# What does "money for nothing and kicks for free" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455 "2013-10-17T02:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/41 "2013-10-17T16:46:39Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **Robot Arm, Ranger Jeff** - I can feel the whoosh over my head. What’s the reference? “Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find” https://www.youtube.com/embed/_jcXaJaJgok?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Paul Revere and the Raiders ETA - As I was typing this a version of Rt 66 just came up on my playlist - _Get your kicks…_ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/42 "2013-10-17T16:49:03Z")
Ah, thanks - ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/43 "2013-10-17T16:51:11Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I heard it was Prince. That’s what I’ve heard also. As engineer\_comp\_geek posted, the song was inspired by what a blue collar guy was saying about some music videos in a store. And supposedly a Prince video came on and prompted the comments about “that little faggot”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/44 "2013-10-17T17:01:55Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe claimed in an interview that Knopfler and the delivery guy were watching his band’s videos in the store and that they were who the guy was commenting about with the “faggot” comments. I think Sixx is trying to insert himself into the story. “Money for Nothing” was written in 1984. Motley Crue had been formed by that time but they were not a well known band. Their first major hit was “Smoking in the Boy’s Room” in 1985. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/45 "2013-10-17T17:14:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > That’s what I’ve heard also. As engineer\_comp\_geek posted, the song was inspired by what a blue collar guy was saying about some music videos in a store. And supposedly a Prince video came on and prompted the comments about “that little faggot”. Possibly a little more accurately, to earn a living the blue collar workers had to install microwave ovens and custom kitchens; move refrigerators and color TV’s. While the yo yo’s played guitars on the MTV, getting money for nothing and chicks for free. Great song, and Brothers in Arms is a great album. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/46 "2013-10-17T17:34:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think Sixx is trying to insert himself into the story. “Money for Nothing” was written in 1984. Motley Crue had been formed by that time but they were not a well known band. Their first major hit was “Smoking in the Boy’s Room” in 1985. No way. They were known in Metal circles earlier and “Shout at the Devil” in 1983 was their first “big” album, even if it wasn’t their biggest. Googling shows it [went to #12 on Billboard album charts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shout_at_the_Devil#Reception). ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/47 "2013-10-17T18:55:10Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > No way. They were known in Metal circles earlier and “Shout at the Devil” in 1983 was their first “big” album, even if it wasn’t their biggest. Googling shows it [went to #12 on Billboard album charts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shout_at_the_Devil#Reception). That’s right. Shout at the Devil was absolutely Mötley Crüe’s first hit album. According to [the chart here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_discography) it was #17 in the U.S. and #12 in the U.K., in 1983. And I remember videos for the songs “Shout at the Devil” and “Looks That Kill”, at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/48 "2013-10-17T19:12:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find. I know. I need some new kind of kick. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/62g_QDAyUlo/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHoAoAC6AKKAgwIABABGGMgZSgQMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA6DkRAVjjU_8R7mK5upMuKmXoaiQ "The Cramps Some New Kind Of Kick") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62g_QDAyUlo) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/49 "2013-10-17T20:12:40Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Of course the “little faggot” being referred to is the singer and songwriter, Mark Knopfler, himself. No, the “little faggot” was definitely not Mark Knopfler. They were reacting to what they were seeing on MTV playing in the store, not to him. Besides, [he didn’t do the glam thing](http://s3.amazonaws.com/magnoliasoft.imageweb/beatpix/supersize/mark%20knopfler%20dire%20straits%20-%203.jpg). At all. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I think _Brothers In Arms_ was the last vinyl LP I bought. Funny, because I think it was the first CD I bought. I know it was the first CD I heard, knowingly anyway. I remember a friend of the family saying “hey, look at this cool new music thing” and playing something from it. I don’t remember which track, though. Not surprising, because it was one of the first major albums that was digitally recorded. I also remember my dad saying that these newfangled CDs would never last, and thought I was being stupid by buying them. After all, something better was coming out very soon–DATs. (Digital Audio Tape) He was a smart guy, but biffed that one for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/50 "2013-10-18T16:20:20Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > That’s right. Shout at the Devil was absolutely Mötley Crüe’s first hit album. According to [the chart here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe_discography) it was #17 in the U.S. and #12 in the U.K., in 1983. And I remember videos for the songs “Shout at the Devil” and “Looks That Kill”, at the very least. Heh. I remember my then-6-year-old sister seeing a photo of _Shout at the Devil_-era Mötley Crüe in the issue of _Hit Parader_ I was reading, and refusing to believe me when I told her they were men. