The preceding line is "the show has got a budget". So essentially he is saying that the money used to create his show (including, presumably, his own fee) could have been given to a more deserving cause (i.e. the poor), but he didn't want to give the money away (i.e. the poor people couldn't "budge it") - as he "wanted his name in lights". This is all about artistic guilt; he is asking, why am I engaged in this self-indulgent, decadent activity while people are struggling to survive?
Personally, I think he's being a little hard on himself! At least what he's doing isn't destructive, unlike some other professions we could mention..... Great song though.
@cassilac
The preceding line is "the show has got a budget". So essentially he is saying that the money used to create his show (including, presumably, his own fee) could have been given to a more deserving cause (i.e. the poor), but he didn't want to give the money away (i.e. the poor people couldn't "budge it") - as he "wanted his name in lights". This is all about artistic guilt; he is asking, why am I engaged in this self-indulgent, decadent activity while people are struggling to survive?
Personally, I think he's being a little hard on himself! At least what he's doing isn't destructive, unlike some other professions we could mention..... Great song though.