There’s a certain allure to songs about money. They can be humorous, melancholic, or a blend of both, and they invariably prompt us to contemplate our own relationship with wealth. Many of these songs have stood the test of time and are often overlooked, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the best old songs about money to share with you.
Contents
- 1. “For The Love Of Money” by The O’Jays
- 2. “Money (That’s What I Want)” by The Flying Lizards
- 3. “Money” by Pink Floyd
- 4. “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
- 5. “First I Look At The Purse” by The Contours
- 6. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” by The Pet Shop Boys
- 7. “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” by The Clovers
- 8. “Money Changes Everything” by Cyndi Lauper
- 9. “Busted” by Ray Charles
- 10. “Moneytalks” by AC/DC
- 11. “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles
- 12. “If I Had a Million Dollars” by The Barenaked Ladies
- 13. “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer
- 14. “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” by Jet
- 15. “Money, Money Money” by ABBA
- 16. “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” by Bing Crosby
- 17. “Eat The Rich” by Aerosmith
- 18. “Love or Money” by Sammy Hagar
- 19. “Free Money” by Patti Smith
- 20. “Easy Money” by Billy Joel
- Final Thoughts
1. “For The Love Of Money” by The O’Jays
First on the list is a song that’s as relevant today as it was when it was released in 1974. “For The Love Of Money” is a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting money control your life.
The O’Jays sing about how money can make people do things they wouldn’t normally do, and how it can ultimately lead to their downfall. You can find it on their Ship Ahoy album.
2. “Money (That’s What I Want)” by The Flying Lizards
Here’s a song to prove that the saying “money can’t buy you happiness” is not always true. “Money (That’s What I Want)” was originally recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959, but it was The Flying Lizards’ version that became a hit in the same year. The song is about how money can buy the things we want, and how it can make us happy.
3. “Money” by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s “Money” is a different kind of song about money. It’s more of an indictment of the capitalist system, and how money controls everything.
The song is full of references to currency, and how it can be used to buy power and influence. “Money” is one of the best-known songs from Pink Floyd’s 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.
4. “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
“Money For Nothing” is a song about how the music industry is driven by money. It’s also a send-up of the materialistic lifestyle of the 1980s.
The song was written by Mark Knopfler, and it features one of his most iconic guitar riffs. “Money For Nothing” is from Dire Straits’ 1985 album Brothers In Arms (Remastered 1996).
5. “First I Look At The Purse” by The Contours
We can all relate to this song about love and money. “First I Look At The Purse” is a Motown classic from 1965. It’s about how love and money are often intertwined, and how one can’t always have one without the other.
The Contours sing about how they’ll only date someone if they have money because love can’t always pay the bills. You can find it on their Baby Hit and Run album.
6. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” by The Pet Shop Boys
Next on the list is a song about, you guessed it, making lots of money. “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)” is from The Pet Shop Boys’ 1986 album Please.
It’s a synth-pop classic that’s full of references to the materialistic 1980s. The song is about how we should take advantage of opportunities to make money, even if it means sacrificing our integrity.
7. “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” by The Clovers
This next song is a bit of a downer, but it’s still one of the best old songs about money. “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” is a 1980s R&B classic from The Clovers.
It’s about how money can’t buy happiness, and how it’s ultimately worthless if you don’t have the things that money can’t buy. It was released in 1989 as part of Live at CT’s album.
8. “Money Changes Everything” by Cyndi Lauper
It’s true, money does change everything. Just ask Cyndi Lauper. “Money Changes Everything” is a song about how money can ruin even the strongest of relationships.
Lauper sings about how money can take away love, and how it can make people do things they never thought they would do. You can find it on her debut album She’s So Unusual.
9. “Busted” by Ray Charles
Ray Charles’ “Busted” is a song about how money can be the root of all evil. It’s a sad story about a man who loses everything he has because he can’t pay his bills.
The song is full of references to money, and how it can ruin our lives if we’re not careful. You can find it on Ray Charles’ Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul album released in 1963.
10. “Moneytalks” by AC/DC
“Moneytalks” talks about a man trying to win women over through the use of money. He brags about his wealth, and how it can buy him anything he wants.
Although it’s not the most positive song on the list, it’s still one of the best old songs about money. You can find “Moneytalks” on AC/DC’s The Razors Edge album from 1990.
11. “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles
Featured in the film “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Can’t Buy Me Love” is one of The Beatles’ most popular songs. It’s a song about how money can’t buy love or happiness.
The Beatles sing about how they don’t need material possessions to be happy, and how love is more important than anything else. It was released in 1964 and can still be streamed on all music platforms out there.
12. “If I Had a Million Dollars” by The Barenaked Ladies
What would you do if you had a million dollars? The Barenaked Ladies ask that question in this fun song from their 1988 album, Barenaked Ladies demo tapes.
With a catchy beat and humorous lyrics, the song imagines all of the things that could be bought if money were no object.
13. “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer
It’s a known fact that women have to work harder than men to earn the same amount of money. Donna Summer celebrates the working woman in this classic 1983 hit.
The song is an inspiring anthem for anyone who has ever had to work hard for their money. It serves as a reminder that even though the struggle is real, everything will eventually pay off.
14. “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” by Jet
Next on the list is a 2006 song by Australian rock band Jet. “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” is a catchy tune with a message that is still relevant today.
This song is a great reminder that we all have the power to make a positive impact with our money. You can find it on the Shine On album.
15. “Money, Money Money” by ABBA
This iconic 1976 song by Swedish pop group ABBA is all about the love of money. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who is tired of working hard for little pay.
She dreams of a life of luxury and ease, where money is no object. While the message of the song may be materialistic, it’s also catchy and became one of ABBA’s most popular tracks.
16. “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” by Bing Crosby
“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” is a Depression-era ballad that was written by Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney. The song was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1932 and became an instant hit.
It’s a sad but beautiful reminder of the hardships that many people faced during the Great Depression. The lyrics express the hope that things will someday get better.
17. “Eat The Rich” by Aerosmith
Here’s a shot across the bow from one of America’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band: “Eat The Rich.” It’s a rallying cry for the working man, with Steven Tyler howling about how the 1% are hoarding all the money while the 99% struggle to get by.
It’s a powerful song, and it still holds up today. It was released in 1993 and can be streamed on all music platforms.
18. “Love or Money” by Sammy Hagar
If you were to choose between love and money, which would you choose? Sammy Hagar poses this question on his 1980 song “Love or Money.”
It’s a catchy tune with a positive message: in the end, love is more important than money. The song was released as a single and can be found on Hagar’s album Danger Zone.
19. “Free Money” by Patti Smith
Patti Smith is a punk icon, and “Free Money” is one of her most famous songs. It’s a of ode to greed, with Smith singing about how she wants money “for nothing, for free.”
The song was released on her album Horses in 1975, and it remains one of her most popular tracks. You can find it on the Live at the Bottom Line, New York, 1975 (FM Radio Broadcast) album.
20. “Easy Money” by Billy Joel
Finishing off our list is “Easy Money” by Billy Joel. It’s a piano-driven tune about the difficulties of making ends meet. Joel sings about how he’s working hard for the money but it’s never enough. The song was released in 1983 and can be found on his album An Innocent Man.
Final Thoughts
The songs we’ve listed here are just a small sampling of the many great songs about money that have been written over the years. These songs show that money is a complex topic that can be viewed in many different ways.
Whether you’re feeling inspired or motivated by these songs, we hope they’ve helped you think about money in a new light. Thanks for reading!