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This song is about rock star excess and the easy life it brings compared with real work. Mark Knopfler wrote it after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV. He wrote the song in the store sitting at a kitchen display they had set up. Many of the lyrics were things they actually said.

Sting sings on this and helped write it. That's him at the beginning singing "I want my MTV." Sting did not want a songwriting credit, but his record company did because they would have earned royalties from it. They claimed it sounded very similar to a song Sting wrote for The Police: "Don't Stand So Close To Me."

Dire Straits recorded this in Montserrat. Sting was on vacation there and came by to help out.

The innovative video was one of the first to feature computer generated animation. The characters were supposed to have more detail, like buttons on their shirts, but they used up the budget and had to leave it as is. It won Best Video at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.
The video was directed by Steve Barron, who also directed the famous a-ha video for "Take On Me" and Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science."

The line "I want my MTV" was the basis of the cable network's promotional campaign. They played clips of musicians saying, and often times, screaming the line between videos.

This was the first video played on MTV Europe. The network went on the air August 1, 1987, 6 years after MTV in the US.

In the US, this stayed at #1 for 3 weeks. It also won a Grammy in 1986 for best Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Mark Knopfler played a Les Paul Junior plugged into a Laney amp on this track. Producer Neil Dorfsman recalled in Sound On Sound magazine May 2006: "We were going for a ZZ Top sound, but what we ended up getting was kind of an accident."

"Weird Al" Yankovic parodied this for his movie UHF. The parody is called "Beverly Hillbillies (Money For Nothing)." Strait's frontman, Mark Knopfler, OK'd the parody under one condition: Knopfler would play guitar on the song. (thanks, Mark - Hudson, MA)

In 2005, the duo Deep Dish sampled this on their song "Flashing For Money," which was based on their song "Flashdance" (not the Irene Cara song). It was the first time Dire Straits allowed one of their songs to be sampled. "Flashing For Money" was released on the B-side of Deep Dish's single "Say Hello."

Reel Big Fish released an album in 2007 called Monkeys For Nothin' And The Chimps For Free. The title is a takeoff on this song. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Comments:

Dear Dire Straits. Please send me the royalties for this song I wrote and please put my name on all printed music accordingly. Your honor is riding on this! Call of the thugs! Original songwriter, Money For Nothing: Michael Holland Shepard, 501 W Broadway Ste A box 206, San Diego, California 92101
- Michael, Kensington 94707, CA

Where is the truth Dire Straits, this song was writen in early sixties. Your credibility is on the line.
- Michael, Kensington 94707, CA

I read an interview with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, he said Mark Knopfler personally inquired how ZZ got their trademark gutsy distorted guitar sounds, as he was preparing to record Money For Nothing and he wanted the absolute maximum-impact distortion possible; Knopfler paid homage to ZZ Top, saying they had the best recorded distortion tones of anyone. Mr. Gibbons politely declined to divulge any "trademark secrets", Mark came away empty-handed, and Dire Straits was forced to take a blind stab at re-creating ZZ Top/creating their own heavy sound. When asked how they did in comparison to ZZ Top's raunch, Rev. Gibbons said something like, he got pretty close.
- MarkShark, Denver, CO

I love the way Knopfler makes things sound almost ad-libbed sometimes: "He's up there - what's that? Hawaiian noises?" True genius, and one of the funniest lines in pop music.
- Dougee, San Bernardino, CA

According to Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, as outlined in his journal compilation The Heroin Diaries, "Money for Nothing" was written with Motley as its primary influence.
- James, Sydney, Australia

This was NOT the first CD release album. The 1986 Brothers In Arms world tour was sponsored by the creators of the CD, Phillips. In turn the publicity made this album the first huge CD seller world wide.
- Rob, Melbourne, Australia

I have extremely fond memories of my dad getting this on casette probably a few years after it'd actually come out, thinking he was one of the first of his friends to hear of it. He wasn't of course lol but hey. He used to BLAST the stereo RIGHT when the guitar started after Sting sings in the beginning. My mom to this dad HATES this song because he played it so much! I actually heard this was based on a conversation Mark heard in an appliance store about the new rock stars and how they get their "money" for nothing and their "chicks for free". Which may also explain all the appliance references too. I always thought it was a commentary on how comercialized everyone had become by the 80s, with all their new gadgets. As for the "little faggot..." line, I actually never thought of it being about someone specific! I just thought he was making fun of all those Metal bands at the time with their makeup (some wore it), gaudy clothes, and big hair! I found out only a few years ago that was in Sting in the song and I think that's awesome!! Not mention, this song is great and really gets ya pumped up.
- Maki, Moses Lake, WA

