Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Studio albums
Please Please Please (1958)
Try Me! (1959)
Think! (1960)
The Amazing James Brown (1961)
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. (1962)
Prisoner of Love (1963)
Grits & Soul (1964)
Showtime (1964)
Out of Sight (1964)
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday (1965)
Mighty Instrumentals (1966)
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (1966)
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs (1966)
Handful of Soul (1966)
James Brown Sings Raw Soul (1967)
James Brown Plays the Real Thing (1967)
Cold Sweat (1967)
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
I Got the Feelin' (1968)
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul (1968)
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things (1968)
A Soulful Christmas (1968)
Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1969)
Gettin' Down to It (1969)
The Popcorn (1969)
It's a Mother (1969)
Ain't It Funky (1970)
Soul on Top (1970)
It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In (1970)
Hey America (1970)
Sho Is Funky Down Here (1971)
Hot Pants (1971)
There It Is (1972)
Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Black Caesar (1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973)
The Payback (1973)
Hell (1974)
Reality (1974)
Sex Machine Today (1975)
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump (1975)
Hot (1976)
Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)
Bodyheat (1976)
Mutha's Nature (1977)
Jam 1980's (1978)
Take a Look at Those Cakes (1978)
The Original Disco Man (1979)
People (1980)
Soul Syndrome (1980)
Nonstop! (1981)
Bring It On! (1983)
Gravity (1986)
I'm Real (1988)
Love Over-Due (1991)
Universal James (1993)
I'm Back (1998)
The Merry Christmas Album (1999)
The Next Step (2002)
PayBack
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Revenge!
I'm mad (the big payback)
Got to get back!
Need some get back!
Pay Back! (the big payback)
That's it!
Payback!
I'm mad!
You get down with my girlfriend, that ain't right!
Hollerin', cussin', you want to fight
Payback is a thing you gotta see, hey
Brother do any damn thing to me
Sold me out, for chicken change (yes you did!)
Told me that they, they had it all arranged
You had me down, and that's a fact
Now you punk, You gotta get ready
For the big payback! (the big payback!)
That's where I land, the big payback (the big payback!)
I can do wheelin', I can do dealin' (yes you can!)
But I don't do no damn squealin'
I can dig rappin', I'm ready! I can dig scrappin'
But I can't dig that backstabbin' (oh no!)
The brother getting ready, that's a fact!
Get ready you mother, for the big payback (the big payback!)
Let me hit 'em, hit 'em Ren, hit 'em!
Hey, hey, woo!
Lord, Lord
Took my money, you got my honey
Don't want me to see what you doing to me
I could get back
I gotta deal with you
I gotta deal with you
I gotta deal with you
I gotta deal with you
Hey, let me tell ya!
Get down with my woman, that ain't right!
You hollerin' and cussin', you want to fight!
Don't do me no darn favor
I don't know karate, but I know Ka-Razor! (yes we do!)
Huh, hey
Get ready, that's a fact
Get ready you mother for the big payback (the big payback!)
Hey! I'm a man! I'm a man!
I'm a son of a man, but don't they tell ya then Pappa can
Get ready for the big payback (the big payback!)
Hit 'em again!
Ohh
Lord, Lord
Yeah, hey, get ready
I need it, I need a hit again!
Say it once
Say it once
Say it once
Hit 'em back!
Ohh
Lord
The big payback!
Sold me out for chump change
Said my woman had it all arranged
Tryin' to make a deal, she wants to squeal
But I had my boys on her heels
Saw when she comin', told a lie
She broke down like she wanted to die
I don't care what she does
She gon' be doin' just like she was
Take those kids and raise them up
Somebody teach 'em to be righteous tough
Take her, take that woman, it's one place she found
Just run that mother out of town
Make it get up! Make it get up, get out
Make it get up! Make it get up, get out
I'm mad! I want revenge, I want revenge (the big payback!)
I want revenge
I want revenge
I want revenge, I want revenge
Can I get some hits? I need those hits
I need those hits, hit me
Ohh
Lord, I need those hits
Carry on, carry on
Pay back all of it (the big payback!)
Oh, oh, oh (the big payback!)
The big payback
"Payback" by James Brown is a soul song about revenge. Brown sings about how someone wronged him, sold him out for a small amount of money, got down with his girlfriend, and tried to make a deal to squeal. He vows to get payback for all of this. Brown says that he can do wheelin', dealin', and rappin', but he won't do any damn squealin'. In the end, Brown makes clear that he wants revenge and needs some hits to achieve it.
The song has an upbeat and funky sound that reflects the anger and determination in Brown's lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "the big payback" reinforces the theme of revenge and adds to the catchy nature of the song. The rhythmic guitar riffs and the trumpet solos give the song a distinct sound that has become a classic in soul music.
"Payback" was released in 1973 and was written by James Brown with the help of his bandmate Fred Wesley. The track was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B charts and number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA and has been sampled in over 400 songs by other artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, gotta, gotta payback! (the big payback)
Expressing a strong desire for revenge and justice.
Revenge!
An act of retaliation for a wrongdoing committed against the singer.
