Initiialy written by Berry Gordy and preformed by Barrett Strong in 1959, T… Read Full Bio ↴Initiialy written by Berry Gordy and preformed by Barrett Strong in 1959, The Beatles recorded their cover of this Motown staple on July 18th, 1963 after finding a copy in Brian Epstein's Record Store. Previously they had performed this song as one of the 15 songs they played for their audition for Decca.

Money
The Beatles Lyrics

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The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
(That's what I want)
That's what I want
(That's what I want)
That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want

Your lovin' gives me a thrill
But your lovin' don't pay my bills
Now give me money
(That's what I want)
That's what I want
(That's what I want)
That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want

Money don't get everything, it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money
(That's what I want)
That's what I want
(That's what I want)
That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want, whoa

Money don't get everything, it's true
What it don't get, I can't use
Now give me money
(That's what I want)
That's what I want
(That's what I want)
That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want

Well, now give me money
(That's what I want)
A lot of money
(That's what I want)
Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
(That's what I want)
A lot of money
That's what I want
That's what I want, well
(That's what I want)
Well, now give me money
(That's what I want)
A lot of money
(That's what I want)
Wow, yeah, you need money
(That's what I want)
Now, give me money
(That's what I want)

That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
That's what I want

Overall Meaning

The Beatles' song "Money" is a straightforward anthem about the importance of money. It is about the desire for financial security, and the struggle to make ends meet. The opening lines, "The best things in life are free, But you can keep them for the birds and bees" set up the song's central theme by acknowledging that while freedom, love, and happiness may be priceless, they do not pay the bills.

The first verse then highlights the conflict between love and money, through the lyrics "Your lovin' gives me a thrill, But your lovin' don't pay my bills, Now give me money." The chorus then repeats the refrain "That's what I want" several times, emphasizing the importance of financial success. The second verse acknowledges that money may not be able to buy everything, but it is necessary to fulfill basic needs. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song reinforces this point, with the added emphasis on the amount of money desired.

Overall, "Money" is a simple song that highlights the Beatles' working-class roots and their understanding of the importance of financial security. It is a straightforward anthem for anyone struggling to make ends meet and underscores the universal appeal of the Beatles' music.

Line by Line Meaning

The best things in life are free
Although there are wonderful things in life that don't cost anything, they are not valuable to me as they have no financial reward.

But you can keep them for the birds and bees
These free things are better suited for nature's creatures that don't care about material things.

Your lovin' gives me a thrill
I enjoy being loved and cared for, but that alone won't help me pay my bills.

But your lovin' don't pay my bills
As much as I appreciate your love, it doesn't provide the financial security I need to live comfortably.

Money don't get everything, it's true
Money has its limitations and can't buy everything, but I still value it highly as it is essential for my survival and comfort.

What it don't get, I can't use
Although money can't buy everything, anything it can't buy is not useful to me because what I ultimately need is financial support in order to live a good life.

Well, now give me money (That's what I want)
I'm making it very clear that what I want from you right now is money, and nothing else will suffice.

Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
Money will provide me with the freedom and independence that I desire, so it's what I truly want in life.

Now, give me money
I'm reiterating my request for money because nothing else will satisfy my needs right now.

A lot of money
I'm not just asking for a small amount of money, I need a significant sum to meet my financial needs.

Wow, yeah, you need money
I understand that you may not fully comprehend my need for money, but trust me, it's necessary for me to live a good life.

That's what I want, yeah (that's what I want)
I'm repeating myself once again to emphasize that what I want and need right now is money.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Unison Rights S.L., Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, CTM Publishing
Written by: Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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