Also, it's said that this was one of the very first videos on MTV. Not true, since MTV aired in 1981. I believe it was David Bowie or some person. (I can't remember the song off the top of my head right now) But I know that by 1985, MTV was extremely popular and this video, which was very progressive for its time, was in heavy rotation!
- Maki, Moses Lake, WA

The song was featured in the Simpson's episode "Ice Cream of Margie (With the Light Blue Hair)". It plays as homer is driving his ice cream truck.
- Austin, Smallsville,New England, --

Also in the Puddle of Mudd Song "Famouse" makes refrence to the song with the line "the money is for nothing and the chicks are for free."
- Austin, Smallsville,New England, --

This CD got my attention back in '85 and I got curious about what else Dire Straits had done. I now own everything they ever did. Anyone else have the "Twisting By The Pool EP?" I actually have that on vinyl, as well as CD. I love this band and Mark's incredible style, ability and artistry. My favorite Dire Straits CD, however, is "Making Movies." That entire CD is pure genius, and "Brothers In Arms" runs a VERY close 2nd. By the way, the CD format was originally conceived as an "audiophile" format, so the first releases were classical music CDs. This one was no where near the first, but it did have better sound quality than any CD that preceded it.
- Mike, Syracuse, NY

This was not the first CD. It was, however, one of the first to be recorded completely digitally. Up until this came out, all CDs were identified with "AAD" in reference to the mode of recording. This CD was identified as "DDD". Back then, the sound was amazing compared to analog CDs.
- randy, redding, CA

How do I put this gently,BEST SONG EVER BY BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!
- Dane, quinlan, TX

don't listen to the hammer
- Chad, Los Angeles, CA

It is a great song and Mark Knopfler is great.
- thehammer, Silver Spring, MD

in the book "Dire times" Mark Knophler was qouted as saying that this book was a critique of chicken farming and how in some parts of Tonga, stars that had been on MTV were getting there chicks for free when most of the townsfolk where getting them for about $3.50 or tree fitty. "those guys are dumb" is just that.. why pay $3.50 when you can get your chicks for free.. most MTV stars of the day had a diet high in poultry
- Funlop, London, United Kingdom

I've got the unsensored version,Epic riff
- Red, Awesometown, --

According to a line in the book "The Heroin Diaries" Dire Straits wrote this song about Motley Crue.
- Kerry, Jasonville, IN

This song was the most obvious sign that Dire Straits has sold out, they advertised MTV in this song, and in return MTV made the song famous
- rusty, hampton, VA

Though known most perhaps for its memorable, animated music video, this tune offers several elements that were a relative scarcity during much of the '80s: attitude, humor and self-deprecation. And combined with Mark Knopfler's already well-established guitar heroics (his guitar riff in this song remains one of rock's most unforgettable) and a once-in-a-lifetime melodic hook in the bridge ("We've got to install microwave ovens… Custom kitchen deliveries"), the song's positive attributes accumulate to form a searing, singular '80s moment.
- Bertrand, Paris, France

Mark was one of numerous super stars at a 'Pay-per-view' concert at Royal Albert Hall. It was to benefit the victims of the volcano on Montserrat (1997). Hosted by George Martin and featured Carl Perkins, Jimmy Buffett, Phil Collins, Sting, Mark, Arrow, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Sir Paul. MAY BE ONE OF THE BEST MUSIC VIDEOS OF ALL TIME. Mark recounted the day Sting was invited to perform on MFN, on the Island. While they all did the obligatory 'Hey Jude', the encore was a pretty amazing version of Kansas City. AWESOME! MOJO
- william, San Diego, CA

The "Brothers In Arms" album can't be the first album to be released on CD. It came out in 1985. I remember the album rock station in my home town playing CD tracks on the air in 1983. Among the CD albums they were playing tracks from during that year were Bryan Adams "Cuts Like A Knife", Michael Jackson "Thriller" and Duran Duran "Rio". In fact, the very first CD track I ever heard played on radio was "Hungry Like The Wolf". I heard it on my way to school one morning in the spring of my sophomore year, which was 1983. This radio station HAD to be using the CD albums because this was way before any CD music services existed and way before record companies ever thought about issuing promotional singles on CDs. All of these albums were released two years ahead of "Brothers In Arms"
- Darren, Hickory, NC

