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"Money Power Glory" (or "Money, Power and Glory" and referred to as "Money & Power") is a song by Lana Del Rey written with Greg Kurstin. It was released on her second major-label studio album, Ultraviolence.

Background[]

On May 3, 2014, the title was revealed in an interview with a French magazine as "Money, Power & Glory". The interview said the song would have hip-hop beats that American radio stations would love.

A snippet of an alternate version of the song leaked on June 25, 2018, the full version leaking on September 20. This version was produced by Dan Auerbach, who reworked it during his sessions with Del Rey for Ultraviolence. Ultimately, Del Rey ended up releasing Kurstin's version on the album instead. A demo of this version, at one point considered for inclusion on Del Rey's third studio album before it would become Ultraviolence, has been rumored to exist by multiple insiders.[S 1] It is said to feature heavy drums.[S 2]

An alternate version of the song, mixed by Robert Orton, is registered on PPL Repertoire.[1]

Writing and inspiration[]

"Like, if all that I was actually going to be allowed to have by the media was money, loads of money, then fuck it … What I actually wanted was something quiet and simple: a writer's community and respect."

Del Rey talking to Tim Jonze of The Guardian [2]

Del Rey talked about writing "Money Power Glory" in a track by track commentary of Ultraviolence, stating she wrote the song at a time when she felt really frustrated. She felt like the most anybody was going to allow her was, if she would be lucky, money and power, in the form of infamy, rather than fame. She described the song as "a sarcastic response, psychologically, just to what I felt was going on".[3] On June 12, 2014, when asked by The New York Times about the track, she said "I learned that whatever I did elicited an opposite response, so I’m sure ‘Money Power Glory’ will actually resonate with people as being what I really do want. I already know what's coming, so it's okay to explore irony and bitterness".[4] On July 1, 2014, in a controversial interview with The Guardian, Del Rey discussed being in "more of a sardonic mood" while writing the song.[2]

On July 22, 2014, producer Greg Kurstin was asked by NME about writing and producing the track, and said the song "was one of the earlier songs written on the album and it stuck around". Discussing its inclusion on the track list, Kurstin explained:

"I wasn't really sure what was going to happen because we did it so early and I know she went through a lot of writing after that point. It's interesting that what ended up on the album is actually the original mix that we finished that day; we didn't re-cut or re-record anything. But it was great when I finally heard where she went and I think it was really cool that she went organic with live musicians. It was unexpected, but also a logical step for her. I really love that album; it's one of the albums that I listen to over and over again."[5]

Remix version[]

A snippet of an unofficial remix featuring vocals from The Weeknd was played on August 14, 2020, during Episode 9 of his Memento Mori radio show. It is unclear if a full version was recorded or if he was an original featured artist on the track. The Weeknd's vocals and lyrics are very similar to the ones of Del Rey's in the leaked demo of the song.

Live performance[]

Del Rey performed "Money Power Glory" live for the first time on July 15, 2014, during Live at the Marquee festival in Cork, Ireland.

Cross-references[]

Official versions[]

  • Album version — 4:30
    • Instrumental version — 4:28
  • Alternate version (produced by Dan Auerbach) — 4:21
  • The Weeknd remix version (snippet) — 1:41

Lyrics[]

Album version[]

You say that you wanna go to a land that's far away
How are we supposed to get there with the way that we're livin' today?
You talk lots about God, freedom comes from the call, but
That's not what this bitch wants, not what I want it all

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Baby

The sun also rises on those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-b-b-b-baby
I can do it if you think you'd like that
You should run, boy, run

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Baby, ee-hee-hee

Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Baby, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee

Alternate version[]

You say that you wanna go to a land that's far away
How are we supposed to get there with the way that we're livin' today?
You talk lots about God, freedom comes from the call, but
That's not what this bitch wants, not what I want it all

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got

(Ooh, ooh)

The sun also rises on those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
But I can do it if you really, really like that
I know what you really want, b-b-b-b-baby
I can do it if you think you'd like that
You should run, boy, run

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Baby, ee-hee-hee

Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, that's all that I am
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds
Dope and diamonds, dope and diamonds, diamonds

I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee

Remix version[]

[Snippet]:
[The Weeknd]:
The sun also rises for those who fail the call
My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls
But I can do it if you think you really like that
I know what you really want, baby, baby, baby
I can do it if you think you really like that
You should run, baby, run, baby, run

[Lana Del Rey]:
I want money, power, and glory
I want money and all your power, all your glory
Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got
Hallelujah, I'm gonna take them for all that they got
Baby, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee, ee-hee-hee

Credits[]

Personnel

  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Greg Kurstin — songwriting, production, mixing, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard
  • Alex Pasco & Julian Burg — additional engineering
  • John Davis — mastering

Technical

  • Mastered at Metropolis Studios, London

References[]

Notes[]

  1. This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Honeymoun, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
  2. This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Carcase, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.


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