Album: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Charted: 13
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  • Lyrics
  • This is often misinterpreted as a tribute to money. Many people thought the line "Money, it's a gas," meant they considered money a very good thing.
  • The song begins in an unusual 7/8 time signature, then during the guitar solo the song changes to 4/4, then returns to 7/8 and ends in 4/4 again. When Guitar World February 1993 asked Dave Gilmour where the famous time signature for "Money" came from, the Pink Floyd guitarist replied: "It's Roger's riff. Roger came in with the verses and lyrics for 'Money' more or less completed. And we just made up middle sections, guitar solos and all that stuff. We also invented some new riffs - we created a 4/4 progression for the guitar solo and made the poor saxophone player play in 7/4. It was my idea to break down and become dry and empty for the second chorus of the solo."
  • Roger Waters is the only songwriter credited on this, but the lead vocal is by David Gilmour. Waters provided the basic music and lyrics, while the whole band created the instrumental jam of the song. Gilmour was the one overseeing time change and responsible the acclaimed guitar solo. Rick Wright and Nick Mason. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Juuso - Kauhava, Finland, for above 2
  • Many studio effects were used on this song. They were using a new 16-track recorder, which allowed them to layer sounds much easier, but complex studio techniques like this still took a long time to do in 1973, as there weren't digital recorders and samplers available like we have today. If you wanted to copy and paste something, you had to do it the hard way - with a razor blade and splicing tape.
  • Roger Waters put together the cash register tape loop that plays throughout the song. It also contains the sounds of tearing paper and bags of coins being thrown into an industrial food-mixing bowl. The intro was recorded by capturing the sounds of an old cash register on tape, and meticulously splicing and cutting the tape in a rhythmic pattern to make the "cash register loop" effect.

    Bands like The Beatles had used tape loops, but never like this. The tape loop used on this was about 20 feet long, and if you've ever seen a reel-to-reel tape machine, you can imagine how hard it was to keep it playing. In order to get the right tension and continuously feed the machine, they set up the loop in a big circle using microphone stands to hold it up. It was fed through the tape machine and played throughout the song.
  • The album was engineered by famed British producer and studio genius Alan Parsons at Abbey Road Studios, where he also worked with The Beatles. Parsons later started his own band called The Alan Parsons Project and scored a hit in the '80s with "Eye In The Sky."

    Speaking with Songfacts about the studio habits of The Beatles and Pink Floyd, Parsons said: "They both liked to use the studio to its fullest, and they were always looking for new effects and new sounds. That was the beauty of working with those guys: There were always new horizons to discover in sound." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Dave - Marieta, GA, for above 3
  • The lyrics contain a naughty word. "Bulls--t" was left in the original release, but their record company quickly put out a version with the word removed, which became known as the "Bull Blank" version.
  • Along with "Us And Them," this is one of two songs on the album to use a saxophone, which was played by Dick Parry. The band wanted to experiment with new sounds on these sessions.
  • As happens throughout Dark Side of the Moon, random voices come in at the end. Waters drew up flashcards with deep philosophical questions on them, then showed them to people around the studio and taped their answers. The ones they liked made the album. Among the people questioned: a doorman, a roadie, and Paul McCartney. Most contributions were not used, but McCartney's guitarist at the time, Henry McCullough, made the final cut with his answer, "I don't know; I was really drunk at the time."
  • Due to a record company dispute, they had to re-record this for their 1981 greatest hits album, A Collection Of Great Dance Songs (the title is a joke. You can't dance to Floyd). There are very subtle differences between this version and the original.
  • If you start the CD on the third roar of the MGM lion, this begins just as the film goes to color in The Wizard Of Oz.
  • Like many of their songs, this was not released as a single in the UK, where singles were perceived as a sellout.
  • A cultural difference in the song: the reference to the "football team." In America, the sport is known as soccer.
  • There is a scene in The Wall where the main character (Pink) is a student in school, and the teacher catches him writing a poem instead of doing the work he was supposed to be doing. The teacher reads the poem out loud, and it is this song. He makes the student look like a fool and everyone in the classroom laughs at him. The teacher then tells him "It's rubbish laddy, now get back to work!" It probably symbolizes the way that we are raised almost uniform-like throughout our entire lives, starting in school. This is a theme of the movie. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Derek - Raleigh, NC
  • The line, "Money, so they say, is a root of all evil today" is a paraphrase from the New Testament - 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Lunar surface
  • In 2002, a group called The Easy Star All-Stars recorded a reggae version of the album called Dub Side Of The Moon. On this song, the sounds of money were replaced by sounds of someone smoking from a water-based marijuana delivery device (OK, a bong).
  • A group called Reloaded, made up of former Guns N' Roses members with Scott Weiland from The Stone Temple Pilots as lead singer, recorded this for the 2003 movie The Italian Job.

