The Pretenders is an English-American rock band founded in Hereford, United… Read Full Bio ↴The Pretenders is an English-American rock band founded in Hereford, United Kingdom that came to prominence during the punk and new wave movement of the late 1970s due to their innovative songwriting and charismatic performances. Since then, the band has experienced drug-related losses and numerous subsequent personnel changes, with American-born group founder, songwriter, vocalist, and rhythm guitarist Chrissie Hynde as the only consistent member.

Formed in 1978 in London, the original band Hynde, lead and rhythm guitarist James Honeyman-Scott (died 1982), bassist Pete Farndon (died 1983), and drummer Martin Chambers. Save for Hynde, a native of Akron, Ohio, the original band members were all from the U.K. This band was fractured by the drug-related deaths of Honeyman-Scott and Farndon. Since then, numerous subsequent personnel changes have taken place over the years, with Hynde as the sole constant.

With Hynde at the helm, the band experienced a critical resurgence with a trio of albums released between the mid-90s and early 00s that explored a more mature side of the band’s classic sound.

In 2008, the Pretenders' album Break Up the Concrete was released through Shangri-La Music. It was the band's first Top 40 album in the US in 22 years.

In September 2012, as part of the entertainment line-up for the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, the Pretenders re-grouped with Hynde and Chambers from the original line-up, along with Nick Wilkinson, James Walbourne and Eric Heywood.

Money
The Pretenders Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll come in your car to talk business,
No business, no money talk.
Zero in on my full of intentions,
I think you got it because you pulled up and stopped.
If money is the root of all evil,
I'm begging at the feet of the devil.
Talk to me please,
Money talk to me.

Twenty gets you straight,
Forty gets you other,
Think of what a hundred could do.
I've been gifted with the thing that you want,
Who's better than who?
Never underestimate a woman like me,
The kids have got to eat,
And man, that's reality, you see.
Money talk to me.

You're so deluded,
You think that I'm real.
You pass your hormones off as love,
For five minutes you feel.
You can buy a squeegee little silicone sack,
But it won't feed the world

Like the ones that I pack naturally.
Money talk to me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Pretenders' song "Money" seem pretty straightforward at first glance. The singer, Chrissie Hynde, repeatedly asserts that she wants money, and that while love may be all well and good, it won't pay the bills. However, there is more to this song than just pure materialism. The repetition of the phrase "that's what I want" is not just a shallow desire for cash, but rather a commentary on the culture of greed and consumerism that was prevalent during the 1980s.

The song's opening lines, "The best things in life are free / But you can keep them for the birds and bees" seem to suggest that Hynde recognizes that there are important things in life that money can't buy. However, she quickly follows this up with a demand for cash, indicating that she doesn't necessarily believe this sentiment herself. Hynde is acknowledging the fact that money is a necessary evil in modern society, and that it can be hard to live without it, even when you know that there are more important things in life.

The line "Money don't get everything it's true / What it don't get, I can't use" is particularly interesting. Hynde seems to be saying that while money may be important, there are still some things that it can't buy. This suggests that there is a limit to how much money can truly fulfill our needs and wants. The song is a commentary on the limitations of wealth, and how even those who have a lot can still feel like they need more.

Line by Line Meaning

The best things in life are free
There are wonderful things in this world that don't cost anything, but they are not valuable to me.

But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Those free things can be for the animals, not for me. I prefer money.

Now give me money
I want money, I need money, and I deserve money. So, give me money.

That's what I want
Money is my priority, it's my goal, it's my dream, it's my motivation. Yes, that's what I want.

You're lovin' gives me a thrill
Your love makes me happy, but happiness is not enough. I need money to survive and thrive.

But you're lovin' don't pay my bills
Your love is not enough to cover my expenses, my debts, my obligations. I still need money.

Money don't get everything it's true
Money is not the only thing that matters in life, but it's a significant thing that can solve many problems.

What it don't get, I can't use
Money cannot buy love, health, happiness, or other intangible things, but it can buy many tangible things that I need and want.

Well now give me money
I'm not kidding, I'm not playing, I'm serious. Give me some money.

A lot of money
I don't want just a little bit of money, I want a lot of it, enough to cover everything I need and want.

Wow, yeah, I wanna be free
Money can give me freedom, independence, and power. I want to be free to do what I want, when I want, how I want.

Oh I want money
Money is not just a want, but a need. I need money to survive, to succeed, to enjoy life.

Now, give me money
I'm not begging, I'm demanding. Give me the money I deserve, the money I earned, the money I need.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRISTINE HYNDE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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