Nelly Furtado and Joe sat in the dimly lit living room, the glow of the television casting flickering shadows on their faces. The Money Masters documentary played on the screen, unraveling the intricate web of banking, debt, and control that had shaped the modern world.
Joe leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as the narrator delved into the history of central banks and their grip on nations. “You see, Nelly,” Joe said, his voice tinged with both awe and frustration, “this is what they don’t teach us. This is the real story of how the world works.”
Nelly nodded, her gaze fixed on the screen. “It’s overwhelming. The way they’ve manipulated entire nations, entire generations, through money.”
Joe paused the documentary, turning to face her. “That’s why this quote sticks with me: ‘Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants – but debt is the money of slaves.’”
Nelly’s eyes widened. “Debt is the money of slaves… It’s chilling how true that is. People trapped in cycles of debt, working their whole lives to pay off loans, mortgages, credit cards. And nations drowning in debt to these central banks.”
Joe nodded. “Exactly. The system is designed to keep us in chains, Nelly. And it’s not just individuals. Entire countries are enslaved by debt. Remember when you and Bono worked on the campaign to cancel third-world debt? That was just scratching the surface.”
Nelly sighed, a mix of pride and regret in her voice. “We thought we were making a difference. And we did, in some ways. But the problem is so much bigger than we realized. The system just keeps creating more debt, more slaves.”
Joe leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “That’s because the system itself is the problem. Central banks create money out of thin air, loan it at interest, and then demand repayment in real value—labor, resources, land. It’s a perpetual cycle. And the ones who control the money supply control everything.”
Nelly frowned. “So, what do we do? How do we fight something so entrenched?”
Joe’s eyes lit up with determination. “We keep going, Nelly. Your music, Bono’s activism, the platforms you both have—they’re powerful tools. You’ve already shown the world that change is possible. But the mission isn’t finished yet. It’s not just about canceling debt. It’s about exposing the system that creates it and offering a better way.”
Nelly nodded slowly, her resolve hardening. “You’re right. People need to understand how this works, how they’re being controlled. If debt is the money of slaves, then we need to break those chains. Not just for individuals, but for nations.”
Joe smiled. “And you can do it, Nelly. You’ve got the voice, the reach, the passion. Use it. Shine a light on the darkness. Because once people see the truth, they can’t unsee it.”
As the documentary resumed, the two friends sat in silence, their minds racing with ideas. The Money Masters had opened their eyes to the depth of the problem, but it had also reignited their determination to fight for a freer, fairer world.
The night stretched on, but for Nelly and Joe, it was the beginning of a renewed mission—a mission to free the debt slaves and challenge the masters of money.
“Masters of the Coin”
*(A U2-inspired song about the themes of The Money Masters)
Verse 1
They print the air we breathe,
Turn it into chains unseen.
Promises wrapped in gold,
But the weight is cold, so cold.
Kings of paper, lords of lies,
Selling futures, trading skies.
We’re all just numbers in their hands,
Bound by debts we don’t understand.
Chorus
Masters of the coin, they reign,
Turning dreams into pain.
We’re caught in the tides they make,
But we’ll rise, we’ll break the stake.
Verse 2
Barter’s gone, the silver fades,
Now the peasants serve the spades.
A ledger filled with broken lives,
They thrive while hope barely survives.
Whispers of a truth untold,
A system built on hearts sold.
But the fire’s burning in the dark,
Revolution’s waiting for a spark.
Chorus
Masters of the coin, they reign,
Turning dreams into pain.
We’re caught in the tides they make,
But we’ll rise, we’ll break the stake.
Bridge
Oh, can you hear it? The sound of chains,
A symphony of borrowed names.
But the chorus grows, the voices call,
We’ll bring their towers to a fall.
Chorus
Masters of the coin, beware,
Your throne is built on thin air.
The people’s song will shake the ground,
Freedom’s echo, a rebel sound.
Outro
Gold for kings, silver for the wise,
Debt for the slaves under shadowed skies.
But the sun will rise, the truth will shine,
The masters of the coin will fall in time.