A man once said that the pinnacle of success
Is when you've finally lost interest
In money, compliments, and publicity
A noble enough idea, I suppose
How on earth he does this, heaven only knows
I know I need a lot more of all three of those
Before I ever have the nerve to turn up my nose
At any money, compliments, and publicity

I'm broke as the Ten Commandments
Sometimes I'm harder to follow

I don't know whether to walk to school
Or take my lunch
Should've worn my watch, it's true
You may think you see a man who is looking for attention,
But you're looking at a man who has lived
Through a little bit of poverty,
Some anxiety, some scrutiny

If I ever do get my money together,
I'm gonna take care of all of my friends
Buy an island, run a phone line, call 'em
Tell 'em all to get fucked
Oh! That oughta take care of them
Just be me and my money,
And my compliments, and my publicity

Sing it with me: "money, compliments, and publicity"
It's an issue for me, I
I went to see this therapist
She said, "Just do the best you can do"
Do the best you can do...
I was hoping for something more specific

A man once said that the pinnacle of success
Is when you've finally lost interest
In money, compliments, and publicity
Many years later, another man would say all that again
But not for the sake of inspiring men
But rather 'cause he got nine songs
And knows he needs at least ten
Before he can go back to town and turn 'em all in
To get money--you guessed it--compliments, publicity

Money, compliments, and publicity
Lord, I'm gonna take it to the bank
I said money, I love the compliments and the publicity
I got so many people to thank
I wanna thank Clive Davis
I wanna thank the Good Lord up in heaven above
And all my fans for my money, my compliments, and my publicity
Money, compliments, and publicity
Lord, I would bathe in
Money, compliments, and publicity
Money, compliments, and publicity