I'm mad (the big payback)
The singer is angry and determined to take revenge at all costs.
Got to get back!
The artist has been wronged and feels the need to respond accordingly, seeking justice by any means necessary.
Need some get back!
The artist has been hurt and is seeking restitution.
Pay Back! (the big payback)
The singer is seeking compensation for some sort of betrayal or wrongdoing.
That's it!
The singer has reached their limit and is ready to take action.
Payback!
The artist is looking for retribution for some sort of act committed against them.
Revenge!
An act of retaliation for a wrongdoing committed against the artist.
I'm mad!
The artist is experiencing intense anger and is ready to take revenge.
You get down with my girlfriend, that ain't right!
The singer is angry because someone has been involved with their girlfriend, which is not acceptable to them.
Hollerin', cussin', you want to fight
The artist is ready to confront the wrongdoer and seek retribution.
Payback is a thing you gotta see, hey
The singer is emphasizing the importance of getting even.
Brother do any damn thing to me
The singer is angry that someone has harmed them in some way and is ready to take revenge.
Sold me out, for chicken change (yes you did!)
The singer has been betrayed for very little gain, which is particularly despicable.
Told me that they, they had it all arranged
The artist has been lied to and deceived, which they now see is the case.
You had me down, and that's a fact
The artist is emphasizing that they have been wronged in a serious way.
Now you punk, You gotta get ready
The wrongdoer will soon face the consequences for their actions.
For the big payback! (the big payback!)
The singer will not rest until they have taken revenge, which they see is necessary.
That's where I land, the big payback (the big payback!)
The artist sees revenge as their ultimate goal.
I can do wheelin', I can do dealin' (yes you can!)
The artist is emphasizing their skills and abilities.
But I don't do no damn squealin'
The artist will not resort to snitching to get what they want.
I can dig rappin', I'm ready! I can dig scrappin'
The singer is ready and willing to confront their enemies.
But I can't dig that backstabbin' (oh no!)
The artist finds betrayal to be particularly intolerable.
The brother getting ready, that's a fact!
The singer is prepared for the confrontation that is soon to come.
Get ready you mother, for the big payback (the big payback!)
The person who has wronged the singer will soon face retribution.
Let me hit 'em, hit 'em Ren, hit 'em!
The singer is calling on someone to help them confront their enemies to get revenge.
Hey, hey, woo!
The artist is expressing excitement and anticipation.
Lord, Lord
An expression of desperation or exasperation.
Took my money, you got my honey
The singer has suffered financial and romantic losses as a result of this person's actions.
Don't want me to see what you doing to me
The singer is angry that someone is trying to deceive or take advantage of them.
I could get back
The artist could retaliate against this person.
I gotta deal with you
The artist must confront the person who has wronged them.
Hey, let me tell ya!
The artist wants to be heard and is prepared to make themselves clear.
Get down with my woman, that ain't right!
The singer is angry that someone has been involved with their girlfriend, which is not acceptable to them.
You hollerin' and cussin', you want to fight!
The person who has wronged the artist is behaving aggressively and confrontationally.
Don't do me no darn favor
The singer will not be indebted to the person who has wronged them.
I don't know karate, but I know Ka-Razor! (yes we do!)
The singer does not have martial arts training, but is still ready and able to confront their enemies.
Get ready, that's a fact
The singer is reminding their enemies that retribution is coming.
Get ready you mother for the big payback (the big payback!)
The person who has wronged the artist will soon face retribution.
Hey! I'm a man! I'm a man!
The artist is asserting their status as a grown and powerful adult.
I'm a son of a man, but don't they tell ya then Pappa can
The singer is proud of their heritage and confident in their abilities.
Hit 'em again!
The singer wants to continue seeking revenge.
Ohh
An expression of pain, frustration, or anger.
Yeah, hey, get ready
The artist is reminding their enemies that they will soon face retribution.
I need it, I need a hit again!
The artist is expressing their desire for revenge.
Carry on, carry on
The singer is reminding their enemies that they will not be deterred in their quest for revenge.
Pay back all of it (the big payback!)
The artist wants to be compensated for all of their losses.
Oh, oh, oh (the big payback!)
The singer is emphasizing that revenge is necessary and that they will not be deterred.
The big payback
The singer's ultimate goal is to get revenge against those who have wronged them.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Brown, John Starks, Fred Wesley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joanneargent7513
We saw him in so Spain my son was 15 and he said it absolutely changed his life. 😊
@joanneargent7513
Oh this was in 1986 by the way
@JoseCalazans
Impossível ouvir e não imaginar a Rochele dançado.
@josemoraes1361
Kkkkkkkkk verdade
@plaqueton5680
Técnico
@spit777
Literally and Chris dressed up as James 😂😂😂😂
@Aprimorado
Verdade mano kkkkkk
@jamissonfla5027
Pow aquela sena do chrys cantando essa musica é massa kkkkkkkk
@guslevy3506
1,000 years from now…if humans still exist, they will still be grooving to James Brown.
The man is timeless…
@jelanitarik7423
That’s a fact!!! 💯💯💯