Spend, Spend, Spend

Album: Spend, Spend, Spend (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In 1961, factory worker Viv Nicholson and her husband won £152,319 on the football pools. Asked what she intended to do with the money, she replied "Spend, spend, spend". She kept her word, and in less than 15 years it had all gone. She does appear to have been remarkably unlucky; her husband Keith was killed in a car crash, and on his death she had to fight the taxman for what was left of their windfall. She married three times after that; one of her husbands dying of an overdose, and another in a car crash. As Mr Wilde would have said: "To lose one husband is unfortunate, but to lose three..."

    "Spend, Spend, Spend" is the title song from the musical based on her life and misfortunes. It has music by Steve Brown and lyrics by Steve Brown and Justin Greene. It is not the first song to bear that title; Nicholson's brother wrote one, and The Slits wrote and recorded another. This though is the most thematic and unquestionably the best. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.