Flashback Friday: "Rich Girl" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (1977)

If I was a rich girl, na na na na na- oh, it's the other song.

This week, once again, we're back in the 70s, this time with "Rich Girl" by Daryl Hall and John Oates. This is a short song, clocking in at under two and a half minutes. Sometimes, a short song is just what you need to get a simple point across. And what is the point that Daryl Hall is trying to get across? Well, it's that rich people are entitled assholes.

You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway

Specifically, this rich girl is an entitled asshole, leeching off of her rich parents and basically contributing nothing to society. At least, that's what it's supposed to be about. To me, the guy just sounds jealous.

Don't you know, don't you know
That it's wrong to take what is given you

Why? Why should you refuse to accept something given to you? Should I not have received all those birthday presents as a kid? Thanks a lot, Daryl. Now I'm suffering from 7-year-old guilt.

I feel like this song could have worked, but it's never really specified why the narrator has such contempt for this rich girl. There's vague statements:

It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain

I suppose it could be argued that she acts rather snobby because she's a rich girl, or her heart has grown cold or whatever, but I don't really buy it. There's no specifics to justify this prejudice. Wait a minute...

It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain
And don't you know that a love can't grow

A... love? Is this guy trying to be a gold digger and failing?

You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far

Gone too far how? Did she reject your advances because you were leeching money off of her leeching money?

Oh, wow. Oh... wow. I don't even think I have the right interpretation here, but even so... this just made the song a little more poignant for me. It's amazing how music works. No matter how obvious the lyrics are, any kind of interpretation can be made. Or at the very least, if you've got a catchy song like this one, you can listen to it anyway without thinking too hard.

God, a gold digger. I really am crazy sometimes.