For The Love Of Money

Album: Ship Ahoy (1973)
Charted: 9
Play Video
  • Money money money money money
    Money money money money money
    Money money money money money
    Money money money money money
    Money money money money money
    Money money money money money

    Some people got to have it
    Some people really need it
    Listen to me y'all, do things, do things, do bad things with it
    You want to do things, do things, do things, good things with it
    Talk about cash money, money
    Talk about cash money- dollar bills, y'all

    For the love of money
    People will steal from their mother
    For the love of money
    People will rob their own brother
    For the love of money
    People can't even walk the street
    Because they never know who in the world they're gonna beat
    For that lean, mean, mean green
    Almighty dollar, money

    For the love of money
    People will lie, Lord, they will cheat
    For the love of money
    People don't care who they hurt or beat
    For the love of money
    A woman will sell her precious body
    For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight
    Call it lean, mean, mean green

    Almighty dollar

    I know money is the root of all evil
    Do funny things to some people
    Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime
    Money can drive some people out of their minds

    Got to have it, I really need it
    How many things have I heard you say
    Some people really need it
    How many things have I heard you say
    Got to have it, I really need it
    How many things have I heard you say
    Lay down, lay down, a woman will lay down
    For the love of money
    All for the love of money
    Don't let, don't let, don't let money rule you
    For the love of money
    Money can change people sometimes
    Don't let, don't let, don't let money fool you
    Money can fool people sometimes
    People! Don't let money, don't let money change you
    It will keep on changing, changing up your mind Writer/s: ANTHONY JACKSON, KENNETH GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 16, 1974, the O'Jays were guests on the Philadelphia-based syndicated television program 'The Mike Douglas Show'...
    At the time the OJays' "For the Love of Money" was at #66 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; a little over three weeks earlier it had peaked at #9 {for 1 week} and it spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1963 and 1997 the Ohio trio had thirty records on the Hot Top 100 chart; six made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Love Train" for 1 week on March 18th, 1973...
    And between 1972 and 1989 they had ten #1 records on the Hot R&B Singles chart...
    Original member William Powell passed away at the young age of 35 on January 20th, 1942...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Rick from Phoenix, AzDoes anyone know who played the high sax solo theme that shows up about half way through. It's one of the most identifiable little melodies but never got attributed to anyone. Only the bassline intro. The riff I'm talking about is just six notes long. In the key of E it's E G A B E(high octive) back to low E or I'd call it 134581. Anyone?
  • Kenny from Ridgeway, VaJust a note on the Bass player-Of course Anthony
    Jackson was the creator of that bass line,But the Bass Player you see in the 2 Youtube Videos is
    Curtis Teel,a good friend who passed away several years ago. He was a great Bass Player and nailed the Bass Line live,even though he told me the OJays liked the Tempo a little peppier than the Studio version.
  • Pdiddy from Westland, MiJeffery the butler on the '80s sit com The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire cranked this in his room and danced while packing his things, after being duped by Will into thinking that he had won the lottery. This was the first time I heard this song and it was very catchy. Just heard it on the radio this morning and finally found the title and group! iTunes, here I come!
  • Gary from Houston, TxIt needs to Totally Recovered
    By a Popular Artist
  • John from Nashville, TnThe bass line on this song was so strong and distinctive, bass player Anthony Jackson automatically received co-writer credit on this song along with Gamble and Huff.
  • Ken from Fremont, CaYES! A powerful, straight from the gut, bass line. Over 30 years old, probably a billion people recognize it in an instant. The song rivets your attention in the first six notes -- and by cutting the Bull and going right to the core of what means to be a human being, while not being preachy! An urgent message to people in their 20s, I wonder why more did not heed its message. Try writing a song like THAT between now and the rest of your life. An awesome song, from gifted writers, delivered by an legendary group. One of my top five songs of all time.
  • Scott from Chelan, WaStella, you're not kidding. I've cleaned them up some, based on a 7:19 version I've got. I assume there was a shorter AM radio version?
  • Stella from Ham Lake, MnThe lyrics posted on this site are wrong.
  • Carmen Fancher from Endwell, NyThe 80's "hair-metal" band BulletBoys re-recorded this on their self titled debut LP. It was an interesting remake with the chorus of "money money money" recorded through what sounds like a flanger and delay. The video was in heavy rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.. and introduced a new audience to an old classic.
  • Sean from Toronto, CanadaThis song was also used in "Behind the Camera: An Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company'" when 'Suzanne Somers' entered the studio looking to demand a raise.
  • Shell from Riverdale, GaOne of the best and most recognizable bass lines in music history. A marvelous tune overall.
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