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When we lived in cavesThere were no shopping mallsAnd people's manners were NeanderthalNo bodegas, no delis, no corner storesShopping trips turned into tugs of warWhen not having pull got this man mangledHe thought he'd try an easier angleI'll give you this for thatThat for thisWe'll make a trade called "barter"I'll give you this for thatThat for thisWe'll have it made with barterNow, barter worked wellAt least in theoryBut a wallet full of yaksCould make you wearyMaking change for a cowWasn't easy to masterUnless you were readyFor an "udder" disasterShiny shells were far more portableWhy not use them for what's affordable?SongtexteI'll give you this for thatThat for thisWith shiny shells, why barter?I'll give you this for thatThat for thisShelling out shells is smarterFor farmers in ancient MesopotamiaThe barley they grew was the money maniaWhen hauling big sacks put their backs in tractionThey invented coins to lighten transactionsNow, when a man had a debt to settleHe'd dig out some coins made of precious metalI'll give you this for thatThat for thisSilver or gold or copperI'll give you this for thatThat for thisWith coins you're a smarter shopperThen China made money even more desirousPrinting it on paper made of crushed papyrusTake one from Column A and one from Column BThe Chinese paid their checks in paper currencyWhen Columbus set out on that famous charterHe had no paper money, so he had to barterHe took along some beads for currencySo barter played a part in our discoveryBalboa and Pisarro and Sebastian CabotEven Coronado had the trading habitI'll give you this for thatThat for thisThey loaded up with gold, then partedI'll give you this for thatThat for thisAnd soon the whole world was chartedToday we use cash and spend with ardorBut that doesn't mean we don't still barterWhen a football team needs a pulling guardOr a kid like you is into trading cardsTake this for thatThat for thisBills and coins are smarterBut when you pay for thatRemember thisIt all started out with barter Aus Songtexte Mania