Sound Investments: 15 country songs about money and wealth

September 22, 2023 3:09 PM

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.

Country music is famous for its hard-luck stories.

When country singers make reference to money, it's usually either to air complaints about not having it or express regrets about losing it on gambling, drinking or other forms of dissipation. Who could possibly be in more need of the services of a financial advisor?

Here we've assembled a list of 15 country songs that not only bemoan the travails of not having money but also speak of the common person's aspiration to acquire a bit more — and the joys of finally coming into your own. It's the latest installment in our "Sound Investments" series, which we've previously used to consider money and all the issues surrounding it through the lenses of pop, rock and rap/R&B.

Take a look at our country list and read a bit about each of the songs. More importantly, give them a listen. At the bottom of this article, you'll find links to this playlist on both Spotify and Apple Music.

And if we've left out anything obvious, or even not so obvious, let us know. Send your suggestions to fpeditor@arizent.com, and we can add them to the playlist.

‘Bill Morgan and His Gal (My Name Is Morgan But It Ain’t J.P.)’ by the New Lost City Ramblers

By far the oldest song in our list, this ditty from the early 20th century shows how long the name J.P. Morgan and its various offshoots have been part of the national consciousness. Equally outdated is the song's story about a man of modest means named Bill Morgan who has to constantly remind his wife that he's not to be confused with the banking magnate J. Pierpont Morgan. Hey, but how many country songs name-check one of the cornerstones of our industry?

‘Busted’ by Johnny Cash

Boy could the narrator of this song use some good financial advice. His bills are due and his babies need shoes. And he's busted. The price of cotton has cratered and his livestock are suffering from a slew of barnyard maladies. And … he's busted. Maybe instead of sinking his money into the farm, he should have considered a 60-40 portfolio?

‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers

It's a vast overstatement to say playing the stock market is just gambling. Because of the miracle of compound interest, investors who put their money into a fund tracking the S&P 500 20 years ago would have seen a 555% gain. That's hardly like walking up to the roulette table and letting it all ride on red. But Rogers' classic nonetheless offers some wise investing advice. How many people know when to "walk away" from an investment that's turned sour, or one that's not worth their while in the first place?

‘If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time’ by Lefty Frizzell

This last of our classic country tunes is best seen as a cautionary tale. As long as Lefty's latest love interest has some money, he's happy to help her spend it. But what happens when the well runs dry? Financial advisors would say there are better ways to invest your money and time.

‘Live Like You Were Dying’ by Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw sings here about how important it is to start checking items off your bucket list while you're still young enough and healthy enough to do it. Maybe "skydiving" and "Rocky Mountain climbing" don't figure into most financial advisors' long-term goals. But how about that dream of breaking off to start an RIA?

‘Hold On’ by Mickey Guyton

One of the hardest things a financial advisor has to do is to convince a client to stick with an investment strategy in a down year. Witness 2022, when many investors were ready to bail on stock and bond markets after they both fell in the tank. Mickey Guyton's power ballad is likely about struggles with far greater foes than the temptation to abandon your investing plans. But it might nonetheless provide a little welcome reassurance to advisors and clients who are starting to second-guess themselves.

‘That Don’t Impress Me’ Much by Shania Twain

In this radio staple from the late '90s, Shania Twain comes off as the ultimate hard-sell client. Your latest investment strategy's performance results aren't going to carry you very far with her. Better start thinking of broadening your services to offer assistance with insurance, estate planning and tax-loss harvesting. Even then, she'll be asking: "What have you done for me lately?"

‘Silver and Gold’ by Dolly Parton

Dolly lays it all out here in her spoken-word introduction. Most financial advisors would agree with her that money isn't everything. But they'd add this caveat. It's hard to enjoy much in life if you're constantly worried about paying the bills. Dolly herself seems to have done pretty well. We wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that she benefited from some financial advice along the way.

‘Money in the Bank’ by John Anderson

One of the welcome turns country music has taken in recent decades has been to move away from complaints about a lack of money to lyrics that celebrate having and spending it. John Anderson can't wait in this '90s hit to put his latest paycheck to use taking his date to the local Krystal burger and "picture show." But hold on there, John, most financial advisors would say. Make sure you're setting aside some of those earnings. Otherwise, that money in the bank won't last long.

‘Rich and Miserable’ by Kenny Chesney

Here's another take on the classic country theme of "money won't buy you everything." Kenny Chesney takes aim at the American dream, at least if you take that dream to mean becoming as rich as possible. It's a solid message. But planners might quibble with his seeming equation of 401(k)s — the best retirement option for many workers — with far riskier hedge funds.

‘Right On the Money’ by Alan Jackson

Of course it's essential to have a solid investment strategy and a commitment to sticking through good times and bad. But it's hard to beat that sense of satisfaction you and your client get when it finally pays off. It's good to be right on the money. It feels a bit like listening to this song.

‘Ka-Ching’ by Shania Twain

Shania makes a second appearance on this list with a tune that borrows both from the beginning of Pink Floyd's classic track "Money" and the beats of contemporary pop tunes. Here the theme is the emptiness of consumerism and the troubles you can land yourself in by piling up debt. Planners might sum it up with this advice: You should spend to live, not live to spend.

‘Last Dollar (Fly Away)’ by Tim McGraw

Here Tim McGraw talks about how losing most of his money has changed his outlook on life, making him carefree and willing to try anything. But before he goes on a reckless spree, he might want to see if an advisor could help set him upright again.

‘If I Could Make a Living’ by Clay Walker

Clay Walker sings in this song about how he could become a millionaire if he could "make a living out of loving you." It's probably not the most realistic career aspiration (unless he has some heiress in mind). But his desire to be "doing what I love, and loving what I do" will no doubt strike a chord with many an advisor.

‘Buy Me a Boat’ by Chris Janson

Chris Janson flips the "money can't buy you everything" cliche on its head. The Beatles were right. Money can't buy you love. But it can buy you a boat, a truck and a Yeti 110 iced down with silver bullets (cans of Coors Light). Most financial advisors would agree that it's important to save money for some of the luxuries in life. Just don't let them eat into your emergency and retirement savings.