‘Even Though We Ain’t Got Money, I’m So In Love With Ya Honey’ … How Did That Work Out For You?
Recently while dining with my favorite husband at a restaurant with live music, the singer performed Danny’s Song, an old favorite of mine.
Since I had not heard this song in years it touched a raw emotional chord in my memory bank and the song has stayed on my mind ever since.
Just to refresh your memory, Danny’s Song was released in 1971 by Loggins and Messina from their debut album entitled Sittin’ In.
At the height of the song’s popularity I was a 16-year-old sophomore in high school. Whenever it played on the radio (which was quite frequently) my girlfriends and I would sing along at the top of our lungs.
But above all I remember the lyrics making a huge psychological impact on me, helping formulate my sweet 16 view of love, relationships and future marriage.
Now looking back at the song from my 57-year-old perspective it was the chorus that imprinted itself on my heart.
And even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with ya honey, everything will bring a chain of love.
And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes,
And tell me everything is gonna be alright.
As a teenager that chorus spoke to me saying “whether you are rich or poor, love conquers all.”
I truly embraced the message.
Then of course you grow up and strap yourself in for a ride on the roller coaster of life. When hurricanes strike and the roller coaster gets swept out to sea (like this one in New Jersey recently) with you still on it, but your partner is gone and your wallet is empty, then you wise up and realize that song’s message was just a sweet 16 fairy tale. 
As many aging baby boomers experienced their roller coaster ride through life, money issues were often deal breakers in marriages.
My peers may have started out singing “even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with ya honey” but then we watched as the record got severely scratched or broken after the roller-coaster took some sharp unexpected turns.
Since I like to think of myself as a one person aging baby boomer focus group… and if I was so heavily impacted by this song’s idyllic message, how many of you were as well?
In the comments section, you are allowed to stomp on your ex who stole your wallet, but just do not use real names!
On the other hand, if you are still in your first baby boomer marriage that is a testament to Danny’s Song, congratulations, and please share your story, but don’t make the rest of us feel too bad.
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And get caught up on Myra’s previous Baby Boomer nostalgia adventures in this series’ predecessor, Classic Rock and Cheap Wine:
My favorite song along these lines is “Mandolin Wind,” by Rod Stewart. I used to play it to myself back when I was married and laid off, thinking, wo, my wife is just like the woman in this song!
Needless to say, wifey didn’t actually stick it out too much longer after the buffalo started dying.
But I still love the song.
Late baby boomer here still in first and only marriage, 23 years now. Had ups and downs but downs got much worse after wife lost job in the Obamacession. Money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness, but the lack of it sure contributes to unhappiness.
You might want to move somewhere else. Pick a place that does NOT have much of a “social safety net.” That’s where you and your wife will find enough freedom to make a living.
for me it’s…..
“Ya done put mah ‘cinerator heater
The razor’s in the clay
Well, they keeps us working all night
Don’t give us no pay
Don’t give us no pay”……..
I’ve never heard this song, and I don’t intend to listen to it.
I’ve always been a Black Sabbath fan, since I was in the 7th grade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6MZxG04-hY
Now that’s a song about love to me.
“And even though we ain’t got money . . . “
I wonder how many millions in royalties they made for that song . . .
You kind of wonder about the effect of the lyrics of popular music regarding acts that it’s best people don’t take.
Just remember that while you were listening to Danny’s Song, the guys were listening to Freebird.
Money may not everything, nor even not having it (though having it is less aggravating), but debt sure stinks and is a recipe for marital discord… being phobic about debt and marrying someone who creates it is not good.
I didn’t mind marrying my ex even thought she had no money, although I will admit being rather annoyed when she left with half of mine to go spend it with her new boyfriend.
Choose wisely.
I’m a remarried 55 year old woman who was previously married at age 22 and divorced at age 37. I would say my first marriage started to fall apart when my first husband and I finally had some money to fight about. And of course, whatever his inclinations, my first husband wouldn’t have been able to have an affair in the earlier years of our marriage. He wouldn’t have been able to afford to take the time necessary for an affair off from work. And when he wasn’t working, he was watching the kids so that I could work.
Romantic love won’t hold a marriage together. But money won’t hold a marriage together either.
I married at 24. I had a little money that I had saved over the years. My husband believed that all money was ours and took every cent. He was fired several times, attempted to work on his own (and failed) and we lived in rank poverty. I left him.
Struggle is good if you can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but not if there is only darkness.
Interesting subject. Just recently, after a period of unemployment I gratefully accepted a temporary job making less money, in inflation adjusted terms, than I did when this song came out. I am now worth less than I was upon entering the workforce at age 16.
Forward! HOGWASH!
For us it’s “Summer Breeze” by Seals & Crofts; tears flow when that piece comes on. It will be 40 years for us next June; we’ll each be 62. There have been periods when we had no money, and periods when we did have money; the latter is preferable. But we both had families that would not have allowed us to become destitute. I believe most every policy question — economy, healthcare, education, welfare, etc. — is a family policy question.
I agree.
omg. that was our favorite song. we played it at the wedding. it would have been our forty year anniversary this year. and we were poor when our son was born (like the song). but i worked hard, long hours; and, we finally bought a house. two cars. we were living the dream. it was real love, and we knew it. then she started hanging around with ‘those STRANGE people’……
what? you thought i was serious?
did like the song though. always did. funny how a song can bring back memories of a time past.