"Clean Money" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions is a song about the temptation and corruption that comes with money. The lyrics depict the anticipation of payday and the desire to spend it on someone special. The phrase "Payday's coming and we wash it away, clean money" suggests that the characters in the song are looking to wash away their sins and guilt using the money they earn. The song also highlights the darker side of wealth and the lengths people would go to obtain it. The lines "Grassing on a classmate, so beautiful and fortunate" imply that the characters are willing to betray and turn on each other for personal gain. The lyrics further suggest that money can be used to fix or manipulate situations and that it can lead to destructive behaviors. The chorus emphasizes the protagonist's insistence that their love cannot be bought or influenced by money. Despite the corrupted world they find themselves in, they want to hold on to their pure feelings and not let money taint their relationships. In the second verse, the song talks about the consequences of sinful actions, referring to them as an expensive infection. The line "Who stole your thunder?" suggests that someone has taken away the protagonist's power or influence, possibly due to their involvement in shady financial dealings. Overall, "Clean Money" explores the themes of the corrupting influence of money, the way it can manipulate relationships, and the struggle to maintain one's integrity in a world driven by material wealth.