    This was the first project for the group, which eventually changed its name to Velvet Revolver.
  • The cash register loop and bass line at the introduction to this song are used in a radio show that plays in the US, The Dave Ramsey Show. The show offers financial advice to struggling people, so the song ties in well. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Collin - Texas, TX
  • In the documentary The Making of Dark Side of the Moon, it was revealed that Roger Waters wrote this in his garden, and the original demo version was described by him as being "Prissy and very English." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tim - PGH, PA
  • In Quentin Tarantino's 1992 film Reservoir Dogs, this song was originally intended to be used in a specific opening sequence. However, after hearing the song "Little Green Bag" by the George Baker Selection, Tarantino decided to use it instead because he it gave him an extreme sense of nostalgia. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ashlynd - Charleston, WV
  • Guitar World asked Gilmour if he was purposely trying to get away from just playing a 12 bar blues on guitar. He replied: "No, I just wanted to make a dramatic effect with the three solos. The first solo is ADT'd - Artificially Double Tracked. I think I did the first two solos on a Fender Stratocaster, but the last one was done on a different guitar - a Lewis, which was made by some guy in Vancouver. It had a whole two octaves on the neck, which meant I could get up to notes that I couldn't play on a Stratocaster."
  • Asked by Uncut in 2015 if there's a song that reminds him of Roger Waters, David Gilmour replied: "'Money.' I'm not talking about the lyric. Just the quirky 7/8 time reminds me of Roger. It's not a song I would have written. It points itself at Roger."
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Comments: 104

  • Kawa from Tokyo, JapanHi Music lovers.

    A song on the album 'Harvest' in 1972 gave Rodger a hint of writing a song 'Money' was called 'Words'. I think. So he tried to write a song, (whose measure was Four Five time like 'Take Five'), like 'Words' when he first heard that song. He must have remembered that old song that he liked before and tried to write a new song. As it turned out, 'Money' finally was made. I think that the idea of the song came from 'Led Zeppelin's 'How Many More Times ?', their first album in 1969. But he must had cared of the original idea to hide from the listeners. So he made 'Money' Four seven time, the original idea, 'How Many More Times' is Four four time. That means Rodger extracted one time and wrote this song. 'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven !', not 'eight !
  • Kawa from Tokyo, JapanHi Music fans,

    The measure of this song 'Money' is not four four time. This one is Four Seven time. I know you noticed that. But I wonder why Pink Floyd chose
    this measure, Four Seven time, not most rock musicians do like rock n' roll. They made this album including 'Money' released in 1973. In 1972, Neil Young released the his one of the best album 'Harvest'. I think Neil's album gave Roger Waters some inspiration of making a new song, 'Money'. Because on Neil's album, there was a song that measures is Four Five time. I think Roger was so surprised to hear that song.
    Because Roger was Neil's huge fan. He must be thought 'Wow ! Neil wrote a song 'Four five time', That's cool ! I'll try it myself !'. So I think he tried to write something new.

