The late Hunter Thompson wrote, "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Money and taxes have long been popular themes for rock stars who had too much of both. As you prepare to prepare your tax return, cue up some of these odes to having too little money, too many taxes, and not too much regard for The Man.

"Taxman" - The Beatles Capitol Records If you drive a car, I'll tax the street;

If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat;

If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat;

If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet. "Taxman" was one of three songs on The Beatles' Revolver album that were written by George Harrison. Although most of us can't relate to what inspired the song -- the tax burden on people who earn too much money -- we can relate to the underlying theme.

"Money" - Pink Floyd Capitol Records Money, it's a gas.

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash. Pink Floyd's "Money" may not rate high on your financial planner's Top 10, but it's great for getting psyched to file your tax return. The song is part of the concept album, The Dark Side Of The Moon, released in 1973. Compare CD prices

"Movin' Out" - Billy Joel Columbia Legacy You can pay Uncle Sam with overtime

Is that all you get for your money? Don't have a heart attack-ack-ack, but Billy Joel actually wrote "Movin' Out" not to protest paying taxes, but to express disdain for the conventional definitions of success and achievement. The song if from Joel's 1977 album, The Stranger. Compare CD prices

"I'd Rather Be Rich" - Chicago Warner Strategic Marketing I'd rather be rich, the truth of cash is tragic,

The system's a bitch, but money works like magic. While Billy Joel decried success, Chicago seemed to embrace it with "I'd Rather Be Rich." Robert Lamm's lyrics espoused the theory that everything's okay if you have enough money. The song appeared on Chicago XXIV in 1980.

"Sunny Afternoon" - The Kinks Universal Music Group The tax man's taken all my dough,

And left me in my stately home,

Lazing on a sunny afternoon.

And I can't sail my yacht,

He's taken everything I've got,

All I've got's this sunny afternoon. Like "Taxman," The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" deals with the money woes of those poor unfortunate rich folks. During the time Ray Davies wrote the song (for the band's 1966 Face To Face album) the band was having legal problems, maintaining a killer tour schedule, and dealing with the temporary replacement of bassist Pete Quaife, who was seriously injured in a wreck. Perhaps that may explain the negative attitude about success.

"Low Budget" - The Kinks Koch Records I'm on a low budget

I'm not cheap, you understand

I'm just a cut price person in a low budget land

Excuse my shoes they don't quite fit

They're a special offer and they hurt me a bit

Even my trousers are giving me pain

They were reduced in a sale so I shouldn't complain Given the number of songs they recorded on the subject, one gets the idea that money was something of an obsession for the Kinks. "Low Budget" - from the 1979 album of the same name - is about the difficulty of living within one's means. Compare CD prices

"Success Story" - The Who Universal Special Products Away for the weekend

I've gotta play some one-night stands

Six for the tax man, and one for the band John Entwistle's "Success Story" - from The Who's 1975 The Who By Numbers -took a jab at the Who's success, and how it took the fun out of playing music. Compare CD prices

"Lap of Luxury" - Jethro Tull Chrysalis Records

The money won't last forever.

Rent man called twice today.

I hope some day you'll find me

In the lap of luxury.

I need money, now, to soothe my heart!

Buy me a Datsun or Toyota ---

get the tax man to agree

all expenses I can muster

from the lap of luxury.

The eternal quest for more than we have is the theme of Jethro Tull's "Lap of Luxury," the lead track on Tull's 1984 album, Under Wraps. Compare CD prices

"Carnival World" - Jimmy Buffett Geffen Records

But talk is cheap

It takes money to buy your freedom

And the tax man's knockin' on your door

Spend it while you can, money's contraband

You can't take it with you when you go.

Spend it while you can, before it's taken from your hand,

There's no free ride in this carnival world. Leave it to Jimmy Buffett to take a cynical view of the power of money. In "Carnival World" money is the root of everything BUT evil. (From the 1989 album, Off To See The Lizard) Compare CD prices