25 Best Country Songs About Money

Country music may be best known for songs about women, trucks and alcohol, but country songs about money also make up an enduring part of this genre. Here are some of the best country songs about money from the last few decades.

“9 to 5” by Dolly Parton

Song Year: 1980

Dolly Parton is one of the most famous country singers, and “9 to 5” is easily one of her most recognizable songs. Written for a film with the same name, it won two Grammy awards despite its brief runtime.

The lyrics focus on the struggles of making a living with a full-time job, including how people can often fail to get credit or promotions after putting in the work. That’s something that resonates with a lot of people, which may explain why this song is so famous.

“(This Thing Called) Wantin’ and Havin’ It All” by Sawyer Brown

Song Year: 1995

The title song for an album by the same name, this song from Sawyer Brown tells the story of a wealthy man at the end of his life. He realizes that all of his money can’t buy him the things he truly wants. His children are just waiting to inherit, so the man decides to will his money to a poorer family who helped him.

It’s a stark reminder in a money-focused society that pursuing money may be a route to security, but it certainly doesn’t guarantee happiness in life. It’s a message all too many people are ready to forget.

“Ka-ching!” by Shania Twain

Song Year: 2003

Co-written by Shania Twain and Robert Lange, this song focuses on consumer culture and the way the world often revolves around money. It also features a few uncommon sound effects, including the noise of a cash register, which some people may overlook with the rise of digital payments.

“Ka-ching!” performed well in Europe despite its focus on American culture, hitting #1 in Portugal and #2 in several more countries for the weekly charts. It also departs somewhat from traditional country sound, mixing elements of pop while building on the legacy of Twain’s previous work.

“Fancy” by Reba McEntire

Song Year: 1990

Reba McEntire is easily one of the most famous country singers of all time, famous for a mix of sharp wit and biting lyrics. However, she didn’t write this one herself, as it’s a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s 1969 version of the song.

The lyrics focus on a woman escaping poverty by selling her body and doing well for herself. They admit that some people would dislike her actions, but they also tell how the title character achieved her mother’s hopes for a better life. It’s uplifting but complex, just like much of life.

“Shuttin’ Detroit Down” by John Rich

Song Year: 2009

This song is a direct commentary on the 2008 recession. In it, John Rich (an apt name if there ever was one for a song about money) talks about his father’s views of working hard and taking responsibility, then contrasts that to wealthy people looking for bailouts when the economy imploded.

Who gets the money is arguably a central element of life, so it’s no surprise that songs occasionally focus on it. While some tunes beat around the bush, this one isn’t afraid to say what it means and go on from there.

“Money Isn’t What Really Matters” by Kenny Rogers

Song Year: 1998

A somewhat unusual Christmas country song, this tune from Kenny Rogers is another reminder that wealth isn’t the only thing that matters. Instead, he argues that love is a more important thing, though the lyrics also admit that not having enough money can lead to sadness.

However, Christmas songs tend to be fundamentally optimistic, and the entire album this song is from focuses on uplifting tunes. If you’re looking for something bright, you could do a lot worse than this.

“Hard Workin’ Man” by Brooks and Dunn

Song Year: 1993

A classic country song, “Hard Workin’ Man,” celebrates hard work out in rural areas but acknowledges that effort doesn’t necessarily translate to financial success. However, in this case, some of that is on the man in question because he quickly spends all he earns and doesn’t bother saving up.

That’s not a bad thing for everyone, though. He’s satisfied with how life is going, and since he’s good enough at getting by, he doesn’t feel like he needs more. It’s a good reminder that money isn’t everything, and it’s a view that many longtime Country listeners can relate to.

“Money in the Bank” by John Anderson

Song Year: 1993

Country songs about money can also be country songs about love, and “Money in the Bank” by John Anderson is no exception to that. The lyrics discuss the singer’s view that love is ultimately better than money, along with his willingness to spend what he has on the relationship.

This specifically includes forgoing some other things he wants, including a boat for fishing and a Z/28 (a Chevrolet Camaro car model emphasizing racing performance). Looking a little deeper, the song is talking about the need to prioritize how you spend money in a relationship, but giving things up doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

“If I Could Make A Living” by Clay Walker

Song Year: 1994

Clay Walker’s classic country song from an album of the same name focuses on a desire to focus on love instead of work, which isn’t a rare sentiment among the blue-collar workers who are more likely to listen to this song.

The tune is simultaneously romantic and melancholy, recognizing human desire while also acknowledging that it’s not very easy to achieve. Like many other country songs, though, it does acknowledge hard work as a virtue, especially when it takes priority in someone’s life.

“Buy Me a Boat” by Chris Janson

Song Year: 2015

While it’s newer than many of the other songs on this list, “Buy Me a Boat” is a smash-hit country song with multiple awards and nominations under its belt. In it, Janson focuses on society’s views of wealth and the use thereof, including his wish to be rich and able to buy things like boats and equipment.

A central element of this song is the idea that while money can’t buy everything, it can still do an awful lot. He also aims a line at religion, which is relatively rare in country music, pointing out that despite the church’s views, the lifestyle of the rich is still quite appealing to a lot of people.

“Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind” by Confederate Railroad

Song Year: 1994

Confederate Railroad isn’t as well-known as some other country bands, but this song shot upwards as a hit shortly after release. It’s almost more story than a song, telling of a family starting poor and the singer’s decision to start buying material things.

However, when his father passes later in the song, he realizes that his father was right and that love was ultimately more important than physical goods. That’s a common theme in country songs about money, and it appears particularly often in songs from the 1990s.

“Goin’ Through the Big D (And Don’t Mean Dallas)” by Mark Chestnut

Song Year: 1994

Divorce is quite common in America, so it’s no surprise that there are some country songs about it. The lyrics focus on the cost of divorce and how jumping too quickly into romance can have costs far beyond what someone ever expected.

The lyrics are melancholy here, but the main thing to pay attention to is how long the payments can go on. Divorce isn’t simply a one-and-done thing but an event that continues to affect people far beyond the point where it happens.

“People Are Crazy” by Billy Currington

Song Year: 2009

Although not obviously about money by the title (unlike a lot of other songs here), money comes into the story of this song after the singer spends some time talking to an old man about a wide range of subjects.

After the old man dies, he leaves his money to someone else, and it’s strongly implied that it’s the singer. Despite the anger of the man’s kids, it reinforces the central idea of the song, which is that people can do unexpected things and aren’t easy to pin down.