In regard to who the "faggot" in the song is: I see the remarks suggesting it was Boy George, or Prince, but I've got a video of the song, captured from "VH1 Classics" and when that refrain is sung, it shows a clip from "Baby, Baby" by First Floor. I'd never heard of or seen this group, but I always figured the "faggot" was the guy shown in the clip, who I presume is the lead singer for First Floor. (Note: Wikipedia entry for Money For Nothing says First Floor was an 80's Hungarian rock band).
- Randy, Rio de Janeiro

"Brothers In Arms" (1985) can't be the first album released in CD format. I remember hearing radio stations in my home town playing tracks from CDs in 1982, long before there were any CD music services. Among the CD albums these stations were playing tracks from that year were Bryan Adams "Cuts Like A Knife", Michael Jackson "Thriller" and Duran Duran "Rio". In fact, the first song I ever heard a radio station play from CD was "Hungry Like The Wolf". All of these CD albums preceeded "Brothers In Arms" by at least 3 years.
- Darren, Hickory, NC

here iare the lyrics mofified for the OCTA bus strike affecting the entire county of Orange, ca. Lyrics for: Striking For Nothing Now look at them strikers - that's not the way you do it You can?t ride the bus to get around town That ain't workin' that's not the way you do it Money for nothin' and checks for free Now that ain't workin' that's not the way you do it Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb Maybe get a blister on your little finger Maybe get a blister on your thumb We gotta get these darn buses runnin? Custom kitchen deliveries We gotta move these bus riders We gotta move these colour TVs We gotta get these darn buses runnin? Custom kitchens deliveries We gotta move these bus riders We gotta move these colour TVs I shoulda learned to drive a small car I shoulda learned to play them drums Man we could have some fun And he's up there, what's that? Hawaiian noises? Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee That ain't workin' that's not the way you do it Get your money for nothin' get your checks for free We gotta get these buses runnin? Custom kitchen deliveries We gotta move these bus riders We gotta move these colour TVs, Lord Now that ain't workin' that's not the way you do it You can?t ride the bus to get around town That ain't workin' that's not the way you do it Money for nothin' and your checks for free Money for nothin' and checks for free if you like these changed lyrics, e-mail me at tompsheridant1@aol.com, and tomsheridan@netscape.com.
- tom sheridan, Anaheimp, ca, CA

Ive always thought this was the loudest song in history.
- Mike, Hueytown , AL

Toyota adapted this song as a jingle for a 2006 U.S. TV commercial, changing the refrain to "I want my MPG."
- Joshua, Twin Cities, MN

To come back to the "Flashing For Money"-song: There are two versions: One, wich is just a mash of both songs (5.32) and another one wich doesn't sound like the first one at all. It's very dance with some guitarsolos inbetween, and you only hear the line: 'That ain't working, that's the way you do it, money for nothing and the chicks for free' repeated seven times. It's a very instrumental version. At the end of that version there's an awesome guitar solo. My speakers always go op to the full volume when those five seconds of the 7 minutes sound. :p But, both remixes are credited as a 'Sultan Club Mix'. :)
- T. Michels, Venlo, Netherlands

I always thought the lines about the "faggot with the earrings and the makeup. Yeah buddy, that's his own hair," was about Boy George. That was fascinating about Sting. He wasn't given a songwriting credit on the original album-- but he was credited on a subsequent compilation album. I had assumed it was Mark Knopler being generous.
- Paul, Marysville, WA

The version of Brothers In Arms that I have is the LP and is uncensored.
- Hayden, Pleasanton, CA

Knopfler has alot of solo work that nobody has ever heard of.. Does anybody remember "The Notting Hillbillies" Nottingham England? How about "Commerado" From STP or, "The Long Highway" a sad and particularly moving song about the end of life. Dig deep and you will find more and more wonderful music from Knopfler.
- vincent, newington, CT

Not only is "Brothers In Arms" the first ever CD album to sell more than a million copies, it is the first ever CD album!
- Damian, Melbourne, Australia

Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" CD was the first CD to have more than one million copies sold. It was also IMO their best ever album. "Money For Nothing" is one of my signature songs, and is my all-time favorite Dire Straits song.
- Jimoh, The Bronx NY, NY

I read an interview with Mark Knopfler, and he said he was in a New York City (possibly Times Square) electronics & appliance store with his wife and there was a wall of tvs with MTV playing music videos (something they wouldn't dare to do today!) The workmen were sitting there watching and complaining, coming up with all these "classic lines." Mark went to the sales desk and asked for pen and paper so he could jot down the workmen's comments. This is how MONEY FOR NOTHING was born!
- Barry, New York, NY

liked the guitar in the begining but i dont really get why they said i want my mtv for. that kinda confuzed me. and why is he talking about microwaves and color tvs for. overall the song is good
- collin, hope, IN

I do believe the fellow with the makeup and earring who is referred to in this song is none other than Boy George
- Rayna, Pembroke pines, FL

I think I heard the version that contains the "Faggot" part.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Richard from England, while we're on the subject of anagrams, did you know that "Bond says, 'Why chat time?'" is an anagram for "Bite my ass why dontcha?"
- Aaron, Amelia, NE

lyrics are very interesting
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

Brothers in Arms, of course the album "money for nothing" was featured, was the most heavily produced album Dire Straits ever made. Knopfler was so fussy over every decision. "So Far Away" was re-written about 5 times. "Walk of Life" was originally going to be a "b-side" song, or not on the album at all.
- Damian, Melbourne, Australia

the "faggot" mentioned in this song is not Elton John. it is in reference to Boy George as he was the frontman of Culture Club at the time and was also near the height of its popularity.
- Matt, Danville, VA

I really love this song!DIRE STRAITS ROCKS!!!
- Nick, Fonda, NY

My dad loves this song.
- Nick, Fonda, NY

there's some confusion - This was the first ever ALL DIGITAL recording (i.e. first to use digital mediums in the studio instead of analog tape for everything...tracking, processiong, mixing, mastering) - NOT the first to be manufactured on CD
- Spencer, Vancouver, Canada

I think its cencored because it says "fag--t" in it talking about the star on mtv.
- Steve, Raynham, MA

I have Dire Straits' Money for Nothing CD (which I think was released in 1988 as a "best of Dire Straits" kinda thing) and the lyric booklet contains the words to the original version, but the CD has the censored version. Can anyone explain this? And why is it that Dire Straits' best of album contains the censored version?
- Cameron, Cairns, Australia

Not only do two of the censored songs being discussed here have "money" it the title, but three of these songs, "Money for Nothing", "Money", and "Jet Airliner", make reference to jet airplanes in the lyrics. (Gilmour sings "I think I'm gonna buy me a Lear Jet" in "Money"). Now where's the relevence in that? Even weirder, Carly Simon's "You're so vain" also mentions a Lear Jet, and "Carly Simon you're so vain" is an anagram of "air money air soy lov sunc". So f***ing there.
- Richard, Newport, Isle of Wight, England

The local classic rock station that I listen to plays the uncensored versions of this song, as well as Money by Pink Floyd (two songs that have been discussed with regard to censorship here and they both have the word "Money" in the title, how 'bout that), but strangely enough, they play the censored version of Jet Airliner ("funky kicks goin' down in the city").
- Aaron, Amelia, NE

when mark knopfler sung this live (may 05), he replaced the word 'faggot' with 'cowboy'.
- C, no., England

Wasn't born in the usa the first cd?
- everett, providence, RI

Fantastic song, censored or not. Knopfler was a genius. The Steve Miller song no one knows the title of is 'Jet Airliner'.
- jordan, ontario, Canada

paul, no offense, but you read way too into this song. my father was the man in the appliance store that mark knopfler took the lyrics from. they were talking and mark wrote down what my father was saying. he was only talking about. Surely any form of literature, including music, can be interpreted on many levels and it could be seen in a metaphorical sense, but the intention was just getting the work done by quitting time.
- susan, Baldwin, NY

Mark Knopfler played an acoustic/folk version of this song before an inmense drumsolo which lead into the song Money For Nothing on the Sailing To Philadelphia, it really sounds cool on his National Steel Guitar (the silver guitar). The song is availiable on some bootlegs as well as on mp3.
- Martijn, Arnhem, Netherlands

