Something For Nothin'
Work Force Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He worked all summer for
Saved and sweated every night
Sweeping up dirty floors
And when he played his music
That wasn't all he'd hear
Words his daddy told him
Kept ringing in his ear-he said...
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
No matter how hard you try
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
It's something to get by
Tommy left his hometown
Headed for L.A.
He was shooting for the bigtime
Gonna make it his own way
Late one night he swore he'd never
Sell himself out flat
Ah, but don't you know he soon found out
It doesn't always work like that
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
No matter how hard you try
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
It's something to get by
A few short months had passed by
Before tommy was back in town
But a fire burned inside him
He couldn't put that 6-string down
Said he learned some lessons
And was far from a broken man
But the words his daddy told him
He'd experienced first hand
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
No matter how hard you try
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
It's something to get by
Listen to what people tell you
Then hear what your heart has to say
Hey, you can't get somethin' for nothin'
You've got to pay to play
These lyrics tell the story of a young man named Tommy who has a passion for music and dreams of making it big in the industry. Tommy is portrayed as hardworking and dedicated, as he saves up money from summer jobs and works late nights to pursue his musical goals. However, he also carries with him the advice his father gave him, which warns against expecting something for nothing.
The chorus "You can't get somethin' for nothin', No matter how hard you try, It's something to get by" serves as a reminder that success and achievements don't come without effort and sacrifice. Tommy's father's words continue to ring in his ears as he leaves his hometown and heads to Los Angeles in pursuit of fame and fortune. Despite his determination to make it on his own terms, Tommy soon realizes that the music industry is not as straightforward as he expected.
In the second verse, it is implied that Tommy faced the temptation of compromising his values and selling out his artistic integrity to achieve success. However, he quickly discovers that this path doesn't always lead to the desired outcome. The lyrics emphasize the importance of maintaining personal values and integrity, even in the face of challenges and temptations.
After a few months, Tommy returns to his hometown, still carrying the fire and passion for music. He acknowledges that he has learned some valuable lessons and has grown from his experiences. In this verse, Tommy's story underscores the idea that setbacks and failures can be valuable learning opportunities, and that true growth comes from those experiences.
The lyrics conclude with the message that one should listen to the advice and guidance of others, but ultimately, it is important to follow one's own heart and instincts. The line "You've got to pay to play" captures the idea that success often requires hard work and perseverance. Overall, the song emphasizes the notion that success in any endeavor comes with a price, and shortcuts or expecting something for nothing rarely lead to genuine and lasting achievements.
Line by Line Meaning
Tommy had a guitar
Tommy possessed a guitar
He worked all summer for
Tommy labored throughout the summer in exchange for
Saved and sweated every night
He saved diligently and exerted great effort nightly
Sweeping up dirty floors
Cleaning filthy floors
And when he played his music
Whenever he performed his musical compositions
That wasn't all he'd hear
He didn't solely hear the sound of music
Words his daddy told him
The advice and wisdom from his father
Kept ringing in his ear-he said...
Persistently echoed within his mind – his father's words were...
You can't get somethin' for nothin'
One cannot obtain something valuable without giving anything in return
No matter how hard you try
Irrespective of the level of effort exerted
It's something to get by
One must settle for what is necessary to survive
Tommy left his hometown
Tommy departed from his place of birth
Headed for L.A.
On his way to Los Angeles
He was shooting for the bigtime
He aspired to achieve great success and fame
Gonna make it his own way
Intending to achieve success through his unique approach
Late one night he swore he'd never
During a late hour, he made a solemn vow never to
Sell himself out flat
Compromise his integrity and self-worth
Ah, but don't you know he soon found out
However, he quickly discovered
It doesn't always work like that
Success does not always come as easily as anticipated
A few short months had passed by
Only a brief period of a few months went by
Before tommy was back in town
Prior to Tommy returning to his hometown
But a fire burned inside him
Nevertheless, a intense passion ignited within him
He couldn't put that 6-string down
He was unable to stop playing his guitar
Said he learned some lessons
He stated that he gained valuable insights
And was far from a broken man
Despite facing challenges, he remained resilient and strong
But the words his daddy told him
However, his father's words of wisdom
He'd experienced first hand
He personally encountered and understood
Listen to what people tell you
Pay attention to the advice given by others
Then hear what your heart has to say
Subsequently, consider the thoughts and desires of your own heart
Hey, you can't get somethin' for nothin'
Hey, you cannot obtain valuable things without offering anything in return
You've got to pay to play
Being successful requires making sacrifices and investing effort
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Chris Holmes, Mark Adams, Ralph Henry, Rick Henry, Ron Kimball, Scott Henry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jesusisking3814
If you die tonight, do you know where you're going? Did you know that Jesus Christ is THE Truth, the life and the only way to Heaven?
