Rich Man
The Bottle Rockets Lyrics
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Never had no fun
You really did rack up the pay but now your
days are done
Saving for the times ahead
never got that far
Oh a heart attack has left you dead
Now you can’t save no more
Rich man in the graveyard
Workin like a slave
Now in the end what’s evil Lord
How much did you save?
Worked your fingers to the bone
Never took a wife
You and your money were alone
On the last day of your life
Didn’t smoke, didn’t drink
Work on isn’t hard
You just never had the time to think
Took me quite off guard
Life is precious
Life is short
You did what you thought best
You just never got to use your heart
For it laid you to rest
The lyrics of The Bottle Rockets's song "Rich Man" tell the story of a man who worked tirelessly and saved diligently all his life with the hope of securing a prosperous future. However, in the end, he dies of a heart attack, leaving behind all his wealth without ever truly living his life. The lyrics highlight the dark irony of putting in all that hard work and sacrificing precious time with your loved ones only to end up alone in a coffin. It's a cautionary tale that challenges the notion of "success" and asks the listener to consider what truly matters in life.
The song begins by stating the man's exhausting routine of working two jobs every day without any fun or joy. He saved for the times ahead but never got far, and unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack that left him dead, unable to save anymore. The entire song is centered around the contrasting life of the rich man who, despite amassing a considerable amount of wealth, never had the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
The lyrics of "Rich Man" are straightforward but carry a subtle message that questions the definition of success in our society. Through the story of the rich man, the song questions if a life lived pursuing wealth is worth the cost of never truly living. It's a vital reminder to reevaluate our choices and reflect on what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Worked two jobs everyday
Worked tirelessly every day for income
Never had no fun
Never allowed oneself to enjoy leisurely activities
You really did rack up the pay but now your
days are done
Earned a significant income during lifetime, but it came to an end
Saving for the times ahead
Financially preparing for the future
never got that far
Did not reach the desired financial status or goals
Oh a heart attack has left you dead
Suffered a fatal heart attack and died
Now you can’t save no more
Can no longer continue to save or accumulate wealth
Rich man in the graveyard
A wealthy person buried in a cemetery
Workin like a slave
Worked tirelessly and relentlessly like a slave
Now in the end what’s evil Lord
At the end of life, what determines one's evil deeds?
How much did you save?
How much wealth and money did one accumulate during their lifetime?
Worked your fingers to the bone
Worked extremely hard, to the point of exhaustion
Never took a wife
Never married or had a significant other
You and your money were alone
Living a solitary life with wealth as one's only constant
On the last day of your life
On the final day of one's existence
Didn’t smoke, didn’t drink
Abstained from harmful vices like smoking and drinking
Work on isn’t hard
Working is not difficult, but rather time-consuming
You just never had the time to think
One's obsession with wealth and work did not allow them enough time to reflect on life
Took me quite off guard
Caught the singer by surprise
Life is precious
The value of human life is immeasurable
Life is short
The duration of life on earth is brief
You did what you thought best
One did what they believed was best for themselves
You just never got to use your heart
Had not lived a life with a balance between wealth and love
For it laid you to rest
Death came as a result of only prioritizing wealth and neglecting love
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.