Steve, regarding the cencorship... There is, indeed, a radio friendly version of the Steve Miller song, containing the horrible lyric, "funky stuff going down in the city." As for "Money," I'm not about its release, but there's a version currently in airplay on classic rock stations who are concerned about it, that uses another cash register sound effect to bleep out the offending language in, "that do-goody-good bull ****" Now, the song I've never heard censored is, "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam. Also, "Gimme no Crack," by Shinehead. Both songs contain an aggressive use of the F bomb but said so unintelligibly that the censors never picked up on it.
- NickC, Ft. Wayne, IN

Oops, brain cramp. The Steve Miller censored version is, "funky kicks," not, "funky stuff."
- NickC, Ft. Wayne, IN

I find it interesting that my local radio station in Melbourne plays the full, uncensored version of this song (with the "faggot" references included), but my live bootleg of this recorded at Wembley in the late 80's does not have them.
- Wilfred, Melbourne, Australia

I read somewhere that the "little faggot" was Prince, which would makes more sense with the line "yeah buddy that's his own hair" since Elton John is bald.
- R, Seattle, WA

[[Which leads me to another thought. It's funny how times have changed, and Money for Nothing is a reflection of days gone by. I refer to the line...we've got to move these COLOR TV's. This was a day when we were collectively moving from a black and white optional society.]] Yeah, color TVs were really an innovation in 1987! Ooh! Whoa! The future is upon us!
- Ted, Los Angeles, NY

I love this song... there should be a more modern equivalent; unfortunately to carry over the theme properly, the modern equivalent would need to be sung by someone like Britney Spears...
- Helen, York, England

brothers in arms IS the first album released on CD format and remains one of the best selling CDs of all time in the UK and US
- julia, london, England

roddy, i think the first album ever released on CD was by billy joel...maybe it was the first released in england however, i know it hold some "first ever on cd" distinction...so my fellow pennsylvanian, adam, is probably correct...although some tried to convince me that it was actually Born In The USA, released the previous year...i think it is Bothers In Arms, though
- Marvin, East Brady, PA

"There were two versions of this song. The original version contains the verse starting: "check out the little faggot with the earrings and the make-up..." The other version just them playing the tune during that part, but no lyrics. That's the version most radio stations will play." I had this song on MP3 for a long time, and just heard it on the radio for the first time I think afterwards. They indeed played an edited version, but I swear I heard the original version on the radio as well. Probably worried about the damn censors even though I doubt they edit Pink Floyd's "Money" or Steve Miller's "funky s--- going down in the city" (can't remember the song name. Maybe they're just being nice or something. But I love that verse; it fits in so nicely with the rest of the song.
- Steve, Sterling Heights, MI

"the little faggot" with the earring, makeup and his own jet airplane is referring to Elton John...Roman Moore, Denver
- Roman, Denver, CO

$1,000,000 if you can name me another song with a more melodic line about microwave ovens!
- Paul, Greenwood, SC

Which leads me to another thought. It's funny how times have changed, and Money for Nothing is a reflection of days gone by. I refer to the line...we've got to move these COLOR TV's. This was a day when we were collectively moving from a black and white optional society. The younger generation just can't appreciate what it use to be like. In my house, there was a black and white TV with two two controls for changing channels. The UHF was on one, and the VHF on the other. The picture on one you would have to tune in with the outer knob just to be able to watch it. There was no remote! I had a little foot stool to sit on while changing my 6 or 7 channels that came in clear. Of course, there was also horizontal and vertical hold issues that today's youth would have no idea about. We've come along way...and that's the baseline of this song. It is a picture of capitalism and American life and the changing of the guard known as my TV set. That's what Mark Knopfler was writing of and I salute him!
- Paul, Greenwood, SC

When Sting sings his line, "I want my MTV" - it is not only a nod to the MTV slogan, but the melody of that particular line comes from the song by the Police (of which Sting was the lead singer) "Don't Stand So Close To Me".
- Tim, Hendersonville, TN

There were two versions of this song. The original version contains the verse starting: "check out the little faggot with the earrings and the make-up..." The other version just them playing the tune during that part, but no lyrics. That's the version most radio stations will play.
- Patrick, Conyers, GA

It was also the first album released in CD format to sell over 1 million copies
- Adam, Beaver Falls, PA

The album it was on, brothers in arms, was the first album to be released in CD format.
- Roddy, Southampton, England