Money Money (Finance Blues)

Lyrics: John Barlow
Music: Bob Weir

Recorded for "Mars Hotel" but only ever played live a few times before it was dropped. It was originally called "Finance Blues" - and that remains the title in Barlow's lyric collection. But it was retitled "Money Money" on the album.

My baby gives me the finance blues
Tax me to the limit of my revenues
Here she come finger popping clickety click
She says "furs or diamonds, you can take your pick"

Chorus
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
She wants money
(what she wants)
Money, money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money, money

She says "Money, honey", I draw a blank (note 1)
I just load my gun and mosey down to the bank
Knocking off my neighbourhood savings and loan
To keep my sweet chiquita in eau de Cologne

[chorus]

Mama, don't send me down to rob that bank again
I got a notion you're leading me to sin
Won't you relax, won't you lay way back
Don't you bug your honey about no Cadillac
It's only bucks, you don't need no jack
So won't you please relax and lay way back

My baby's loving gives me such a thrill
It gives me inspiration making counterfeit bills
Now some folks say the best things in life are free
I sure don't get no loving living honestly

[chorus]

Lord made a lady out of Adam's rib
Next thing you know you got women's lib
Lovely to look upon, heaven to touch
It's a real shame they got to cost so much

[chorus]
Notes
(1) I had originally thought this line was "... I'd rob a bank" but Gene Baran pointed out that it was really "... I draw a blank". It's a bit hard to make it out on the studio recording on Mars Hotel, but the live recordings on the Pacific Northwest box set are clearly "... I draw a blank".

Grateful Dead Recordings
     Date Album
     studio 1974 From The Mars Hotel
     17 May 1974 Pacific Northwest '73-'74   (note a)
     19 May 1974 Pacific Northwest '73-'74
     21 May 1974 Pacific Northwest '73-'74
Notes
(a) also issued as a bonus track on From The Mars Hotel in the box set Beyond Description (1973-1990)


Further Information
For an online discussion of the lyrics to this song see the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For sheet music, see:
          Grateful Dead Songbook Volume 2 (piano arrangement)

 


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