    To be continued,

  • Mauricio from San Juan, ArgentinaI love Pink Floyd, and I like this song, but It's not the best of Floyd. I don't know, it doesn't make sense say that money is evil and at the same time, make millions with this song. The bass is very good, but John Paul Jones in how many more times is way much better. Still... great song.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyHere's some obscure trivia:
    On November 4th 1880, James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio received a patent for the first cash register, initially known as 'Ritty's Incorruptible Cashier'...
    Just under ninety-three years later on May 13th, 1973 Pink Floyd's "Money" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; ten weeks later on July 22nd, 1973 it would peak at #13 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 15 weeks...
    They didn't make the Top 100 again until 1980, but that would be with the smash hit "Another Brick in the Wall - Part Two", it peaked at #1 {for 4 weeks} on March 16th, 1980.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 8th 1988, Pink Floyd’s 'Dark Side of the Moon' spent its last day on Billboard's Top 200 Albums* chart; it was at position #195 and it stayed on the chart for 741 weeks...
    Track one of side two on the album was "Money"; and on May 13th, 1973 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; ten weeks later on July 22nd it would peak at #13 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 15 weeks...
    * The last week 'Dark Side' was on the chart, the #1 album was 'Appetite For Destruction' by Guns N' Roses.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjI'm pretty sure the song IS in 7/4, and the band just made a mistake. I play drums, though I mostly play by ear. (The Beatles never had any formal training and I'm sure Floyd had neither) But I think eighth notes would be counted as "one-two-three-four-five-six-sev'n-one-two...etc..."; putting and AND in between every count. This song sounds like they're just going, "one-two-three-four-five-six-sev'n-eight. The timing in the verses doesn't seem like it would work with eighth notes.
  • Mark from Rogers, , ArThis song is now 40 years old (hit the top 40, 6-23-1973) & I still hear the cash register jingle in my mind all the time. Great song.
  • Drake from Huntington Beach, CaMoney is only evil to me if you put it before your friends, your family, & most importantly God. We all need money to live and use it for what need in life, but having a lot of it & by wasting it on nothing is when we drown in our own greed. The government is a huge example.
  • Drew from Birmingham, Al7/8? I guess they intended 7/8 if they say they did. But the tempo just seems to drag out each measure long enough that I personally wouldn't measure with seven 8th notes. They hold long enough that I'd count 7 quarter notes... unless the tempo is slowed incredibly. As for the swing beat, it's been called 4/4 (I've called it 4/4 myself), but lately I tend to measure only disco-techno as 4/4. The Swing beat in 4/4 uses an awful lot of triplets that it might be simpler to measure it as 12/8 instead, as I've done lately.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjI'm happy to see that so many people still like this song "even though it's popular", if that makes any sense. I love this song but all my friends hate it. My one friend even skips it everytime we listen to it. Not only is that EXTREMELY annoying, it kills the whole flow of the album! More evidence that vinyl truly IS the way to go.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxSame old story here: A band bashes the pursuit of money while they pursue money.
  • Frederik from Glamsbjerg, DenmarkYou're wrong concerning the origin of the tape loop put together by Roger Waters. Yes, he did tear paper and bags apart, but the tape loop is recorded in a little hut in the garden of his house. A little place where his wife used to play around with some clay, and in relation to this occupation, there was a huge bowl intended for clay. The sound of the cash register in "Money" has it's origin here. And furthermore, these money-alike sounds were recorded on seven individual pieces of tape, and then put together. So it says in The Making of Dark Side of The Moon.

