Half-Penny, Two-Penny
Written by James Young
Lead Vocals by James Young
Half penny, two penny, gold Krugerrand
He was exceedingly rich for such a young man
Sad story, old story
Bring out the band
Another divorce just a few hundred grand
Half penny, two penny, back of the queue
Yes mister poor man this means you
Justice for money what can you say
We all know it's the American Way
Yes, I'm gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
Half penny, two penny, back in the States
You just couldn't take that African pace
Yes, Mrs. Cleaver your son's home to stay
We all know it's the American Way
Yes, I'm gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
"Come here - hey Angelo... what's happenin'?"
"Hey, Stosh, good to see ya"
"What the hell you doin'?"
"We're tearing this old building down here"
"Oh you're kiddin' me. Remember when we were kids, and we used to come here every Saturday afternoon to see a cartoon?"
"Yeah, I remember"
"Well what's she lost to?"
"Who knows- politicians, taxes...it's a disgrace"
"I'm not surprised, they make me sick. They don't make theaters like this
any more."
Half penny, two penny, ashes to dust
The almighty dollar says "In God we trust"
Justice for money how much more can I pay
We all know it's the American Way
Yes, I'm gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
(I want to be free)
Yes, I'm gonna shake myself loose
Back home across the sea
Where I know that I will be free
(We all want to be free)
Interpretation
Money can't buy happiness.
Here it is in JY's own words, from a December 9, 1999 on-line chat at Yahoo!:
Q: JY, what inspired Half Penny Two Penny?
JY: I suppose, on the Paradise Theater album, and the Paradise Theater being an allegory, not so veiled an allegory, for the state of America at the time... concept of justice for money and the other roles that money plays in our capitalist society led me to write that song. And I guess that was predicted on OJ back in 1981.
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