The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I said, her from the city
So her got to be witty, witty
She said, him from the country
So him got to be funky, funky
Mama, I'm a millionaire, but I feel like a bum
Mama, I'm a millionaire, but I feel like the only one
I, I, I, I woke up early this morning
I don't think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning
I don't think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning
I don't think, think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning, but I still ain't see the sun
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Papa, I'm a millionaire, but Saks Fifth Ave. don't sell affection
Saks Fifth Ave. don't sell affection
Papa, I'm a millionaire, but I ain't moving in the right direction
Something ain't right, I know
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich oh
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich, mmmm
Where there is cheese there are rats
Where ever there are rats there are cats
Where ever there are cats there are dogs
If you got the dogs, you got bitches
Bitches always out to put their paws on your riches
If you got riches, you got glitches
If you got glitches in your life computer, turn it off
And then reboot it, now you back on
Can't just put the cap on the old bottle
Once you pop it, that will spoil it
Go on and drink it and enjoy it, uh
Mama, I'm a millionaire
What's a girl to do when she just has dimes
No time, just pay-ay-ay-ay
What's a girl to do instead of me
It's you, be true-ue-ue-ue
What's a girl to do in a world of greed
But kneel and pray-ay-ay-ay
What's a girl to do when she's lost her long time friends
That's li-i-i-i-ife
I, I'm feeling sad like a million bucks
I, I, I, I, I, I'm feeling sad like a million
I, I, I'm feeling sad like a million
Sad like a million
I, I, I, I, I, I'm feeling sad
So her got to be witty, witty
She said, him from the country
So him got to be funky, funky
Mama, I'm a millionaire, but I feel like a bum
Mama, I'm a millionaire, but I feel like the only one
I, I, I, I woke up early this morning
I don't think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning
I don't think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning
I don't think, think y'all heard me
I woke up early this morning, but I still ain't see the sun
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Papa, I'm a millionaire, but Saks Fifth Ave. don't sell affection
Saks Fifth Ave. don't sell affection
Papa, I'm a millionaire, but I ain't moving in the right direction
Something ain't right, I know
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich oh
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich
I ain't rich, til he is rich, and she is rich, then we is rich, mmmm
Where there is cheese there are rats
Where ever there are rats there are cats
Where ever there are cats there are dogs
If you got the dogs, you got bitches
Bitches always out to put their paws on your riches
If you got riches, you got glitches
If you got glitches in your life computer, turn it off
And then reboot it, now you back on
Can't just put the cap on the old bottle
Once you pop it, that will spoil it
Go on and drink it and enjoy it, uh
Mama, I'm a millionaire
What's a girl to do when she just has dimes
No time, just pay-ay-ay-ay
What's a girl to do instead of me
It's you, be true-ue-ue-ue
What's a girl to do in a world of greed
But kneel and pray-ay-ay-ay
What's a girl to do when she's lost her long time friends
That's li-i-i-i-ife
I, I'm feeling sad like a million bucks
I, I, I, I, I, I'm feeling sad like a million
I, I, I'm feeling sad like a million
Sad like a million
I, I, I, I, I, I'm feeling sad
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Yeah, I think the lyrics just say that you can have a lot of money but no friends and that it really doesn't matter wether you have the money cause she gave up something huge that's equally as important The song certainly has a lot of sweetness :-)