Rush is considered a gifted musician and performer whose shows offer a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.
Rush began his musical career in the early '60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.
Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era.
In the early '70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and "recharge" his creative side at his New Hampshire farm.
Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston's prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush's love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences' love of Rush's music.
He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early '60s - to allow established artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O' Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the '80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation's finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.
In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covered his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled "The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets", the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, "River Song," which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn.
A live CD, "Trolling for Owls" released in 2003 and published by Tom's NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures a complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences.
In 2018, at age 79, he released the album "Voices".
Money Honey
Tom Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, the landlord rang my frontdoor bell
I let it rang for a long, long spell
I went to the window, peeped through the blind
Asked him to tell me what was on his mind.
He said : ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
I was clean and screened and so hard pressed
I called the woman that I loved the best
Finally got my baby 'bout a half past three
She said : ‘I'd like to know what you want with me’.
And I said : ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
’If you wanna get along with me’.
Well, she said : ’Tell me, baby, what's wrong with you ?’
‘From this day forth our romance is through’
I said, "Tell me baby, face to face
How could another man take my place ?"
She said, ""Money honey, money honey, money honey
If you wanna get along with me"
Well, I've learned my lesson and now I know
Sun may shine and the wind may blow
Women may come and women may go
But before I say I love you so.
I said : ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
’If you wanna get along with me"
The lyrics to Tom Rush's Money Honey explore the theme of money and its influence on relationships. The song begins with the singer receiving a visit from his landlord, who demands payment for rent. The singer, who seems to be struggling financially, asks for more time, but the landlord insists that he needs money. This encounter shows how money can become a dominant factor in the lives of people who are struggling to pay their bills and how it can potentially drive people apart.
The second verse of the song reveals that the singer calls his lover, hoping that she can help him in his financial struggles. However, when he finally meets her, she becomes upset because she feels like he only wants her because he needs money. This verse emphasizes the idea that money can also affect intimate relationships in negative ways, such as causing doubt, distrust, and ultimately leading to breakups.
The third and final verse of the song shows that the singer has learned his lesson and now understands the value of honesty and love over money. He says that the sun may shine, and the wind may blow, but he will always prioritize love over money. The overall message of the song is that while money may be crucial for survival, it should never be a priority over love and human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the landlord rang my frontdoor bell
The landlord knocked on my door looking for money
I let it rang for a long, long spell
I intentionally ignored the landlord's knocking for a long time
I went to the window, peeped through the blind
I secretly looked out through the window to see who was knocking
Asked him to tell me what was on his mind.
I asked him directly what he wanted from me
He said: ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
The landlord said that he wants money
’If you wanna get along with me’
The landlord will only be satisfied if he gets the money
I was clean and screened and so hard pressed
I was feeling very stressed and anxious because I couldn't pay the rent
I called the woman that I loved the best
I reached out to the person I loved the most for help
Finally got my baby 'bout a half past three
I was able to meet with my lover at around 3:30 AM
She said: ‘I'd like to know what you want with me’.
My lover was curious as to why I needed to see her so late at night
And I said: ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
I told her the reason why I came to see her was because of money
’If you wanna get along with me’.
I explained to her that I needed her help to get out of this financial mess
Well, she said: ’Tell me, baby, what's wrong with you ?’
My lover asked me what was troubling me
‘From this day forth our romance is through’
My lover broke up with me on the spot because I came to her for money
I said, "Tell me baby, face to face
I asked my lover to talk to me directly
How could another man take my place ?"
I questioned why she would choose to leave me over someone else
She said, ""Money honey, money honey, money honey
My lover insisted that the reason why we broke up was because of my constant need for money
If you wanna get along with me"
She stated that it was clear that I valued money over our relationship
Well, I've learned my lesson and now I know
I came to a realization that I needed to prioritize my relationships over money
Sun may shine and the wind may blow
Things may not always be perfect, but there are more important things in life than money
Women may come and women may go
People may come in and out of my life, but I need to learn to value what truly matters
But before I say I love you so.
Before I express my love for someone, I need to make sure my priorities are in the right place
I said: ‘Money honey, money honey, money honey’
I recognize the mistake I made and stress the importance of not letting money come between me and my relationships
’If you wanna get along with me"
I emphasize that valuing relationships over money is key to getting along with me
Contributed by Lila V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.