You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
And in the middle of negotiations
You break down

I never give you my number
I only give you my situation
And in the middle of investigation
I break down

Out of college, money spent
See no future, pay no rent
All the money's gone, nowhere to go
Any jobber got the sack
Monday morning, turning back
Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go
But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling
Nowhere to go, nowhere to go

One sweet dream
Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
Soon we'll be away from here
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
One sweet dream came true today
Came true today
Came true today (yes, it did)

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
All good children go to Heaven


Lyrics submitted by Ice

You Never Give Me Your Money Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

You Never Give Me Your Money song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

46 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    My Interpretation
    Like many great writings, subject to interpretation. I hear a story about rising from nothing to being something. The song's hero starts out materially needy and melancholy, hits the dregs, reaches the bottom of the barrel, understands that nothing could be worse, dreams of a better future, and reaches his long-desired place. I've heard all of the other interpretations; I like mine the best. My favorite Beatles song of all time. PLAY IT AS LOUD AS YOU CAN STAND IT!
    Stiletto57on July 27, 2013   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    for a long time, i thought it said "oh that magic feeling, oh where'd it go". after listening closer, it seems like that might be what he says the first time, and then right after says "nowhere to go"
    seant203on April 30, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    "pick up the bags and get in the limousine." Sometimes don't we all wanna do that. Just step on the gas, wipe the tear away and leave for nowhere? haha maybe that's just me.
    sgtpepperon December 25, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    yea i think this one's about the record company screwing them over....kinda reminds me of "have a cigar" by floyd about how everyone in the industry is basically only looking out for themselves and that they love when you're making them money
    dasquien!on May 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    real nice song off abbey road. sounds like "carry that weight" in the beginning
    appypollyloggyon August 15, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think that the first part is definitely about his dissatisfaction with the manager, and i also think that he is sad about the tension between the beatles and sees that when they started out, it was fine, but the bigger they became, the further apart they grew,i think 'that magic feeling' is just about lounging around, and not having to do anything, the simple pleasures in life that he misses, and he gave it up for the 'one sweet dream' of fame.
    strongbowlifeon February 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think the one line is—you only give me your funny paper—angels camping out at my house for who knows why, prefer to sing—you only give me your funny faces—probably because I do but then I have always given them my money—funding their projects that granted—didn’t cost that much but this was much more difficult when they also didn’t want me to have a job—don’t think I was feted with angelic funding—I don’t imagine there is such a thing. In the middle of negotiations, they conveniently break down—a clever ruse that always works. After a few mishaps, I never gave my number but usually my situation and they handle investigations like they do negotiations. Still in school with them, I see no future but do pay rent and have been able to sneak in working at a job without too much lip from them—they want to play all day—I can’t. Baby—step on the gas and wipe that tear away—one sweet dream—came true—today. What might that be?
    sillybunnyon August 18, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Surely Macca never thought this song would become sooooo meaningfull in March 2008...... Heather Mills : "You never give me your money, Your only give me your funny paper. And in the middle of negotiations you break down!" Paul : "I (will) never give you my (actual fortune's) number, I only give my situation. And in the middle of investigation I (broke) down... Daughter Beatrice certainly has a future after college! I'm on Paul's side, not mocking him AT ALL. See how the rest of the lyrics can match our days: "Any Jobber got the sack, Monday morning turning back." It only begins for us anyways, North American workers... can get worse... "One sweet dream Pick up the bags and get in the limousine. Soon we’ll be away from here. Step on the gas and wipe that tear away, One sweet dream came true today..." The image and sound coming first in mind: "PAULA, YES, SIMON, IT'S A YES, WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD BABY!!!" ( What do they say in Pop Idol? Congratulations, you're going to London??? ) ( I'm not crazy bout these shows b t w...)
    Bankrobberon March 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i'm wonderin why no one has mentioned that the beatles practically sampled this song in another son, Carry That Weight. instead, they sing "you never ive me your pillow" etc.
    dvsshoecoon July 01, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I think this song is about how they went from being super poor and trying to make it, to super pop stars. That could be just the literal interpritation, there's probably a deeper meaning. But regardless, I love this song. I got my boyfriend (who doesn't really listen to the Beatles) to listen to it and he was like, "This is nice, it reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody." and I was like "And this came beforeee Queen."
    wind-up*sushion February 08, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Another Love
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
Album art
Indigo
Of Mice & Men
This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman Aaron Pauley. “It's about comforting a loved one in a time of loss by telling them you feel blue, too.”
Album art
System
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning. This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive. She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end. So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started. There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.
Album art
High On Life
Viyaa
This track marks the first collaboration between the artists. It was produced in its entirety by Datbeatgod and released for public consumption on January 1, 2021.
Album art
Better Than Feeling Lonely
Olivia O'Brien
This standalone single is the latest in the artiste's album run out. It was produced by Rogét Chahayed, Taylor Dexter & Wesley Singerman, and released via major streaming platforms on January 1, 2021.