When I was seventeen, found out just what it means
If you can get it free, it just ain't worth a damn
When I heard the preacher say, don't throw your life away
I got that message, and I wrote it on the wall

I don't want anybody tellin' me lies, no, I don't want your diamond ring
'Cause you ain't got my size

I want money, money, that's what I need,
I got Cadillac dreams, please mister don'tcha take it from me
Give me money, money, more than I need, I got Cadillac dreams waitin' on me
Cadillac dreams, Cadillac dreams

When I had the young boy blues, I paid some young boy dues
I learned the hard way, there's a heartbreak every day

Stone cold reality came crashing down on me
Well life was hard on me, but I still don't give a damn

When I was seventeen I was an angry young man
But I won't let just anybody tell me who I am

I just want money, money, that's all I need
I got Cadillac dreams, hey mister don'tcha take it from me
Give me money, money, more than I need, these Cadillac dreams are waitin' on me

Didn't have the time of day, till this dream was born
You can't take that away, you can't take that away from me

(Solo)

When I was seventeen, there was this beauty queen
Checked in a one room suite, the back seat of my car

When you want all the best things money can buy
You gotta reach down inside of you, to reach up to the sky

Yeah, I want money, money, that's all I need
I got Cadillac dreams, hey mister you can't take that from me
I want money, money, more than I need, I got Cadillac dreams waitin' on me

Money, money, that's what I need
We're drivin' in my Chevy with my Cadillac dreams
Someday, one day, just you and me
We'll ride inside these Cadillac dreams