    And Patrick, you couldn't be more far off. This song absolutely flows with the theme of the album, as the theme is the things that make people mad. And you can't deny that money make people mad.
  • Luigi Camperchioli from Valley Village, CaTo those who say the song is in 7/4, it's not. It's in 7/8. They even talk about it in the documentary "Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon".
    Along with "The Wall", this is one of my PF favs! :)
  • Dawn from Sloansville, NyBesides "The Wall", this is my favorite song of Pink Floyd.
  • Drew from B\'ham, AlI don't think it ever goes to 3/4 time. It has 7/4 where there are lyrics and 4/4 (w/ swingish triplets) in the instrumental parts. But no 3/4 that I recall.
  • Dominik from Bad Laasphe, GermanyOne of my favorites...indeed stands out from the rest of the songs on DSOTM, but in a good way in my song on there, alongside Time.
  • Sam from Deerfield, IlThe song is in 7/4, not 7/8
  • Karen from Manchester, NhCorrection, Melissa...The LOVE of money is the root of all evil...but not the love of the song, "Money"! :)
  • Melissa from Revesby, Australiai love this song and money is the root of all evil
  • Frank from Granchester Meadows, Greenlandchloe,MO----where did you hear it was Paul talking on the end of this??...i had thought it was drummer Nick Mason.
  • Chloe from St. Louis, Moi cant believe people are saying that this doesnt fit the album. its essential! the sound is a bit different from the more serene-sounding tracks like "breathe" or "brain damage", but its perfect for the theme of the album. its about all the pressures of modern day life- birth *breathe*, time *time, obviously*, death *great gig in the sky*, alienation *us and them*, insanity *brain damage*, and, of course, money. on another note, im glad i know of this site because ever since id heard this song, id always wondered who it was talking at the end! i remember once a couple of weeks ago i was listening to this song, and i thought "wait a that paul mccartney?" turns out i was right. haha.
  • Daevid from Glendale, CaIsn't this album "Dark Side" still, to this day; somewhere on the billboard Top 100 albums?...hey, we're talkin' 36 years? [2009]...that's quite a major accomplishment, to say the least!
    also, the first album i ever heard after taking a couple drags off an erbal jazz cigarette.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxThe Sax Solo here in 7/4 makes it sound more like talking than music which makes the song seem almost cold and blunt - like money. Nice choice.
  • Matthew from Peshtigo, WiMoney fits perfectly, the album is about the pressure that can push us either to greatness or the edge, not a life cycle. If there was a song that did not "fit" it would be ""any colour you like", but even it is a nice segue to brain damage and eclipse giving the listener a chance to use they're imagination.
  • Allie from A Little Ol' Town In, Mithis is one of my favourite pink floyd songs. Waters's lyrics speak the truth. My great idea; outlaw money for it is the root of all evil because what does it create? GREED
    Awesome sax part too, ingenious work by one of the greatest bands of all time.
  • Andrew from Birmingham, United States"Money roots all evil, so they say; lusting over money is the REAL root of all evil!" Roger Waters doesn't mention that correction "lusting over money" that I recall, but I do recall that he acknowledges "so they say," meaning that "money roots all evil" is not exactly true. Pink Floyd seems to be a saved band from what I can tell, but I can't make any guarantees. But Pink Floyd music is some good music!
  • Maxwell from Houston, TxNaomi Watts' father was Pink Floyd's sound engineer and her mother says the line "cruising for a bruising" and also the whispered dialogue on "The Great Gig in the Sky".
  • Bert from Brighton, EnglandWhilst i'll be the first to admit i'm not the longest serving die hard floyd fan, in fact it took this UK born boy a trip to australia at the age of 25 (1993)to first discover them (& the naturally grown herbal relaxent that gives you the patience & awareness to chill properley & listen to the quality of Floyd music)but after hearing Dark Side for the very first time i've always sort to listen to inspiring, thought provoking music ever since. So whether they looped cash till samples around a dozen studies & asked random questions to the entire music industry i really don't care, to me they were (& still are) what true music is all about. 14 years on i still load the 6 disk & get lost in the tranquil but yet controlled manic world of Floyd, whether its The Wall - Darkside or wish you were here - momentary lapse of reason it will always work for me. I was lucky enough to hear them (side of stage seats)at Earls Court '94, can anyone tell me if they plan to tour again so i can book a seat & a bag of green!!
