Top 43 Songs About Money

Personal finance and music are two of my favorite things, so I decided to combine them.  Here is my list of the top 43 songs about money. 

These are not all specifically about money though.  In some, money plays a part of the story.  In others, the song contains a lesson that can easily be applied to finances.

This list is a countdown, so make sure you read all the way through to see the top ten.  And in case you’re wondering why I chose 43 songs – it’s because I like prime numbers.

Enjoy!

43. Human League – Don’t You Want Me Baby

You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, shook you up, turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on, you’ve got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don’t forget it’s me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back there too

42. ABBA – Money Money Money

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain’t it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That’s too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn’t have to work at all, I’d fool around and have a ball

41. M.I.A. – Paper Planes

Sometimes I feel sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I’m clocking that game
Everyone’s a winner, now we’re making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

40. Green Day – Holiday

Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line
To find the money’s better on the other side

39. Nirvana – The Money will Roll Right In

I want to be a star, I’m going to have a car
And you’ll have to admit, I’ll be rich as s**t
I’ll just sit and grin, the money will roll right in

38. Steve Miller Band – Take the Money and Run

Bobbie Sue, whoa, whoa, she slipped away
Bill Joe caught up to her the very next day
They got the money, hey
You know they got away
They headed down south and they’re still running today
Singin’ go on take the money and run

37. Aerosmith – Eat the Rich

Believe in all the good things
That money just can’t buy
Then you won’t get no bellyache
From eatin’ humble pie
I believe in rags to riches
Your inheritance won’t last
So take your grey poupon my friend
And shove it up your a**

36. Monty Python – The Money Song

There is nothing quite as wonderful as money
There is nothing quite as beautiful as cash
Some people say it’s folly
But I’d rather have the lolly
With money you can make a splash

35. Duran Duran – Notorious

You own the money, you control the witness
I hear you’re lonely – don’t monkey with my business
You pay the profits to justify the reasons
I heard your promise, but I don’t believe it

34. Smashing Pumpkins – Cash Car Star

Well everyone’s gonna be a big star
Everyone’s gonna drive a fast car
Everyone’s gonna be in charge
Cause everybody’s business is everybody’s business

33. Pet Shop Boys – Opportunities

I’ve had enough of scheming and messing around with jerks
My car is parked outside, I’m afraid it doesn’t work
I’m looking for a partner, someone who gets things fixed
Ask yourself this question: do you want to be rich?

32. Wyclef Jean – Sweetest Girl

Some live for the bill
Some kill for the bill
She whine for the bill
Grind for the bill
(And she used to be the sweetest girl)
Some steal for the bill if they got to pay the bill
(And she used to be the sweetest girl)

31. Bare Naked Ladies – If I had a Million Dollars

If I had a million dollars, we wouldn’t walk to the store
If I had a million dollars, we’d take a limousine cause it costs more
If I had a million dollars, we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner
…But we would eat Kraft dinner

30 – Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer

Tommy used to work on the docks
His union’s been on strike
He’s down on his luck…it’s tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love, for love

29. Rush – Big Money

Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draws the flies

28. The Offspring – Get a Job

I won’t pay, I won’t pay ya, no way
Now now why don’t you get a job
Say no way, say no way ya, no way
Now now why don’t you get a job

27. U2 – Silver and Gold

A prize fighter in the corner is told
Hit where it hurts
Silver and gold

26. Notorious BIG – Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

I don’t know what they want from me
It’s like the more money we come across
The more problems we see

25. Fountains of Wayne – Bright Future in Sales

I’m gonna get my s**t together
Cause I can’t live like this forever
You know I’ve come too far, and I don’t want to fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales

24. Northern Pikes – Things I Do for Money

The things I waste my time on, I’ll never understand
I used to be quite practical, but now I find I’m tactical
I scrape and scheme and struggle hard
To get myself ahead
Have no concern for anyone but me

23. Bruce Springsteen – Pay Me My Money Down

As soon as the boat was clear of the bar
Pay me my money down
The captain knocked me down with a spar
Pay me my money down

22. Guns N Roses – Welcome to the Jungle

If you got a hunger for what you see
You’ll take it eventually
You can have anything you want
But you better not take it from me

21. Dire Straights – Money for Nothing

Now that ain’t working that’s the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain’t working that’s the way you do it
Money for nothing and your chicks for free

20. David Bowie – Man Who Sold The World

Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You’re face to face
With the man who sold the world

19. Sublime – April 29th, 1992

Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here
It’s getting harder and harder and harder each and every year
But if you look at the streets, it wasn’t about Rodney King
It’s about this f**ked up situation, and these f**ked up police

18. Bachman Turner Overdrive – Takin’ Care of Business

And if your train’s on time
You can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me, I’m self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day

17. AC/DC – Money Talks

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on , come on, listen to the money talk

16. Kenny Rogers – The Gambler

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money when you’re sitting at the table
There’ll be time for counting when the dealer’s done

15. Johnny Cash – Get Rhythm

Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey get rhythm when you get the blues
It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe
Does a million dollars worth of good for you
Get a rhythm when you get the blues

14. Foo Fighters – My Hero

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary

13. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Kind of Man

Forget your lust for rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this if you try
All I want for you my son
Is to be satisfied

12. The Who – Did You Steal My Money?

Did you steal it?
Did you screw me?
Did you peel it?
Did you do me?
Are you out there Mr. No One?
Is my investment growing?

11. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary

Left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying about the way things might have been

10. Rolling Stones – Can’t Always Get What You Want

You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you just might find
You get what you need

9. Nine Inch Nails – Head Like A Hole

God money’s not looking for the cure
God money’s not concerned about the sick among the pure
God money let’s go dancing on the backs of the bruised
God money’s not one to choose

8. Simply Red – Money’s Too Tight to Mention

I been laid off, my rent is due
My kids all need brand new shoes
So I went to the bank to see what they could do
They said “son looks like bad luck got a hold on you”

7. Bob Dylan – Masters of War

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When death takes it toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

6. Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good

I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain’t never been there, they tell me it’s nice
I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all

5. The O’Jays – For the Love of Money

I know money is the root of all evil
Do funny things to some people
Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime
Money can drive some people out of their minds

4. Pink Floyd – Money

Money, get away
Get a good job with good pay and you’re okay
Money, it’s a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream
Think I’ll buy me a football team

3. The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love

I’ll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give, but what I got I’ll give to you
I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love

2. Barret Strong – Money (That’s What I Want)

The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees

1. Jeff Buckley – Satisfied Mind

Money can’t buy back all your youth when you’re old
A friend when you’re lonely, or peace for your soul
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to the man with a satisfied mind

I hope you enjoyed the list!  Coming up with the songs was fairly easy, but ranking them proved quite hard.

What’s your favorite?  Can you think of any I left off?