Irving Berlin: No Checkbooks, Banks

Posted by admin on Friday, June 18, 2010

Irving Berlin lyrics from “I’ve got the sun in the morning” gives this old song from the big band era the jingle of money and banks in a tune about being thankful.
 

 

“Got no checkbooks, got no banks, Still I’d like to express my thanks; I’ve got the sun in the morning and the moon at night” — Irving Berlin

 

 

In this lyric from one of his songs, Irving Berlin is expressing gratitude for life’s simple pleasures that don’t require money. By saying “Got no checkbooks, got no banks,” he’s acknowledging he lacks wealth and material resources.

But then he states “Still I’d like to express my thanks,” showing an attitude of appreciation regardless of financial status. Berlin goes on to list the natural beauty he can enjoy for free – “the sun in the morning and the moon at night.”

The overall message seems to be that even without money or possessions, one can find things to feel thankful for like the daily rising of the sun and nightly moon, which are freely available to all. So the lyric advocates focusing on life’s priceless gifts rather than what cannot be bought.