Songfacts®:

• Written by Graham Nash, this was a single from Crosby & Nash's second studio album. Not be confused with the Steve Miller Band's song of the same name, this "Take The Money And Run" was inspired by the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunion tour in the summer of 1974. After releasing their groundbreaking album Déjà Vu in 1970, they hit roadblocks (drugs, egos, "creative differences") that kept them from making another album. They tried in 1974 but couldn't pull it off. They did manage a tour, though, which was a bit of a money grab. They played stadiums to huge crowds - not exactly the intimate venues that suit their music. Neil Young, who was the biggest draw thanks to his Harvest album, travelled separately. Crowds were pleased but Nash knows they could have done better; this song makes his feeling clear. He wrote another song about their band dysfunction a few years later: "Wasted On The Way," which appeared on the 1982 Crosby, Stills & Nash album Daylight Again.
• Production engineer Don Gooch explained the meaning of this song in Johnny Rogan's Complete Guide To The Music of CSN&Y: "Basically enjoy the music for what it is and if you can relate to it from your own personal experiences, do so. As for 'Take the Money,' it is basically about managers in general and people who don't give a damn about anything but the money. Those people think that money is the 'end,' when it should be a 'means to an end.' If you knew the horror stories behind that [CSNY 1974] tour you would have a complete understanding of the song but I am sure if you use your imagination in your own life experiences, it will apply and become clear to you also. Most songs are based on personal experiences (good or bad) and while the exact experiences is personal it also will apply in some form to each individuals experiences in the same areas." >>>

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  DeeTheWriter - Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation
• With Stephen Stills and Neil Young otherwise occupied, David Crosby and Graham Nash teamed to release an album together - their second as a duo - in 1975 titled Wind On The Water. "Take The Money And Run" was released as a single along with the Crosby-written "Carry Me."