Money is a song by the English band Pink Floyd from their 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Written by bassist and co‑lead singer Roger Waters, the track became one of the album's most recognizable pieces and a frequent feature in the group's live shows. It appears as the first track on the album's second side on the original vinyl original LP sequence.

Overview and significance

Built around a memorable bass riff and a loop of money‑related sounds, the song mixes rock instrumentation with studio effects to underline its theme of greed and materialism. As a single it was the only track from the album to reach the top twenty on the Billboard Hot 100, helping introduce Pink Floyd's work to a broader pop audience.

Composition and distinctive features

Musically, "Money" is famous for its unusual meter: most verses ride a 7/4 time groove before shifting into a straight 4/4 feel for the guitar solo. The contrast between the rigid counting of the verses and the freer solo section contributes to the song's tension and release. Instrumentation includes a prominent bass line, drums, electric guitar solos and a saxophone solo that became a signature part of the arrangement.

Recording and studio techniques

Engineers used tape loops of coins, cash registers and paper rustling as the rhythmic intro and thematic motif, spliced into place to form a repeating groove. The band and production team recorded at EMI studios, using overdubs and analog effects to blend the natural and artificial sounds into a compact rock arrangement.

Lyrics, themes and legacy

Waters' lyrics offer a satirical take on wealth, consumption and human self‑interest rather than celebrating material success. The song's clever production, rhythmic novelty and critical perspective have kept it in radio rotation and on classic rock playlists for decades. It remains one of Pink Floyd's best known songs and a notable example of how progressive rock could engage mainstream listeners.

Key features