Springsteen plays songs about money (and unloads on Trump) on SiriusXM

The 28th show in Bruce Springsteen’s DJ series on SiriusXM satellite radio was titled “Money Honey.”

Bruce Springsteen’s 28th DJ show on SiriusXM satellite radio, titled “Money Honey,” gave him a chance to vent about former president Donald Trump. Before playing Fitz & the Tantrums’ “MoneyGrabber,” Springsteen told the story about how Trump bought pianos from Mike Diehl, who owned the Freehold music school where Springsteen took lessons in his youth, then refused to pay for them.

Springsteen called Trump “this bastard” and “that fucker that’s sitting down in Mar-a-Lago, Fla., right now, sucking on his shrimp scampi and lyin’ to the rest of the nation.”

The show debuted Sept. 15 on the SiriusXM E Street Radio channel (channel 20). Springsteen sang the praises of Wanda Jackson, Slim Harpo and Wynonie Harris while introducing songs by them (“Money Honey,” “I’m Your Bread Maker, Baby” and “Mr. Dollar,” respectively) and also played songs by Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers, The Killers, Vampire Weekend, James Brown and others, and

The show was part of Springsteen’s “From My Home to Yours” series. You can see an index of all songs previously played (with links to what he said and videos for the songs), here.

Here is today’s transcript and videos. In some cases, a version of the song may have been played that is different from what is embedded in this post.
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Hello gamblers, ramblers, friends, family, hustlers and rustlers, welcome to Vol. 28 of “From My Home to Yours,” titled “Money Honey.”

“Money Honey,” Wanda Jackson

“Money on Straight,” The Killers

That was The Killers with “Money on Straight.” And we opened with Wanda Jackson and “Money Honey.” Wanda Jackson is, of course, the First Lady of Rockabilly, singing the song that was originally recorded and released in 1953, by Clyde McPhatter and the newly formed Drifters. She cut it on an EP called Let’s Have a Party in 1958. Patti (Scialfa) and I were lucky enough to see Wanda and meet Wanda at the Asbury Lanes, some years ago, and she had every bit of what she’s always had, that premier female voice of rockabilly. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. She is a native Oklahoman. She retired from performance in 2019, and she will be missed. She was as wonderfully down home and sassy as that voice always made her sound. Wanda, wherever you are tonight, we love you.

Wynonie Harris, sing us a little “Mr. Dollar”!

“Mr. Dollar,” Wynonie Harris

Wynonie Harris was known for his blues-shoutin’ voice, ribald lyrics and his rhythm and blues songs with titles such as “Lolly Pop Mama,” “I Like My Baby’s Pudding,” “Sittin’ on It All the Time,” “Keep on Churnin’ (Till the Butter Comes)” and “Wasn’t That Good.” Yes it was, Wynonie, yes it was.

Now here’s Vampire Weekend with “Rich Man.”

“Rich Man,” Vampire Weekend

Short story in the beginning of this song: As a child, I took lessons at Mike Diehl’s music school on South Street (in Freehold). Mr. Diehl had a lovely little school. Nothing too big. Came out of a small ’50s-style ranch house, and made a nice living there. Some years later come, Donald Trump is building one of his damn casinos down Atlantic City. Orders a bunch of pianos from my friend Mr. Diehl. And of course, refuses to pay for them. Now, for Mr. Diehl, hundreds of thousands of dollars in pianos is a lot of fucking pianos, and a lot of fucking money. And that this bastard held out on this smalltown music school owner, and finally agreed to pay him something like six on the dollar, was disgusting. And it really hurt Mr. Diehl at the time, and that was basically … that was the money that he made for the entire year. So I’m gonna dedicate this one to that fucker that’s sitting down in Mar-a-Lago, Fla., right now, sucking on his shrimp scampi and lyin’ to the rest of the nation. He’s just a goddamn money grabber.

