You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
And in the middle of negotiations
You break down
I never give you my number
I only give you my situation
And in the middle of investigation
I break down
Out of college, money spent
See no future, pay no rent
All the money’s gone, nowhere to go
Any jobber got the sack
Monday morning, turning back
Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go
But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Nowhere to go
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh…
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh…
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh…
One sweet dream
Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
Soon we’ll be away from here
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
One sweet dream came true today
Came true today
Came true today (Yes it did)
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven
One two three four five six seven
All good children go to Heaven (fade out)
Dissecting Disillusionment and Hope
“You Never Give Me Your Money” by The Beatles opens with a sense of financial and emotional frustration. The exchange of “funny paper” instead of real money captures a feeling of disillusionment with empty promises, while the repeated breakdowns during negotiations and investigations reflect strained relationships and uncertainty. The song then transitions into vivid imagery of post-college aimlessness, describing a world where the future is unclear and options are limited. Yet, amidst this uncertainty, there is a “magic feeling” in having nowhere to go—an embrace of possibility and the unknown.
One Sweet Dream: Escaping Reality
The mood shifts as visions of escape and new beginnings emerge with “One sweet dream.” The call to “pick up the bags and get in the limousine” conveys a longing to leave troubles behind. The childlike chant of “All good children go to Heaven” at the end offers a nostalgic, almost whimsical closure, blending innocence with hope for a better tomorrow.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Release Year: 1969
Label: Apple Records