CreativeJournal.net

Okay, I admit it. I watch reality TV and am mildly ashamed of it. My favorite is, hands down, Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. I won’t go too far into the details of the show, but with Donald Trump at the helm, you already know it’s about making money… lots of it.

Now that the show is in it’s second season, I am starting to notice things I missed the first season. The most striking that hit me tonight was the theme song. It’s a song that I’ve heard my entire life, yet never really listened to the lyrics. For The Love of Money, by the 70’s soul trio, The O’Jays. Well, a few of the words caught me tonight and so I decided to find the lyrics online.

What I originally imagined would be a song hailing the virtues of attaining wealth – given it’s current incarnation on The Apprentice – turned out to actually warn against the love of money – as does the Bible. I wonder if Trump would have allowed the song to become his show’s identity if he knew the core message. Sure, you never get to hear the real message of the song on the opening theme, and it’s extremely catchy – both essential elements in marketing a television show. I’ve even caught myself humming the first 5 words.

In the interest of sharing the wisdom of this song in it’s full glory, I now present For The Love of Money, by The O’Jays. (turn your speakers up if you can’t hear it)

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 wanna do things, do things, do things, good things with it
Talk about cash money, money
Talk about cash money- dollar bills, yall

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, dont let money change you,
it will keep on changing, changing up your mind.

Music and Lyrics by: The O’Jays