“MoneyGrabber,” Fitz & the Tantrums

“Money Won’t Change You,” James Brown

“Money,” Barbara Lynn

That was Barbara Lynn, with the classic song that says it all. “Money (That’s What I Want),” written by Berry Gordy (and) Janie Bradford, it was Motown’s first hit record, in June of 1960. It was performed by Barrett Strong. Now Barrett claims he wrote the song with Berry and Janie and his name was there, but it was removed from the copyright three years after it was written. Strange. And then it was restored in 1987, when the copyright was renewed. And then it was excised again, the following year, in a dispute. Classic music business, unfortunately, that I guarantee came down to nothing but money.

Cardi B, explain this to us.

“Money,” Cardi B

“Easy Money,” Bruce Springsteen

That was yours truly, on “Easy Money,” the first song I wrote for Wrecking Ball. Drivin’ home from a bar in Red Bank, I started singin’ the chorus. (sings) “Take out the dog, I’ll take out the cat,” you know? Behind the wheel, just started hummin’ that along. Suddenly I said, “I got it!” I dashed in my wheels to my studio, called my crew and threw down a rough version of that tune. And I wrote the rest of it that night on the edge of my bed, and I recorded it the next day.

I like it when they happen like that.

It was my diatribe against all them Wall Street suckers, grabbin’ all that easy money after that 2008 crash, without giving a fuck about what happened to everybody else.

And before that, the one and only Cardi B.

Now here’s Slim Harpo with “I’m Your Bread Maker, Baby.”

“I’m Your Bread Maker, Baby,” Slim Harpo

“Dead Presidents,” Little Walter

That’s one of my favorite bluesmen, Slim Harpo. (sings) “I’m a king bee, buzzin’ around your hive.” I’m talkin’, (sings), “Rainin’ in my heart.” I’m talkin’, (sings), “Got love if you want it … got love if you want it.” I’m talkin’, (sings), “Come here baby, scratch my back.” All Slim Harpo. Badass. Great, great groove. Born in Lobdell, La., influenced by Jimmy Reed, my other favorite bluesman. Slim had a swamp groove, made him a favorite of all the ’60s blues-rock British combos such as The Rolling Stones, who did a nice cover of “King Bee.” As did The Castiles, back in 1966. Now “Baby Scratch My Back,” of course, that was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 in the R&B charts and making it all the way to No. 16 on the pop charts. “Oh yeah, baby, scratch my back.”

And following Slim was Little Walter, the blues harp genius, with “Dead Presidents.”

Broke? Hell, everybody remembers being broke. I once drove to New York City in the early ’70s in hopes of getting $30 to keep me from getting thrown out of my apartment in Asbury Park. It was too late, but I was going to get this $30 from Mike Appel, my then-manager. When I got to the Lincoln Tunnel, the kind lady wouldn’t let me through, because after she busted open my last roll of 100 pennies, the last money I had on the planet, she found one Canadian penny! And 99 cents, my friend, will not get you into New York City! In the day, you needed a full dollar or you’re turnin’ around! And that’s exactly what she told me to do! “Turn this car around, sir, you don’t have a dollar.” So I got out of that car with a cacophony of horns blarin’ behind me, for the bullshit that was going on where I was, and I searched that car inside and out. I took my time until I found, somewhere ‘neath the back seat, one American cent. And I took it between my thumb and my finger, and I dropped it into her hand, and she slapped it down on that metal desk.

New York was mine! I had the dollar. But damn, that was broke.

“Broke,” Teddy Swims

“Money Back Guarantee,” Max Falcon

That was Max Falcon, who needs that money back guarantee to feel secure. And this is a gorgeous recording of “Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?” by one of the great, great American voices, Bing Crosby. Please enjoy.

“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?,” Bing Crosby

That’s our show for today, folks. Till we meet again, I wish you health, wealth, good fortune and good times. Go in peace.

“Savin’ Up,” Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers

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Springsteen has been doing “From My Home to Yours” shows since April of 2020. Click here for an index of all the songs played in the series, as well as links to videos for the songs and transcripts for each show.

The shows have lasted from about 45 minutes to about two hours each, with repeats and on-demand availability following the initial broadcasts. “Money Honey” will be rebroadcast Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., Sept. 17 at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., Sept. 18 at 2 p.m., Sept. 19 at 10 p.m., and Sept. 20 at 7 a.m. and midnight.

Visit siriusxm.com.