorus
how many of you wanna see me dead?
how many of you wanna have my head?
how many of you just live your lives
wishin you were me boys, wishing you were me
i married rich, a pretty little wife
brought her misery every day of her life
she slit her wrists with a silver knife
but you can't pin that on me boys -- her money belongs to me
but you can't pin that on me boys -- that money belongs to me
i found myself in a good position
to buy myself a chief politician
bought myself a cheap election
that's just how it went boys
now i own the president
chorus
when you say your prayers down on your knees
ask the lord to forgive you please
if it crosses your mind say one for me
cos i know where i'm bound boys
i know where i'm bound
i started out with one lone dollar
gambled with a man, won me another
bought me a gun and i robbed my brother
i'm bad but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
bad but i dont care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
solo to end.
The lyrics of Slaid Cleaves's "Millionaire" tell the story of the rise to wealth and power of a ruthless and immoral protagonist. The song begins with the character's humble beginnings, starting with just one dollar and winning another through gambling. He then uses the money to buy a gun and rob his own brother, showing an utter disregard for familial bonds and morality. Still, he sings with conviction that he is "gonna be a millionaire" despite being "bad but [he doesn't] care, boys."
As the song progresses, the character's actions become increasingly heinous. He becomes involved in the slave trade and is responsible for the death of his captain, yet he shows no remorse. The chorus provides a glimpse into the character's perspective, posing the question of how many people would like to see him dead or have his head, yet he sings with arrogant pride about his success and how others wish they were in his position.
The final verses focus on the character's marriages of convenience, one to a wealthy woman whom he drove to suicide and the other to a politician whom he bought a cheap election for, ultimately resulting in his ownership of the president. The song ends with a sobering reflection on the character's fate and a recognition that his wealth and power may come at a cost beyond what can be measured in money.
Overall, "Millionaire" is a satirical take on the American dream and the lengths to which people will go to achieve it, even at the expense of others.
Line by Line Meaning
i started out with one lone dollar
I began with little to my name
gambled with a man, won me another
Used my small amount of money to gain more by taking a risk
bought me a gun and i robbed my brother
Used the money to commit a crime against my own family
i'm bad but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
I know I'm doing wrong, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to become rich
i hopped on a ship and i sailed on some waves
I left my home to embark on a new journey
dealt in rum and i dealt in slaves
Engaged in immoral activities for profit
left my captain in a watery grave
I killed my superior to take control
he's gone but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
I am willing to do whatever it takes to become rich, even if it means committing murder
how many of you wanna see me dead?
I know my actions have consequences and people are out to get me
how many of you wanna have my head?
Many people are after me, seeking the bounty on my head
how many of you just live your lives
I am aware that some people envy me and desire to have what I have
wishin you were me boys, wishing you were me
I have what many people desire and would do whatever it takes to obtain it
i married rich, a pretty little wife
I wedded someone who had wealth and beauty
brought her misery every day of her life
I made her life painful and difficult, despite her status and looks
she slit her wrists with a silver knife
My wife was so unhappy that she took her own life
but you can't pin that on me boys -- her money belongs to me
I will not take responsibility for my wife's death and instead claim ownership of her money
i found myself in a good position
I took advantage of a situation that was beneficial to me
to buy myself a chief politician
I used my wealth to attain political power
bought myself a cheap election
I manipulated the election process to my advantage
that's just how it went boys
I have no qualms about how I obtained political power
now i own the president
I have control over the most powerful person in the country
when you say your prayers down on your knees
Remember to ask for forgiveness
ask the lord to forgive you please
I am aware of my wrongdoings and seek forgiveness
if it crosses your mind say one for me
I am asking for others to pray for me too
cos i know where i'm bound boys
Although I have done wrong, I know where I am headed in the afterlife
i started out with one lone dollar
I began with little to my name
gambled with a man, won me another
Took a risk to obtain more money
bought me a gun and i robbed my brother
Committed a crime against my own family
i'm bad but i don't care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
I know my actions are unjustifiable, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to become rich
bad but i dont care boys -- gonna be a millionaire
I am willing to do whatever it takes to become rich, even if it means engaging in immoral activities
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID CHARLES OLNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind