The song Come And Get It was written precisely for the film score to the comedy film The Magic Christian, starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. In the film Sellers plays an eccentric billionaire who adopts a homeless man, played by Starr. Starr's character, Youngman Grand, decides to gallivant around giving away money to people to bribe them into following his whims. These misadventures are designed to prove that 'everyone has their price.'
Badfinger released the song in December 1969 in the UK and on January 12, 1970 in the USA. The song went to #4 and #7, respectively.
Realizing the song was written for the film, the plot of the story illuminates the song's meaning. If anyone can be bought for a price, then what is it you want to come and get? How much money would it take to buy you?
Give the song a listen and picture the billionaire fool handing out loads of cash to get people to do silly and insane things, like swimming in a vat of blood, excrement and urine. That was in the film, really!
Come And Get It
Songwriter: Paul McCartney
Performed by Badfinger
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
Make your mind up fast
If you want it, anytime, I can give it
But you better hurry 'cause it may not last
Did I hear you say
That there must be a catch?
Will you walk away
From a fool and his money?
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
Make your mind up fast
If you want it, anytime, I can give it
But you better hurry 'cause it may not last
Did I hear you say
That there must be a catch?
Will you walk away
From a fool and his money?
Sonny, if you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you'd better hurry 'cause it's going fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's going fast
Fool and his money, Sonny
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
If you want it, anytime, I can give it
But you better hurry 'cause it may not last
Did I hear you say
That there must be a catch?
Will you walk away
From a fool and his money?
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
Make your mind up fast
If you want it, anytime, I can give it
But you better hurry 'cause it may not last
Did I hear you say
That there must be a catch?
Will you walk away
From a fool and his money?
Sonny, if you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you'd better hurry 'cause it's going fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's going fast
Fool and his money, Sonny
If you want it, here it is, come and get it
But you'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
You'd better hurry 'cause it's goin' fast
The lyrics are classic pop. They aren't saying much and what they are saying is said with repetition. The lure of pop is that the melodic and lyrical hooks get stuck in our heads and we are then hooked on the song and the musicians who provided it.
There is an urgency, not so much in the music, but in the lyric. The loads of cash being handed out is going fast. You have the opportunity for loads of cash right now, but you there's a catch. You have to do something terribly humiliating in order to get the cash. Make up your mind fast, because the fool with his money will offer it to someone else if you don't. So you better hurry!
How much is your dignity worth? Is it for sale? How much is you soul worth? Would you sell out your own mother for the right amount? Would you renounce your faith for the right price? Is it true that everyone one has their price? Everyone can be bought?
Abraham, the patriarch of Israel and the father of monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was offered loads of treasure for saving four cities and their rulers from invaders who had taken them captive. Abraham refused because he knew that God had given him the victory and not one else. If he was to be rewarded it would be the Lord whom he serves.
The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”After Abram had paid God homage, by tithing 10% of the booty and entrusting it to Melchizedek, the high priest of Jerusalem, he had an encounter with the Lord.
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’" (Gen 14:21-23)
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:1-6)There's a wisdom being communicated here. God is the very great reward. God can bless His people with life and health and wealth when they remain under His covenant of love. When His people live within His promises and behave according to God's character, they will know life and health and plenty. It does not mean that being faithful to God will bring you billions of dollars. For if life could be measured in dollars, what need would we have of anything but? Instead there are many who discover the pursuit of wealth doesn't buy happiness, nor contentment. It only buys things that ease the pain of not being where we wish to be.
We wish to be satisfied, complete, happy, and at peace. The person of faith understands that God is the way to these, not money. Jesus taught that we must choose which we will serve.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Mat 5:24)God blessed Abram (Abraham) with a son and their descendants became greatly numerous. This nation of Israel blessed the world with knowledge of God. Christ blessed the world with a relationship with the living God.
Which is the greater, momentary pleasures in this life that money buys, or endless pleasures in the the eternal life given to those who put their faith in Christ? If you agree that eternal life is the greater treasure, then you have to believe it's worth the wait.
So come and get it.
Dear Lord, help us to to make up our minds that You are our great reward and the treasure worth our heart's allegiance. Then we will know peace and security in Your presence and promise. Amen
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