Now That Your Dollar Bills Have Sprouted Wings
By: Beck Hansen

Written by: Beck Hansen

 
Lyrics:
Now That Your Dollar Bills Have Sprouted Wings [Version (a)]:

I had fourteen dollars in my inside pocket
And twenty-two more up my sleeve
There was cold hard cash lining up my jacket
But I did not have a dime when I did leave

When I got here I was carrying roses
When I had to go, I was only holding dirt
Well I walked in here wearing a tuxedo
But I left wearing an old t-shirt

They say it's hard times, don't I know it
I'm sleeping on a bed made of nails
Well I used to live way up in the penthouse
Now I can't even get a room in the county jail

Now that your dollar bills have sprouted wings
And I don't think they'll come around next spring
Just like birds of prey, they will take what's yours and fly away
Now that your dollar bills have sprouted wings

Well I came to town on a pile of diamonds
Now I'm leaving on a wheelbarrow of dust
With IOUs glued to my eyelids
Sitting here watching my safe rust

Watching all your coins roll down the gutter
And all your champagne going down the sink
Is there something that you're trying to remember?
Or is that string around your finger a wedding ring?

Now that your dollar bills have sprouted wings
And I don't think they'll come around next spring
Just like birds of prey, they will take what's yours and fly away
Now that your dollar bills have sprouted wings
 
The Song:

"Now That Your Dollar Bills Have Sprouted Wings" is one of the main songs in Beck's Song Reader project.

Back during the Great Depression, when sheet music was more popular, there were certainly a lot of songs about going broke, money, etc. This taps into that, which similarly also makes it feel a little bit like some of Beck's early '90s tracks.

This also is one of the Song Reader songs that Beck has done live a few times.

 
Live:

Played live 4 times:
Earliest known live version: July 26, 2013
Latest known live version: August 1, 2013

Beck performed "Dollar Bills" live 4 times, all in 4 straight shows in the summer of 2013. The book had been out for a little bit, but that summer he took to plugging it at shows, as well as throwing a song or two or three into his sets.