- published: 26 Feb 2009
- views: 1392796
"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" is a song by UK duo Pet Shop Boys, released as a single in 1985 and then in 1986, gaining greater popularity in both the UK and U.S. with its second release.
Written as a satire of Thatcherism and its embodiment in conspicuous consumption and yuppies in the United Kingdom during the 1980s, the song's indirect attack on its subject matter has come to exemplify the Pet Shop Boys as ironists in their songwriting.
The song was written during the Pet Shop Boys' formative years, in 1983. According to Neil Tennant, the main lyrical concept came while in a recording studio in Camden Town when Chris Lowe asked him to make up a lyric based around the line "Let's make lots of money". Tennant has said that he was somewhat inspired by the relationship between the characters of Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy.
The first version of the song, recorded with the duo's first producer, Bobby Orlando, was not released; upon signing with record label Parlophone, they re-recorded the song with J. J. Jeczalik (of Art of Noise) and Nicholas Froome.
My emotion's dry
I can't feel anymore
It seems like I've been here before
The scenery, scratched names on the trees
They all bring back my memories
So... if memories just make you sigh
And haunt your dreams
Oh, just...oh, just don't look back
At your missed opportunities
Then wallowing
Oh, just...oh, just don't look back
There's a moment in time
When you can't lock the door
It seems like I've been here before
My emotion's dry
I can't feel anymore
It seems like I've been here before
So... if memories just make you sigh
And haunt your dreams
Oh, just...oh, just don't look back
At your missed opportunities
Then wallowing
Oh, just...oh, just don't look back
At your missed opportunities
Then wallowing
Oh, just...oh, just don't look back
At your missed opportunities
Then wallowing