Being broke is a stressful and frustrating experience that so many of us have gone through at least once in our lives. However, finding yourself in a financial struggle can also help remind many of what really matters in life: everything but money.
Below, we’ve listed 20 songs about being broke, all of which discuss the good and bad of not having a lot of money at your disposal. While some of these songs may help comfort your own trying times, we’ve also included fun, positive songs, too!
1. “Young Dumb & Broke” by Khalid
“Young Dumb & Broke” by Khalid is all about being broke and in love when you’re younger. Khalid sings that there’s no reason for him or his romantic interest to be serious in their relationship. They’re young and dumb, after all. So, why not just have fun and enjoy their lives?
“Young Dumb & Broke” is a great song full of youthful romance and understanding that even if you’re young and broke, you can still have fun!
2. “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” by Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez’s 2000 song “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” is a fun, romantic pop song. Lopez sings to her romantic partner about how much she loves them. She sings that they don’t have to worry about anything. They don’t need to stress that she’s with them for their money, as she’s not.
Lopez very clearly says that it doesn’t matter if her lover is broke or rich. She just wants to be with them! The lyrics say, “Even if you were broke / My love don’t cost a thing.”
3. “Everyday I Have to Cry” by Dusty Springfield
1964’s “Everyday I Have to Cry” by Dusty Springfield also discusses being broke! Throughout this song, Springfield sings about how upset she is over the end of her romantic relationship. She can’t help but continue to cry as she thinks about the man she cannot be with.
This man cannot marry her, as he has no money. Therefore, this leaves Springfield alone and heartbroken, singing, “But you can’t mix love with money / ‘Cause if you do it’s gonna hurt somebody.”
4. “Where Have All the Good Times Gone?” by The Kinks
The Kinks’ 1965 song “Where Have All the Good Times Gone?” follows the band as they think back to when they were children. In this nostalgic song, the band reminisces about their upbringing about how they miss these “good times”.
The singer also explains that, when he was growing up, his family was broke. They had no money. However, this didn’t harm his childhood, as he longs for these better days! Even though his family was poor, he misses how much fun he used to have.
5. “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival released their song “Proud Mary” on their 1969 album Bayou Country. “Proud Mary”, which has been covered by a lot of different bands and artists in various genres, tells a story about people who work hard.
The song also talks about a community by the river that is kind and will always be there to help others — even if these people are broke and don’t have money! The band sings, “You don’t have to worry ’cause you have no money / People on the river are happy to give.”
6. “Poor Man’s Son” by Survivor
“Poor Man’s Son” by Survivor, first released in 1981, tells the story of a rich young woman who falls in love with a poor young man. Told from the poor man’s point of view, the song explains that this woman could have done anything she wanted to do. However, she instead chose to love someone who doesn’t have money!
The band sings the lyrics, “You’re a rich man’s daughter / Look at what you’ve done / You went and fell in love / With a poor man’s son.”
7. “Mr. Charles’ Blues” by Ray Charles
“Mr. Charles’ Blues” by Ray Charles also discusses having no money! In this classic blues song, Ray Charles sings about being with his romantic partner, as well as realizing that he has no money.
As a result, he sings the lyrics, “I didn’t have no money in my pocket, darling / Shout aloud and have no place to go.”
8. “Coat of Many Colors” by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris’ 1975 song “Coat of Many Colors”, which was originally written by Dolly Parton, touches on themes of being broke but happy! Harris sings about a box of rags that her mother used to make a “Coat of Many Colors”, as they couldn’t afford a brand new coat.
Even though her family was poor, Harris sings that she was always happy and loved. She explains by singing, “Though we had no money I was rich as I could be / In my coat of many colors my momma made for me.”
9. “The Little Beggar Girl” by Richard & Linda Thompson
1974’s “The Little Beggar Girl” by Richard & Linda Thompson also talks about having no money. The song opens up with the singer explaining that they’re singing from the point of view of a young girl named Sally. Sally is poor and begging for money.
Throughout the rest of the song, we learn about this poor girl and what she does to try to make money. She’s not too concerned with the state she’s in, as she knows that she’ll be rich in death.
Towards the end of the song, they sing, “If you give me your money, it’ll do you no harm / For I’m only a poor little beggar girl.”