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/51 "2013-10-18T19:48:02Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Heh. I remember my then-6-year-old sister seeing a photo of _Shout at the Devil_-era Mötley Crüe in the issue of _Hit Parader_ I was reading, and refusing to believe me when I told her they were men. The Aerosmith song “Dude Looks Like A Lady” _was_ inspired by Vince Neil. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelTomWest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MichaelTomWest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelTomWest)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/52 "2018-08-10T10:29:38Z")
What does money bring us beyond the obvious of being able to buy food, shelter and ‘basics’?And even for that it “ain’t working”. It just brings us uniformity of colour TVs and free chicks of nature of buy one get one free. We’ve got to move away from the rat race of consumerdom. . . A version of the song , incidentally, that I just listened to, unless I heard wrong , substituted the refrain I want one for “how long now? “ …The song also says: ‘well, ofcourse you could escape from this stupid being a cog in a machine working by becoming the millionaire propelling it, but even here, you’re gonna find yourself in another straight jacket of being envied rather than envying. Concluding then, the song says the capitalist system or the state capitalist system if you’re in China, “ain’t working”, is bringing us nothing worth having except envy and endless wars. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelTomWest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MichaelTomWest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelTomWest)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/53 "2018-08-10T10:36:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Kicks just keep gettin’ harder to find. songs about deadening conformity and monotony of political systems in the world ---
**Author:** ![MichaelTomWest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MichaelTomWest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelTomWest)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/54 "2018-08-10T10:42:38Z")
Yes . The song can be understood in more than one meaning simultaneously . Viz “That ain’t working” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/55 "2018-08-10T10:52:12Z")
> [@MichaelTomWest](#): > > songs about deadening conformity and monotony of political systems in the world If you’re referring to “Kicks” by Paul Revere and the Raiders, then no. It’s blatantly a song about drug use and why it’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/56 "2018-08-10T12:26:04Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > No, the “little faggot” was definitely not Mark Knopfler. They were reacting to what they were seeing on MTV playing in the store, not to him. Besides, [he didn’t do the glam thing](http://s3.amazonaws.com/magnoliasoft.imageweb/beatpix/supersize/mark%20knopfler%20dire%20straits%20-%203.jpg). At all. > > Funny, because I think it was the first CD I bought. I know it was the first CD I heard, knowingly anyway. I remember a friend of the family saying “hey, look at this cool new music thing” and playing something from it. I don’t remember which track, though. Not surprising, because it was one of the first major albums that was digitally recorded. 99.9% sure Brothers In Arms was the first million-selling CD, fwiw. (It’s worth at least a zombie reply.) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/57 "2018-08-10T17:21:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 99.9% sure Brothers In Arms was the first million-selling CD, fwiw. (It’s worth at least a zombie reply.) True, according to Guinness World Records. > [@Guinness World Records](#): > > The first CD to sell a million copies world-wide was Dire Straits’ Brother in Arms in 1986. It subsequently topped a million sales in Europe alone, including over 250,000 in Britain. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/58 "2018-08-10T19:45:47Z")
So _kicks for free_ is a mondegreen and the real lyric is _chicks for free_? Ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/59 "2018-08-10T19:46:48Z")
Freshman year, apparently because “college”, the two guys in the room under me would crank up their new stereo every afternoon and play “Money for Nothing”, on repeat, as loud as the speaker would go. I responded by getting larger speakers. It says something for the song that I still like it. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455/60 "2018-08-10T20:00:46Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Heh. I remember my then-6-year-old sister seeing a photo of _Shout at the Devil_-era Mötley Crüe in the issue of _Hit Parader_ I was reading, and refusing to believe me when I told her they were men. I hope you’re able to remember the dialog, and can let us have it. Was it something like: “Those girls are ugly.” “They’re not ugly, and they’re men.” “Nuh-uh” “Uh-huh” “Mommmm…Rick is making fun of me again.” Oh and yes, I know its a zombie thread, but **Mister Rik:** has posted recently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-money-for-nothing-and-kicks-for-free-mean/671455.md?page=4)