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.
We're millionaires
Against hunger
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got a million more that'll take me away
All those people starvin' everyday
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay
Well I'm a millionaire too, but not like you
As far as I'm concerned, I got a job to do
I've got to pave the way, I've got to save the day
I've got to make it better, I've got to say
You and I, we're millionaires,
But we're a million miles away from the saint who stares
Upon the millions who die, every day of the week
Just because they can't get enough to eat
While we the rich dine on all these feasts,
And everything's fine, yeah peaches and creme
But it just isn't something you've got to realize,
There's something wrong, we've got to open our eyes
When the world cries, we just can't hide,
E've got a job to do, we've got to save some lives
We're millionaires
Against hunger
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Nice and Wise when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the Grail
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got three or four yachts on the Chesapeake Bay
All those people starvin' everyday
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay
Well I'm a millionaire too
All I know that is true is that I've got more cash than I can use
I want anything that I can have,
But I don't need nothin' and I never have
Each damn day my heart's set far,
But I'll be okay, 'cause I don't starve
Kids from the street the losing their emotion so damn snobby so out of touch
With two hungry people who die as they stare at the city at night,
You know it gives to share
So listen up, you millionaires,
Every woman, every man, help all you can
All races unite, and I will now concern to the type of problem that helps us learn
We're millionaires
Against hunger
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Nice and wise when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the Grail
Against hunger
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got a million more that'll take me away
All those people starvin' everyday
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay
Well I'm a millionaire too, but not like you
As far as I'm concerned, I got a job to do
I've got to pave the way, I've got to save the day
I've got to make it better, I've got to say
You and I, we're millionaires,
But we're a million miles away from the saint who stares
Upon the millions who die, every day of the week
Just because they can't get enough to eat
While we the rich dine on all these feasts,
And everything's fine, yeah peaches and creme
But it just isn't something you've got to realize,
There's something wrong, we've got to open our eyes
When the world cries, we just can't hide,
E've got a job to do, we've got to save some lives
We're millionaires
Against hunger
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Nice and Wise when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the Grail
I'm a millionaire
And I got something to say
I got three or four yachts on the Chesapeake Bay
All those people starvin' everyday
As far as I'm concerned, why that's okay
Well I'm a millionaire too
All I know that is true is that I've got more cash than I can use
I want anything that I can have,
But I don't need nothin' and I never have
Each damn day my heart's set far,
But I'll be okay, 'cause I don't starve
Kids from the street the losing their emotion so damn snobby so out of touch
With two hungry people who die as they stare at the city at night,
You know it gives to share
So listen up, you millionaires,
Every woman, every man, help all you can
All races unite, and I will now concern to the type of problem that helps us learn
We're millionaires
Against hunger
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Twice as nice when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
A spiritual price do you care
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Nice and wise when you share
Hey hey Mr. Millionaire
Pave the way, take the Grail
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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this is a really funky song and well it obv what it means. millionaires against hunger which is turned into them not giving a damm about others less fornute than themselves, which is everyone
I think it's about people like Bono from U2 who complain about the plight of the homeless and starving, but why don't they do something about ir
Bono hadn't turned messiah in 1985 (that's when the song came out), anyway, bono gets things done, so i don't mind him that much, i love u2 for their music anyway.
hah yeh bono thinks hes king of the world.. this is a funky song its great come on people what does it mean??I acctually doubt if this song is about them because when they released this they weren't doin to well so its probably about 'Mega Stars'.....
O yeh this was released in the same year as liveaid 1985 it's about that, they were probably trying to get on it lol.
Does RHCP ever help poor people? well I like this regardless. One of the best on Freaky Styley(Remasterd)
They don't usually tend to publish out every activism act they do.
i dont think they were millionaires when they made this song, so i think they were saying that once they were millionaires, then they could do something, or they could have just been mocking millionaires because most millionaires dont do shit to help people. regardless i still like the song, but it's not one of my favorites.
It's specifically a dig at the pop stars who played at Live Aid in 1985. Cf. "We Care a Lot" by Faith no More.
in my opinion its about hypocratic millionaires that tend to publish and show off about giving food to hungry people .
in my opinion its about hypocratic millionaires that tend to publish and show off about giving food to hungry people .