  • Philip Impey from Brisbane, Australia
    Money..... is the root of all evil today.
    The Bible does not say this at all- it is not money that is the root of all evil, its the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil. What the Bible is saying is , basically, don't make money or the pursuit of money your god (Have no other gods but me)
    Roger waters got it right, whether intentionally or not, by adding "so they say", may be alluding to the universal misquoting of this Bible verse. Anyway, its a great social commentry as well as musicianship-something's that missing in todays contemporary
    music- good lyrics with something to say backed uo with a good melody and clever musicianship.
  • Ozzy from Fresno, Cathis is probably the best song for people who dont like pink floyd very much or have never heard it. but it just seems like there are two types of pink floyd...theres waters and gilmour[both too similar to be differed] and then...then theres syd barrett floyd. everyone is different, some like serious slow kind of boring stuff, and then some like happy somewhat bizzare but extremely genius pink floyd. i know you'll all want to slaughter me for saying so, but i think syd is a million times better than roger waters and david gilmour in singing, composing, and everything else. we miss you syd...
  • Jorge from Manchester, EnglandAnyone who thinks this song is wrong for the album is talking out of their arses! DSOTM wouldn't be what it is without this song.
  • Stan from Vista, Cavery good song!!!!the timing in the first part is weird, 7/8 but it kicks ass when they go to good old 3/4 time.. it gets your feet moving and i never get tired of listening to and playing this song.
  • Adrian from Brookings, SdThe classic rock radio stations from Philadelphia that I listened to actually kept in the curse word in the second verse until a few years ago. I'm just wondering what the hell made them suddenly want to censor it after 30 years! You may as well just leave it alone. They recently did the same thing with the f-bomb in "Who Are You?" I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with Dubya. That idiot. I'm probably way off, but it's just easier to blame him.
  • Ken from San Diego, CaFloyd's most popular radio hit, about the obvious evils of ... well whatever. Thinking about PF starting as a 60's art band, in the same vein as King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, ELP and Yes yet this songs greatest contribution was a blistering straight forward solo on Sax by the world famous Dick Parry(?), along with the blues riffs of Gilmore, with little electronic sonic intervention.
  • Madalyn from Greensburg, Pagood song this is the reason i'm obsessed with floyd is the root of all evil in my opinion...but thats just my opinion
  • Joe from Bellingham, Wa"if money is the root of all evil, then why do churches beg for it?" DON'T ANYBODY TAKE THIS QUOTE OR I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN!! I MADE THIS UP!!
  • Greg from Minneapolis, MnWhen they recorded the random voices, they did indeed invite various people in the studio at the time to give off-the-cuff answers to the questions Waters had written on cards. Both Paul and Linda McCartney were in studio, so they did sit down and read the cards. However, Paul and Linda were too cagey (smart) so they gave simple answers that were unlikely to be "used" in any way. DSOTM is the greatest album of all times, and the continuing sales are a tribute to that fact. BTW: after all of these years, I can still be brought to shivers/tears by listening with the volume up (but I only do it when I have the house to myself!)
  • Spencer from Los Angeles, CaOh and @Cal, I was watching the video and as far as I can tell he's using a pick. You never actually see what he's picking with, but using a coin would make a much more raspy sound from the printing on it rubbing against the strings. If he was using a coin, the audio would sound a lot more grainy and weird. Oh, and I don't really recommend using a coin for any real performances. It's a novel idea, but ends up not working out that great. Or what I like to do sometimes is rub the side of a quarter on the strings, so the ridges make a soft, rasping sound.
  • Spencer from Los Angeles, Ca@Bill: The guitarist for Queen was famous for using a sixpence coin for some of his solos, most notably on "Bohemian Rhapsody."

