Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent

Gwen Guthrie

About Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent

"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent" is a song by American singer Gwen Guthrie. It was released as the lead single from her fourth album, Good to Go Lover in 1986, on Polydor Records. The song became the biggest hit of Guthrie's career, and the song's title became a semi-popular catchphrase among many women throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2005, Blender listed "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent" as number 339 on its list of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".  


Year:
2015
3:21
96 
#3

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Bill collector's at my door
What can you do for me?
Hey

No romance without finance
No romance without finance

Boy, nothin' in life is free
That's why I'm askin' you what can you do for me
I've got responsibilities
So I'm lookin' for a man whose got money in his hands

'Cause nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You got to have somethin' if you wanna be with me
Oh, life is too serious, love's too mysterious
A fly girl like me needs security

'Cause ain't nothin' goin' on but the rent
You got to have a J-O-B if you wanna be with me
Ain't nothin' goin' on but the rent
You got to have a J-O-B if you wanna be with me

No romance without finance
I said no romance without finance

Boy, your silky ways are sweet
But we're only wastin' time if your pockets are empty
I've got lots of love to give
But I will have to avoid you if you're unemployed

'Cause nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You got to have somethin' if you wanna be with me
Oh, life is too serious, love's too mysterious
A fly girl like me needs security

'Cause ain't nothin' goin' on but the rent
You got to have a J-O-B if you wanna be with me
Ain't nothin' goin' on but the rent
You got to have a J-O-B if you wanna be with me

No romance without finance
I said no romance without finance
No romance without finance
I said no romance without finance

Oh, you look good to me
Your silky words are sweet
But your pockets sure look empty

Ain't nothin' goin' on but the rent

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Gwen Guthrie

Gwen Guthrie (July 9, 1950 – February 3, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, and Roberta Flack. more »

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Written by: GWENDOLYN GUTHRIE

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Background
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" is a song by American singer Gwen Guthrie. Guthrie was well-known as a songwriter and background vocalist before embarking on a solo career.
Song's Release
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" was released in 1986 as a single from her self-titled album, "Gwen Guthrie."
Chart Performance
The song was a major success for Guthrie, climbing to number 1 on the Billboard R&B Chart. It also crossed over to the pop chart, where it peaked at number 42.
International Success
Not only was it successful in the United States, but it also did well internationally. In the UK, the song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, while in Ireland, it peaked at number 8.
Message
The song became famous for its message about financial independence and its catchphrase, "No romance without finance."
Recognition
The song was acknowledged by acclaimed author and academic Nelson George in his book "Post-Soul Nation: The Explosive, Contradictory, Triumphant, and Tragic 1980s as Experienced by African Americans" as helping to define the ethos of the era.
Samples
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" has been sampled in several other songs. Notably, British Band 2 Men, A Drum Machine & A Trumpet covered the song in 1987, and R&B singer Mary J. Blige used a vocal snippet from the song for her hit track "Love Is All We Need."
Death of Gwen Guthrie
Sadly, Guthrie passed away in 1999 at the age of 48 from uterine cancer. Despite her short life, she made a significant impact on the music industry, with "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" being one of her most remembered contributions.
Legacy
The song continues to have relevance even decades after its release, with references to its lyrics appearing in various pop culture contexts, books, and scholarly articles about music history and feminism.
Controversy
At the time of its release, the song sparked some controversy due to its overt demand for financial reciprocity in relationships which some critics viewed as materialistic. However, it has since been recognized as highlighting a woman's wish for economic equality within a relationship.

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    Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1986

    Billboard #42


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