“Money Changes Everything” by Cyndi Lauper delves deeply into the effects of wealth and power on human relationships and behavior. The song conveys a bitter truth about the world: moral values, love, and friendships often take a backseat when money comes into the picture. Boldly questioning the purity of human character, the song suggests that momentary desires and greed often triumph over longstanding commitments.
The narrative places a relationship affected by the allure of wealth and the imminent power that comes with it at its center. The protagonist forsakes a committed relationship at the prospect of being with someone wealthier. Through this move, the song underlines a painful truth–money transforms even the deepest of affections and loyalties. The partner’s bewildered plea and the protagonist’s response highlight the sorrowful reality of love losing its value in the face of material wealth.
The second verse extends this argument to the realm of friendships, suggesting that people often feign goodness and loyalty while looking out only for their interests. Trust and lasting friendships seem impossible because money enters, distorting people’s actions and their perception of relationships.
The chorus amplifies the theme, underlining how money’s disruptive influence extends beyond intimate relationships to affect general human behavior. The lyrics posit that no person truly has control over their actions; we all dance to the strings pulled by wealth and power. Asserting that we ‘don’t know a thing’, the song indicates our lack of understanding about how prosperity ultimately transforms us and the world around us.
The strong repetition of “money changes everything” throughout the song intensifies the central message and serves as a reminder of the penetrating influence of money in our lives. The outro, with its assertion that “money is everything”, seals this thought, offering a bleak commentary on modern human existence.
In essence, “Money Changes Everything” paints a sombre picture of the overwhelming impact of wealth on different aspects of human life, from intimate relationships to friendships to individual behavior. It provides a cautionary tale of the consequences of prioritizing money over love and trust, and the power that wealth exerts on our morality and values. This poignant narrative, coupled with the compelling melody, makes the song a powerful critique of materialism’s rise in human society. It is a song that resonates strongly with listeners, prompting self-reflection on one’s values and decisions.