    And it's great to know that you can't spell the name of your instrument. ;-D
  • Bill from Erie, PaCal- I play the base as well, and I've found that using a coin creates an entirely different kind of sound than using a pick or your fingers. Although I suspect Roger was using the coin ironically for this song, it would be interesting to see a base player who used coins instead of picks. Wouldn't reccommend it for guitar, though. The strings aren't thick enough.
  • Ashley from Moncton, CanadaIt is the craziest thing in the world in the DSOTM/Wizard of Oz synch, when the munchkins are dancing to the beat of this song. Every time I see it it makes me laugh out of amazement.
  • Gerard from Honikiwi, New ZealandThe song is in 7/8 for the singing and sax sections with the beat 1-2,1-2-3,1-2, although the riff could quite easily have an extra [which would resolve itself to the B?? tonic], or in fact less beats, and still work.
    I feel the music is a very good description of the lyrics, from the plodding 'off to work' bassline, the angry (and awesome) guitar solo to the sleazy sax solo.
    I've got to the sax is the weakest part, I play myself and am not a fan of Dick Parry's work, although Us and Them is an improvement somewhat. The guitar solo is really great, 3rd after All Along the Watchtower and Whole Lotta Love.
    The vocal is best at "Money, it's a crime" this line is just so well delivered.
  • Rob from Highland, Nythis song is in 7/8 time for a majority of the song, from the begining to sax solo, and eventually goes back into it after the guitar solo. but david gilmore had a lot of trouble soloing in the wierd timing. so the transition after the sax solo is when it changes to 4/4. the switch of timing makes it go from more of a funky, jazzy sound to a hard rock riff. this, in my opinion, is one of the greatest moments in rock n' roll. the first notes of the solo are so heavy, it amazes my every time i listen to it.
  • Stacy from Bothell, WaOkay, 7/8 is counted like 1,2-1,2-1,2,3. Okay? So it's not in 7/8. And the eighth note isn't getting the beat.
  • Jay from Atlanta, GaThe correct line should be "The love of money is the root of all evil"(I Tim.6:10). Money is a reality. It's how you treat it that makes the difference.
  • Alex from Fort Mill, ScI really love the guitar solo on Money. Although there are only 2 guitar solos on DSOTM the creative chord and chord progressions make up for it.
  • Spencer from Richmond, Vathis is defintely one of the best bass lines ever
  • Joe from Wellington, New Zealandpeople claim money is the 'root' of all evil, because of what it does to companys and there greed... but they don't realise they're exactly the same themselves... just on a lesser scale... but still doing the exact same thing.
    Money is something we all need...
    People Say it's evil..just cause of what it does to big bussiness...what it makes them do... the evil things they do to gain more money..
    but we are all the same... we would do the same evil things to get that money... we are just not in the same position to do that.
  • Sam from Wellington, New ZealandThe Cash register they used to record this song was the same that the Beatles used in Yellow Submarine.
  • Cal from The Dark Side Of The Moon, United StatesTom, the "I dunno I was really drunk at the time" was in response to "Would you do it again" (great answer, eh?). I'm pretty sure the "He was cruisin' for a bruisin'" was in response to "when was the last time you hit someone", but I could very well be wrong (Somewhere one of the band members said what the specific answers were to which questions, but I don't remember where that article is..)
  • Tom from Bozeman, MtI have a great collection of DVDs by Time Life called the History of Rock and Roll. When talking about Pink Floyd and Dark Side of the Moon, it interviews David Gilmour, he says some of the questions asked were: When was the last time you hit someone? Were you in the right state? Would you do it again? What does the dark side of the moon mean to you? I assume at the end of the song when you can hear someone say "I dont know, I was really drunk at the time." He is answering the the second or third question. Does any one know why someone says 'criusing for a bruising'. The only album better than Dark Side of the Moon is Srg. Peppers.
  • Cal from The Dark Side Of The MoonOops, I meant to say '*during this song* he was using a coin'... don't think he did in any others.
  • Cal from The Dark Side Of The MoonEven though this is really random, I feel like posting it :P. During Live 8, Roger is using a coin (as far as I can tell) instead of his fingers or a normal guitar/bass pick. Now now, members of Pink Floyd shouldn't be coming to shows unprepared.
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Cai disagree with umesh, i found it the most immeadiately likeable song on the album (by that i mean the song people like at FIRST, not necessarily the best)
  • Stephen from Steamboat, CoWell this is a first. Having a bunch of sounds that involve money for the intro, as well as keep the time throughout the song. It is a song I used pared with Time for a Speech I had to make in school. it really put into context what it means when you read the lyrics and speak them to an audiance. I now know this song backwards and forwards, and can say that the line "New car, caviar, four star daydream. Think Ill by me a football team' sums up the feeling. They give the impression that money can bring people most everything. And using the Sax, the song is a total winner, and a top five song for me!
  • Vincecloak from Cambridgelisten to the groove man!!!!the guitar is the groove
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Cao yeah and i fail to see how this doesn't fit on the album, or how any song can suck just because its popular.
  • Jeanette from Irvine, CaI agree with luke about that except i believe that Breathe is supposed to be birth itself.
  • Bill from Erie, PaI don't think the album is about the cycle of life. First of all, the song "Breathe" sounds like a complaint about modern working life. "On the Run" is probably about travel, since we hear voices kind of like the announcements at airports for arriving/departing flights about 30 seconds into the song. Time and Money's subjects are obvious. The Great Gig in the Sky is about fear of death, Us and them is about war, and I could be just guessing about this, but I think Any Colour You Like is about choice. Brain Damage is about insanity, not old age, but Eclipse is indeed about death, or I like to see it as the moment before you die when your life flashes before your eyes.
    Just my $0.02
  • Alfred from Sidmouth, CoThis isn't the best of them but I like it.
    I believe it is just the world not big for Janet from Australia
  • Mark from Boston, MaUh, count it out. It's clearly in 7/4 up until the guitar solo which is in 4/4. Also, it's incorrect to add a "th" to 4/4 because that implies it's a fraction--time signatures aren't fractions. You seem to be a bit jumbled over meters....
  • Azzhat from America, AzMost of you people are so wrong about this album.

