Easy Money

Seems to be pretty straightforward about capitalism

I have been listening to this song for 44 years now, and it still amazes me! This song is about a famous female (we don't know who), who is in high society, possibly a movie star or famous singer,and has a penchant for snobbery, excessive living, very poor fashion sense and gambling. She has synophants (much like in Indoor games, where she sits in her parlor, wearing nothing but her smugness and her contempt for regular people, and in a toga in her sauna, and pouts when she lost her jigsaw corner, the part of the jigsaw that probably showed male genitalia). Or when she doesn't get her way, and her sycophantic friends, who secretly dislike her, pretend to be her friend, so they can achieve status and power that she now possesses, or to get something they want themselves, using her power and influence to help them get it. Hence, the second line, "Got to hoot and stamp their feet, in the heat of your physique, as you twinkle by in moccasin sneakers", which tells me that she is egotistical, and they pretend to love her fashion sense, even though it is hideous. This again alludes to the fact that they tolerate her actions to get what they want from her. The third line tells of her naivety and lack of worldliness, because she can't tell the difference between a real friend (if she actually HAS one!) and someone trying to take advantage of her and the fact that she is famous. The fourth line says that she uses her enticing body, to get what she wants from men. The next lines tells me that she is a narcissist, and goes into fits of rage when she doesn't get her own way, throwing things, and showing her true self to everyone around her ("Show the color of your crimson suspenders". Crimson is the color of rage!). The next line explains that she can make loads of money being a famous person, then go back to her mansion, relax, play with her old dog, and which would satisfy her for a couple of weeks before she becomes bored and restless and have to either work, go on vacation to some exotic location, or throw a party again to stave off the boredom. The final lines allude back to her ego, and narcissism, and the need to be loved and excepted by others because she, herself, is insecure. This song is from the perspective of her lover, who, unlike her, is down-to-earth, and less effected by the opinion of others, by wealth, or by the upper class. He would rather live a simple life, own a truck with basic necessities, but because of his status and the fact that he is involved with this famous person, doesn't own one, but submits to some of fame's pitfalls. He still keeps his money in a jar, as many regular people do. He takes her out to various functions in which is probably one of many cars they own together to keep up her reputation as being a narcissist and famous person. The final line, "Getting fat on your lucky star. Just making easy money". Is a testament to how luck can change your life completely. Notice at the end, the laughing man,could be that lover laughing as he is counting the money they earn from all their endeavors. Or, it could be their manager, who is fat, smoking a large cigar, with a red face, counting his money as well, thanks to the percentage he is getting from his famous client.

Hi,

This song seems to be about gambling on some sort of race, or maybe fixing a race. There are definitely allusions to gambling:

"And I thought my heart would break when you doubled at the stake"

And there is a referenc to racing: "With your figure and your face / strutting out at every race"

Also, there are allusions to being famous, or at least having sycophant admirers: "Your admirers on the street got to hoot and stamp their feet"

There are possible references to a horse, or a "star" that is making them rich and famous who is winning these races. "In the heat from your physique" "Getting fat on your lucky star"

Finally, it's suggested that the people involved are pretentious, high society types: "Got to truck with the la-di-da"

And maybe they're a bit hypocritical? People in glass houses should not throw stones, the saying goes. Or maybe this is a reference to a toast. "Throw a glass around the place"

It all seems to add up to rich, pretentious gamblers, possibly gambling on horse races.

When played live the 2nd verse goes thusly:

Well I bargained with the Judge, but that bastard wouldn't when they caught me licking fudge but they never told me you were a minor

easily one of my fav. K.C. songs..

The breakdown and vocal riff in this is awesome.

the song that made me a king crimson fan. especially since there is a part that sounds almost exactly like TOOL.

johnther: you ARE the Tool. Don't you mean Tool sounds like King Crimson????? No Crimson, no Tool!

Parts of Easy Money (especially with the extra live verse) sound like Oscar Wildes trial. Not sure if Sinfeild wrote them so it may just be his usually meaningles, half harted mish mash of lyrics.

Song does kick butt- especially live

if gunmetalsky24 has the true facts, then the whole piece is about a hustler or someone lusted after by an older guy.
great tune and the sound effects on the original vinyl were amazing (much of them were lost in the digital remixing--wish i'd kept the 'record')

King Crimson - Easy Money (Live At The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam , November 23rd 1973)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqC2AyuHM3I