MAKING MUSIC FOR MONEY
(Alex Harvey)


Alex Harvey - 1971
Jimmy Buffet - 1974
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition - 1974
Billy Whyte - 1975
Tennessee Stud - 1977
Kenny Rogers - 1978


As recorded by JIMMY BUFFETT:

When I woke up this morning
I was tired as I could be.
I think I'd been counting my money
When I should've been countin' sheep

My agent, he just called me
And told me what I should be
If I would make my music for money
Instead of makin' music for me

I said, "I know that this may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
No, I'm gonna make my music for me"

He said, "The people only buy the love songs 
Rock and Roll that's not too long"
He said, "Son, you got to be commercial
If you want to turn the people on"

And I said, "Turnin' on the people
Now, that's a beautiful place to be
But if I spend my time makin' them up a rhyme
Well, who's gonna turn on me?"

I said, "I know that this may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
No, I'm gonna make my music for me"

(Instrumental Break)

Well now, I went up the country
And I'll tell you all about the scene
I found a place with much charm and much grace
That was untouched by the music machine

Oh, the people were havin' a good time
Makin' music all day long
And nobody cared if they ever got paid 
One penny for playin' a song

I said, "I know that this may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
No, I'm gonna make my music for me"

"Oh, I know that this may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
No, I'm gonna make my music for me"


********************


As recorded by KENNY ROGERS:

I woke up this mornin'
I was tired as I could be
I guess I was countin' my money
When I should've been countin' sheep

My agent he just called me
And he told me what I should be
He said that I should make my music for money
Instead of makin' my music for me

And I said, "I know that it may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
Gonna make my music for me"

Now people only like the love songs
Rock 'n rollin' not too long
They say, "Kid, you got to be commercial
If you wanna turn the people on"

Now turnin' on the people
What a beautiful place to be
But if I spend my time makin' them up a rhyme
Who is gonna turn on me

And I said, "I know that it may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
Gonna make my music for me"

(Instrumental Break)

I went up the country
And I'll you about the scene
I found a place with much charm and much grace
Wasn't touched by the music machine

The people were havin' a good time
Everybody singin' along
And nobody cared and nobody gave them
A penny for singin' this song

And I said, "I know that it may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
Gonna make my music for me"

Said, "I know that it may sound funny, yeah
Money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
I'm gonna make my music for
Make my music for
Make my music for me"



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2020)