    Rent or buy the Pink Floyd DVD Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (2003).

    Money is SUPPOSED to be there, no matter how much you sheep bleet about it.

    Money is in 7/8's time, not 7/4's.
    Why? Because David Gilmore didn't know how to make and play a solo in 7/8's time, so they switched to 4/4th's.

  • Ryan from Chicago, IlHow can anyone complain about this song being so popular when the ALBUM is among the most popular of all time? I don't care how popular the song is, it's still an inventive, meaningful and downright rockin song. The energy of the sax/guitar solos is contagious, and anyone who's watched it with Oz can't deny wanting to get up and skip along with the Munchkins!

    Time is my favorite on DSOTM but this song is a nice breath of fresh air in the middle of the album.
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrWhy in the world would they play the version with the naughty swearword on the radio? Doesn't the FCC realize that there is in fact a swearword in one of the verses of this song?
  • Barry from New York, NcThis song remains uncensored even on FCC controlled FM radio. I don't understand how the stations get away with leaving the "bulls--t" in. The FCC must be looking the other way or fast asleep!!
  • Dan from Pacific, MoOk. first off just cuz a song gets popular does it means it sucks? Why is that? The song fits perfectly with the rest of the album but more so if you have it on vinyl. Vinyl is better. Why cant they just mass produce it again?
  • Aaron from Muswellbrook, AustraliaI'm not sure that's sticks hitting, maybe he caught the rim of a drum on the run down? That fits nicely still with the rhythm. I agree that Money only seems to not fit for some people becuase it is so recognisable. In my opinion it belongs exactly where it is
  • Bavo from Oostrozebeke, BelgiumI love this song. It really does fit the album. For me, The Dark Side Of The Moon is the greatest album ever. I also like the ideas of Luke & Ash about the album.
  • Helen from Oxford, Englandwow, shane, people who stop liking songs because they're popular are sooo cool. i wish i was as cool as you (learn to spell definitely). This song sounded lush at live 8. Oh! and Maureen - learn how to speak french properly.
  • Connor from Turlock, Cai think Nick mason helped make the sound loops..
  • Shane from Sandy, UtWhy did this song have to be so popular? I believe Money definately has a place in the album, because of its theme and instrumental collaberation. The bass riff has an unforgettable jazz rhythym and Gilmour's solo is one of his most emotional compositions I've heard. Dark Side would be flawless if this track didn't become such a single, eventhough it wasn't released as one.
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaI think the song does need to be on the album. It fits in pretty well, I think.
  • Scott from Chicago, IlDon't you wish cash registers still sounded like this?
  • David Corino from Hawley, PaThat would throw off my timing if i did that when i played drums.
  • Juan from Miami, FlIts true that Mason hits the drumsticks together. But I'm not sure that it was a mistake or part of his play (technique)
  • Juan from Miami, FlDSOTM was a great album and it was arranged pretty well. This is like the album of the cycle of life. Breathing(retard), time, death(time), childhood(gig in the sky), money, experience(us and Them), and disease (brain damage. Well though
  • David Corino from Hawley, PaThis is kind of a random fact, but if you start the track and dont stop it, around the time between 4:20 and 4:23 when Mason is rocken out with his drums it sounds like he hits his sticks together by accident, but just keeps goen like nothing happend. I listen to DSOTM alot and you might not here this the first couple of times when you listen to Money, but it sounds cool when you do.
  • Maureen from Prospect, VaJ'aime la Pink Floyd. J'naime pas la DSOTM. La money une nul, comprais en La Wall. (French. lol.)
  • Ash from Charleston, WvI am at a loss to understand the comments here about this song not belonging on this album. This song is ESSENTIAL to the album!!! The four cornerstones of the album, which is essentially a theorum on the aspects of life that we all have to face, are life, money, time and death.
  • Mammothdave from London, Englandthe base riff to this song is by far the best sound ever recorded. Amazing!
  • Lyzette from Moorpark, CaVelvet Revolver's version of this song rocks!!!
  • Kyle from Appleton, Wii like lukes idea about the walk through of life and dsotm. that is a really reasonable idea and it makes sense.
  • Mallory from Sarasota, Fli luv this song! its simple and money does make out the best of us. so, that being said money is our evil today.
  • Andrew from Oakland Gardens, NyThe guitar solo is one of the best solos ever. I love this song it is one of the best songs ever. Unfortunately I never heard the album DSOTM but I heard it on Echoes their greatest hits album.
  • Alex from Charleston, WvSounds pretty much about simple materialism. Possibly a reference to Ted Turner?
  • Jade from Chippewa Falls, Wi I remember the girl in the background saying, 'You was definitely in the right that geezer was cruising for brusing' it was Mary Badham. At the time she was dating Roger Waters and he asked her, 'So was I in the right for protecting my friend from getting his lights knocked out of him even though he called him a bad name?'
  • Bob from Mt. Laurel, NjQuestions I know of that Roger Waters asked:

    Why are you frightened of dying?

    Are you mad?

    When was the last time you thumped someone, and were you in the right?

