Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Millionenspiel” by CAN
Millionenspiel imagines a world of incredible wealth and glory, yet the protagonist, knowing the dark side of the wealthy, realizes that this dream may be farther away than he thinks. Throughout the song, CAN questions the nature of wealth and its ability to either make one’s life or ruin it. They emphasize that money can’t buy all the finer things in life such as joy and true peace. The chorus reflects this sentiment when it declares, “The game of a million, where does it lead you?”
Can suggests that money is a slippery slope as it paints a false sense of security. When a person seeks to gain wealth, they face a world where they could either succeed and be engulfed in abundance or fail and become stuck in an endless cycle of poverty. The climax of the song reflects this idea when CAN sings, “Money can’t buy the world, no one can fill that void, so think twice before you play the million game”.
Ultimately, CAN advises that it’s best to rely on the simple things in life which have the power to bring satisfaction and joy. They remind us that more often than not, money won’t buy happiness.