“Rich Girl” is a song by Gwen Stefani from her first solo album, “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” (2004).
The song is a redo of “If I Were A Rich Man” from the musical “Fiddler On The Roof.” But there are some big differences in the lyrics: In “Rich Girl,” the main character wants a Hollywood mansion and expensive fashion from Vivienne Westwood, while in “Rich Man,” the character dreams of having food on the table and chickens in the yard.
“Rich Girl” presents a fantasy of what life would be like if the singer were incredibly wealthy, with unlimited financial resources. It also suggests that love and authenticity are more valuable than money.
In this article, we will analyze the meaning behind the lyrics.
“Rich Girl” Lyrics Meaning
[Chorus: Gwen Stefani]
If I was a rich girl
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
See, I’d have all the money in the world
If I was a wealthy girl
No man could test me, impress me
My cash flow would never ever end
‘Cause I’d have all the money in the world
If I was a wealthy girl
The Chorus talks about the idea of being wealthy. It says that if the singer were rich, she would have all the money in the world, and no one could challenge or impress her. Her wealth would never run out, and she would live a lavish life.
[Verse 1: Gwen Stefani]
Think what that money could bring
I’d buy everything
Clean out Vivienne Westwood
In my Galliano gown
No, wouldn’t just have one hood
A Hollywood mansion if I could
Please book me, first class, to my fancy house in London town
In Verse 1, the singer imagines what she would do if they were wealthy. She mentions buying everything and name-drop famous fashion designers like Vivienne Westwood and Galliano. The verse also talks about having a mansion in London and traveling first class.
[Refrain: Gwen Stefani]
All the riches, baby
Won’t mean anything
All the riches, baby
Don’t bring what your love can bring
All the riches, baby
Won’t mean anything
Don’t need no other baby
Your loving is better than gold and I know
The refrain emphasizes that all the riches and money in the world wouldn’t mean much. It suggests that love is more valuable than material wealth. The singer expresses that her lover’s affection is more precious than gold, emphasizing the importance of love over money.
[Verse 2: Gwen Stefani]
I’d get me four Harajuku girls to (Uh-huh)
Inspire me, and they’d come to my rescue
I’d dress them wicked, I’d give them names (Yeah)
Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Hurry up and come and save me
In Verse 2, the singer mentions getting four Harajuku girls to inspire and assist her. These girls would be dressed uniquely and given names like Love, Angel, Music, and Baby.
The verse suggests a desire for creative inspiration and companionship. It also refers to Harajuku style, which is known for its eclectic and colorful fashion.
[Bridge: Eve, Gwen Stefani & Eve]
Come together all over the world
From the hoods of Japan, Harajuku Girls
What? It’s all love
What? Give it up! What?
Shouldn’t matter, shouldn’t matter
Shouldn’t matter, shouldn’t matter, what?
Come together all over the world
From the hoods of Japan, Harajuku Girls
What? It’s all love
What? Give it up! What?
Shouldn’t matter, shouldn’t matter
Shouldn’t matter, shouldn’t matter
The Bridge talks about coming together all over the world and mentions the Harajuku Girls from Japan. There’s a message of unity and love transcending differences.
The singer emphasizes that it shouldn’t matter where someone comes from; love and togetherness should be universal. It also mentions Stefani’s brand L.A.M.B. and the path from starting at the bottom to gaining love and success.
[Verse 3: Eve, Gwen Stefani & Eve]
What happened to my life? Turned upside down
Chicks dat blew ya mind, ding, it’s the second round
Original track and ting, mmm
You know you can’t buy these things, no
See Stefani and her L.A.M.B
I rock the Fetish, people you know who I am!
Yes, ma’am, we got the style that’s wicked
I hope you can all keep up
We climbed all the way from the bottom to the top
Now we ain’t gettin’ nothing but love
In Verse 3, the singer mentions how life has changed dramatically, and it’s the second round of success. She talks about the originality of her style and how certain things cannot be bought with money.
Stefani’s brand L.A.M.B. is mentioned again, and it highlights her unique fashion sense.
The verse also emphasizes her path from starting at the bottom to achieving success and receiving love and recognition.
“Rich Girl” Music Video
The “Rich Girl” video, directed by David LaChapelle, features a pirate-themed adventure with Gwen Stefani and her crew. They use the “Get Rich” mix of the song, which starts with a catchy chant section.
The video takes inspiration from a late 1990s Vivienne Westwood ad campaign. It begins with four Japanese schoolgirls playing with a toy pirate ship and Bratz dolls of Stefani and Eve. They discuss what they’d do if they were “rich girls.”
Throughout the video, Stefani and her crew are seen in various scenes: dancing with pirates and wenches below deck, dancing on the deck with Eve and more pirates, swinging from an anchor, wielding a sword, and dancing with the Harajuku Girls in a treasure trove.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Rich Girl”
In “Rich Girl,” Stefani explores her dreams of fame and riches from the perspective of when she was “just an Orange County girl.”
The song is a modern reinterpretation of “If I Were A Rich Man” from the musical Fiddler On The Roof. While the original song portrays the modest desires of the main character, Tevye, for food on the table and chickens in the yard, Stefani’s version reflects more extravagant tastes, such as buying a Hollywood mansion and shopping at high-end fashion stores like Vivienne Westwood.
Stefani was already financially successful when she released her debut solo album, which initially made her hesitant about the song’s concept.
In an interview with Billboard, she said:
“Dre’s the one who came to me with ‘Rich Girl.’ I thought it was the weirdest idea ever,” she told Billboard. “I was like, ‘I am rich!’ I went from having $2,000 living with my parents to buying my own house, like, hello! And I’m not hip-hop, so I can’t be throwing money around thinking that’s gonna work. But Dre’s the man.”
However, Dr. Dre’s insistence led her to approach the song from a dream-like perspective, drawing from her own experiences.
Stefani found a way to connect with the Fiddler On The Roof interpolation by focusing on her personal experience, from living with her parents to purchasing her own house. She told Billboard:
“I was running on a treadmill in London and the lyrics just came to my brain. It was the perspective of me living the dream. I put that vision into the verses: I had a mansion in London, Harajuku Girls and these things that actually happened in my life. That was the only way I could embrace the song’s interpolation, which was perfect for me, because I love musicals.”
Throughout the song, Gwen Stefani expresses her desire to buy expensive things, travel in style, and live a glamorous life. She name-drops famous fashion designers and envisions having a mansion in London. The lyrics also mention the Harajuku Girls, reflecting her fascination with Japanese culture and fashion.
However, the refrain in the song serves as a counterpoint to the materialistic desires expressed in the verses. It emphasizes that all the riches and money in the world wouldn’t mean much without the love of a significant other. This contrast suggests that love and emotional connections hold more significance than material possessions.
In the end, the song promotes unity and love across different cultures and backgrounds, highlighting the idea that these factors should bring people together, regardless of their wealth or origin.
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