    What does the phrase 'Dark Side of the Moon mean to you?
  • Mike from Ontario, CanadaReally Great tune, but does anyone else notice how the opening riff sounds a bit similar to the opening riff of How Many More Times, Led Zeppelin.
  • Deepphreeze from Irvine, CaActually, the reference to 'football' is correct. In the promotional video for the song, when he says "Think I'll buy me a football team" American football players are shown lining up.
  • Glenn from Sydney, PaLove the whole album ,buy money always buys the cake
  • Spencer from South Kingstown, Rii have dark side of the moon on CD and as an album, and this song fits in a lot more on the album, seeing on the CD it goes right from great gig in the sky to this. on the album money is the first song of the B side, and it seems to fit more seeing it links right into us and them at the end and with the sax.
  • Derek from Raleigh, NcThis is more of a "jam" song than the others on this album. The live version is about 10 or 15 mintutes long, and goes on as an extended jam. Everyone has a really awsome solo in the middle, except for Nick Mason on drums. But it really doesn't fit the flow of the rest of the songs on the album, but still one of their best songs.
  • Helen from York, EnglandWhen this came on the radio I bet my Dad it would fade out before 'Bull---t'. Lost £1. But I like the song. Once they played it at my church to demonstrate the evils of consumerism, but had the foresight to fade it out before the naughty word :)
  • Bob from Mt. Laurel, Nj"Reloaded" is now called "Velvet Revolver"
  • Luke from Memphis, TnI really like how the band put together Dark Side of the Moon. In my opinion, they start out with the song breathe, perhaps a synonym for the beginning of life; being carefree and young. On the Run focuses on growing up a litle bit and going to school and such. Time and Great Gig in the Sky may be like teenage to young adulthood years, knowing that life is fragile and knowing that death is out there. Money is about dealing with finances as an adult and realizing either how important or unimportant money really is. Us and Them is like an older person comparing himself with the younger people that he sees now and the differences or simalarities that exist between them. I havent figured out Any colour You Like yet, its harder than the rest. Brain Damage is about the last few years of your life, and dealing with the fact that you are about to die and trying to keep a level head during that time. Finally, eclipse is death, shown by the line, "everything under the sun is in tune but the sound is eclipsed by the moon". Like everything is supposed to be where it is for you, but it's too late.
  • Dave from Marieta, GaThis album was enginnered by famed British producer and studio genious Alan Parsons at Abby Road Studios. The song begins in 7/4 time signature and intro was recorded by capturing the sounds of an old cash register on tape, and meticulously splicing and cutting the tape in a rhythmic pattern to make the "cash register loop" effect you hear at the beginning. Complex studio techniques like this took a long time to do in 1973, as there weren't digital recorders and samplers available like we have today. If you wanted to copy and paste something, you had to do it the hard way. Alan Parsons later started his own band called "The Alan Parsons Project", and scored a hit in the '80's with "Eye In The Sky". He remains a much sought after music engineer and producer today.
  • Patrick from Conyers, GaIn the movie "The Wall", the school teacher notices young Pink's collection of poems he wrote in a small book on his desk. When the teacher reads out two of the poems, they were actually lyrics to this song.
  • Tim from Hendersonville, TnThe time signature is indeed 7/4 (meaning seven beats to a measure, quarter note gets the beat) throughout most of the song. However, the instrumental break goes to a more traditional 4/4 rhythm, which makes the song doubly unusual - time signature changes don't happen very often in most popular music.
  • Terri Lynn from Heart's Desire, Canadagreat beat to this song, all the instruments work together so well, and the lyrics on their own are spectacular.
  • Janet from Perth, AustraliaI think this is one of PF's best songs.
  • Conrad from Los Angeles, CaOn "Dark Side of the Rainbow", this starts playing as Dorothy opens the door to the world of Oz, and you see Techniclor for the first time.
  • Lee from Durham, NcIts a very good song. as ben and patrick said, it doesnt flow as well. but if you think about it, this was the first song on side b of the dsotm album, therefor its hard to make it flow from great gig to money. they lyrics can go with the album theme(money can make a person go insane)yet they are not very powerful. i love the instrumental solos in the middle of the song and dick parry's sax is crazy. davids guitar solos move your soul. Us and them my 2nd favorite song on the album(time 1st) has a wonderful sax solo which just gives a wonderful feeling
  • Ben Russell from Durham, Ncgood song. wrong album
  • Patrick from Durham, NcPink Floyds worst good song. Doesn't fit the theme/flow of the album DSOTM. Sorry.
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