This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Here is the money that I owe you
Yes you can pay the bills
I will give you more
When I get paid again
I hate those people who love to tell you
Money is the root of all that kills
They have never been poor
They have never had the joy of a welfare christmas
I know we will never look back
You say you wake up crying
Yes and you don't know why
You get up and you go lay down
Inside my baby's room
Yeah, I guess I'm doing OK
I moved in with the strangest guy
Can you believe he actually thinks
That I am really alive
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
Yes I will
Yes, I know all about that other guy
The handsome man with athletic thighs
I know about all the time before
With that obsessive little rich boy
They might make you think you're happy
Yeah maybe for a minute or two
They can't make you laugh
No they can't make you feel the way that I do
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I know we can never look back
Will you please let me stay the night
Will you please let me stay the night
No one will ever know
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
Yes you can pay the bills
I will give you more
When I get paid again
I hate those people who love to tell you
Money is the root of all that kills
They have never been poor
They have never had the joy of a welfare christmas
I know we will never look back
You say you wake up crying
Yes and you don't know why
You get up and you go lay down
Inside my baby's room
Yeah, I guess I'm doing OK
I moved in with the strangest guy
Can you believe he actually thinks
That I am really alive
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
Yes I will
Yes, I know all about that other guy
The handsome man with athletic thighs
I know about all the time before
With that obsessive little rich boy
They might make you think you're happy
Yeah maybe for a minute or two
They can't make you laugh
No they can't make you feel the way that I do
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I know we can never look back
Will you please let me stay the night
Will you please let me stay the night
No one will ever know
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a garden
Where your flowers can bloom
I will buy you a new car
Perfect shiny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
I will buy you a new life
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
I Will Buy You a New Life Lyrics as written by Arthur P Alexakis Art Alexakis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Wow I'm amazed people think so differently about this song than I do.
This song is about a divorced man and his relationship with his ex-wife.
The money issues are about him sending child support payments and giving half of everything he owns to her post divorce. Also the "money is the root of all that kills" is a line about Art's new found money after having a big album.
The guy in the song is very depressed (can you believe he actually thinks I am really alive) and apparently so is the ex (you say you wake up crying).
The thing that really tugs at my heart in this song is that this girl doesn't give two craps about him anymore and he still wants to take away her pain. It's such a sweet love song to a woman that doesn't love him back. He's like I would get rid of all of your pain. If it could be bought I will buy it for you.
He's so sick in his love for her he even begs to have her just for one more night.
Art's songs are so great because they come from his actual life. He's had a tough life. He's helped me get through so many though things in my own life. Thanks Art!
I agree. That's how I've always taken it.
I totally agree with your opinion as well. In fact, this is one of my favorite songs because it reminds me so much of myself towards my last girlfriend. I'm a sucker, and would still do anything for her, even though she does not share that feeling toward me.
@everclearfan Exactly what I was thinking about the song. Song always leaves me feeling depressed
it's about the dreams of the lower class, hoping to get out of poverty. i think its some young guy (probably about 20) dreaming of how much money he will make once he gets a job and how he will make enough to get his family out of poverty.
I much agree with your opinion, and this is how I usually feel whenever I over react with all the hard times I'm experiencing with lack of money.<br /> <br /> I'm the bread winner so, it makes me hard to think at times how my family will be if I can't provide all things.<br /> <br /> Thanks!
This could be one of my favorite Everclear songs. It's about loving someone so much that you'll do anything to keep them, including buying them a new life. the part of the song that I don't get but I love is when Art says "will you please let me stay the night, no one will ever know" It's like he'll do anything to keep this girl but then he says this.
I think the meaning of the song was described best by Art when he came to Birmingham back in May. Before he played the song, he said something like "don't ever let anyone tell you this next song is about money. it's not. this song is about loving those you love." and he dedicated it to his wife and daughter.
i think its odd and sad that someone who grew up quite poor would suggest that money will bring you happiness.....having a ton of money doesn't bring true happiness.....it seems like someone who is poor and bitter because other people have more money is missing out on the fact of life and are just as tied to money as someone who has it.....if you dont have money, you should have a good attitude. having money is nice, dont' get me wrong, and i have never known the joy of a welfare christmas, but money shouldn't be what defines you as a person.
@battaryacid I think what you're saying is exactly what he was talking about in the song. Money isn't necessary for happiness, but it can be extremely helpful to have. If you're living in a crappy little apartment and have to work incredibly hard just to survive, that sucks. Art wants to provide for the woman he's singing about, pretty much give her the world. However, he can barely afford anything and as such, can't give this woman all he thinks she deserves.
@battaryacid you’ve never been poor, you’ve never had the joy of a welfare Christmas.<br /> <br /> The people who say money can’t buy happiness aren’t the people who are having to choose between food and medicine, can’t afford a car with air conditioning, and have to live without the dental work they need.<br /> <br /> Money may not always buy happiness, but poverty always affords misery.<br />
i think that thses posts are ALL wrong. the video is kind of dark. art is outside on a sunny day- grinning at a girls door, creepily, while she's on the inside (im pretty sure its denise richards) crying in a dimly lit room. to me- its about false promises, false hopes, and second chances. i guess i see the song with more of a sarcastic tone than most.
"they might make you think you're happy / yeah maybe for a minute or two/ they can't make you laugh / no they can't make you feel the way that I do"
who hasn't felt that way?
Love this line
as do I.
i dont know about specific lyrics btu thsi si saying that he will buy you a new life to get away form you broken down one.
has anyone seen 40 days and 40 nights with josh hartnett? this song reminds me so much of the one that is on the beginning of the movie.. i can NOT figure out what that song is.. so if anyone has any idea tell me...
the expression behind his words towards the end really gets me... i love that bit.
I know this is a really old comment I'm replying to, but the song is big blue sea by Bob schneider (I made an account just to say that because I knew it off the top of my head.) :]
one of their greatest songs... along with everything to everyone and father of mine