10. “Hand In My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette
“Hand In My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette, which appears on the 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, touches on themes of poverty as well. This song opens with the lines, “I’m broke, but I’m happy / I’m poor, but I’m kind.”
Through these lyrics, we see how different Morissette is, as well as the paradoxes in her daily life and who she is. In the rest of the song, she expresses that no matter what, she’ll be fine!
11. “As Long As You Love Me” by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber’s song “As Long As You Love Me” discusses being broke when in a romantic relationship. In this song, Bieber opens with thoughts about the world and how hard it can be to live in it. He sings to the girl he loves, explaining how it doesn’t matter what happens, as long as they’re together.
He sings, “As long as you love me / We could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke.”
12. “How Long, How Long Blues” by Ella Fitzgerald
1963’s “How Long, How Long Blues” by Ella Fitzgerald finds the jazz singer discussing her sadness and blues. She wonders how long she’ll be able to live again and be with the one she loves.
As a result, she sings about how she has no money, which only increases her blues. She sings, “Don’t have no money for to ride the train / I would ride the rods, baby, to be with you again.”
13. “Lazy Days” by The Byrds
In “Lazy Days”, The Byrds sing about how much they want to enjoy a calm and relaxing day with the one that they love. The singer continues to beg his partner to not ruin this lazy day of theirs! He doesn’t want his partner worrying about the income tax or anything else to do with wealth.
This couple from the lower class just wants to enjoy a day where they do nothing. It doesn’t matter if they have no money during these “Lazy Days”. They sing, “No, I don’t have no money but I always got plenty of time.”
14. “Broke” by Modest Mouse
“Broke” by Modest Mouse, which appears on the band’s 1996 album Building Nothing Out of Something, discusses different ideas, objects, or situations that are broken. To begin with, the band talks about being broke and having no money. They sing, “Broke account, so I broke a sweat / I’ve bought some things that I’ll sort of regret about now.”
As the song progresses, the band goes on to talk about other things that become broken, such as a promise or a relationship!
15. “Double Trouble” by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton’s song “Double Trouble” follows the singer as he explains his financial situation. He has no money and can’t seem to find a good job. He sees other people in his generation that become millionaires and he can’t help but compare himself to them.
However, he knows he’ll likely never become a wealthy person, as this song doesn’t necessarily talk about any positives. Instead, he just sings, “I have no money to show.”
16. “A Bird In the Hand” by Ice Cube
1991’s “A Bird In the Hand” by Ice Cube follows Cube’s struggles as he tried to find a job when he was a teenager after high school. He was a father, so he needed to find a job that made money as quickly as possible. However, he begins to realize that there weren’t many opportunities for him.
“A Bird In the Hand” is one of the best songs about losing money, as well as about struggling to make money.
17. “Broke” by Jason Derulo
“Broke” by Jason Derulo, featuring Stevie Wonder and Keith Urban, combines country and R&B in this song about being broke! Throughout this song, Derulo sings about how now that he has more money, he also has more problems.
He thinks back to his youth when he had no money and remembers how easier it was. Plus, this song also reveals that he’s dealing with a girlfriend who is a gold digger, as she just wants to be with him because he has money!
As a result of all of this, Derulo realizes that he’d much rather be broke than have all of this drama that naturally comes with money!
18. “Poor Folks Town” by Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s 1972 song “Poor Folks Town” opens with the lyrics, “Come on down have a look around / At rich folks living in a poor folks’ town / We got no money but we’re rich in love.”
In the rest of the song, the duo sings about a little town where poor people live like rich people, as they’re so happy. However, you can’t find any mansions or really nice cars here. Instead, you’ll just find very happy and kind townspeople!
19. “Lick” by Offset
“Lick” by Offset follows the rapper as he remembers the days when he used to be broke. Now that he has money, he looks back on his past and thinks about how he used to live. He raps, “Do or die, gotta survive, pay the rent / I was so broke that I could cry, I was sick.”
20. “Broke” by Brandy Clark
Finally, we have the last song on our list! “Broke” by Brandy Clark discusses being broke in a small town where everyone — even the animals — is leaving. Clark sings about how this is no joke, as they’re broke and don’t really have anything left.
In the chorus, she repeats the lyrics, “We’re broke, we’re busted / Our Chevy truck is rusted.”