Revelation 20:15 ''Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.''
Through Jesus Christ, God offers you a FREE gift – forgiveness. All you need to do is repent, turn away from your sins and evil ways,
from now on put your faith completely in Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him.
Biblical explanation of the Gospel:
God doesn’t want anybody in hell, but you must understand why
we deserve hell and why those who refuse to live under His authority will go
there. He gave us the law (Ten Commandments) not to make us righteous, but
rather to show us our sin (Romans 3:20). God gave us free will and since Adam
sinned in the garden, sin is the nature of our flesh and we ALL have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
The law demands death to those who sin (Romans 6:23). Since we have all sinned, we all deserve hell.
Revelation 21:8 says that all liars will go to hell. Yes, even if you have lied once in your life, you are sentenced to hell - that's how
high God's standards are of moral perfection because God is holy and righteous, there is not one sin in Him.
For someone to be justified before holy God they have to be sinless, that's why everyone need Jesus Christ
- for He lived a sinless life, died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day.
None of us are good in God’s eyes, because for God good means moral perfection. We all
have broken God’s commandments, we all have sinned in our lives so none of us
are good. ‘’For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is
guilty of breaking all of it.’’ (James 2:10). Our carnal mind is hostile to God; it does not submit
to God's moral law and it never will (Romans 8:7). We hate the thought of God for the same reason a criminal
hates a policeman - we know we have sinned against God and are guilty of it and we don't want to be damned.
No good works will ever save you. You can't earn salvation by good works, because God will judge us for our sin.
Good News is that Jesus Christ lived a perfect, holy, sinless life and He died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’’ (John 3:16)
We aren’t saved by our good works, but only by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
''For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus said ‘’it is finished’’ (John 19:30) just before He died on the cross, which means He paid the fine for our sins
(past, present, future) to be forgiven only IF we repent and trust in Him.
This is how you can get saved from sin and hell - repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ. Get to know Him
by reading God's Word.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:13)
''What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!'' (Romans 6:15)
''Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out'' (Acts 3:19)
Repentance is a turning away from sin and all evil works, and it always results in changed behavior (Luke 3:8).
Biblically, a person who repents does not continue willfully in sin.
While sorrow from sin is not equivalent to repentance, it is certainly an element of scriptural repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Do not play a hypocrite. ''God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.'' (1 John 1:5-6)
(John 3:3) Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
If you have repented and have genuine faith in Jesus Christ then you will receive the gift of Holy Spirit and be born-again spiritually.
When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
''You will know them by their fruits'' (Matthew 7)
If you have been truly born-again with the Holy Spirit and He has regenerated your heart, you will desire righteousnes -
to do what is good and righteous in God's eyes, to seek God everyday in His Word and prayer, to strengthen your relationship with God.
You will no longer desire to willfully continue living in sin but will want to obey God out of your love for Him because of His amazing grace
revealed to us through the death and resurrection of His Son.
''Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.'' (2 Corinthians 5:17)
''For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'' (Eph 2:10)
You will have a testimony - of what your life had been before and how has it changed now when you have surrendered it to Lord Jesus Christ.
As a declaration and affirmation of your faith in Jesus Christ, get baptised in water because He commanded us to do so.
In John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.''
''Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'' (Matthew 28:19)
''Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.'' (Acts 2:41)
''And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body,
but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,'' (1 Peter 3:21)
''We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'' (Romans 6:4)
''Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God,
who raised him from the dead.'' (Colossians 2:12)
Please get right with God and get to know Jesus Christ personally today before it’s too late, because there’s not much time left!
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’’ (Mark 13:32)
Get to know Christ through God's Word - Bible. At first I recommend reading Gospel of John and book of Romans. God bless you!
Jeremiah 29:13 - ''You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.''
@AbdulWasim-bl7ur
The fact that nobody talks about the book whispers of manifestation on borlest speaks volumes about how people are stuck in a trance
@Justin--ze6qq
Life is a weird, beautiful experience when you step back and look at it. Grateful to be here with you all
@lordchrisderson5964
Preach !
Church
Tabernacle.......
@_Area-51
❤️
@dexio8601
It's a miracle we are even here to experience...
@mojackoj.dulpak1887
Most of the time it is hard but yeah...
@lydiasyear
❤❤❤
@totalghoul00
“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards” ~ Soren Kierkegaard
@scottdanner1703
Luck is the residue of design
@mcos6
great quote