Pay Me My Money Down
The Kingston Trio Lyrics


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Dave Guard

Well, I thought I heard a captain say, "Pay me my money down. Tomorrow is my sailing day, pay me my money down."

Chorus:
Oh, pay me. Pay me. Pay me my money down. Pay me or go to jail. Pay me my money down.

Soon as that boat was clear of the bar, pay me my money down, well, he knocked me down with the end of a spar
Pay me my money down.

(Chorus)

Wish I was Sherman Adamson, pay me my money down. Get a coke and watch the fun. Pay me my money down.

(Chorus)

Wish I was Erv Jellison, pay me my money down. Fly away and have some fun. Pay me my money down.





(Chorus, twice)

Overall Meaning

The Kingston Trio's "Pay Me My Money Down" shares an age-old tale of sailors demanding payment for their hard work before setting sail on the next voyage. The song begins with the singer overhearing a captain's demand for payment. He repeats the phrase "Pay me my money down" multiple times throughout the opening verse and chorus, serving as a reminder that payment is due. The chorus itself is a call and response, asking for payment or a trip to jail. The urgency of the captain's request is conveyed through the repeated use of the phrase "pay me" and the threat of imprisonment.


The second verse continues with the singer's experience aboard the boat. As soon as the boat is clear of the bar, he is knocked down by the end of a spar. The line "pay me my money down" is repeated again to bring the focus back to the payment that is owed. The song's pace picks up in the third verse, with the singer wishing he was someone else and could simply watch the chaos unfold. The last line of the verse, "pay me my money down," remains a constant refrain throughout the song's entirety. The song ends with a repetition of the urgent chorus, emphasizing once again the importance of paying those who have worked hard.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I thought I heard a captain say, "Pay me my money down. Tomorrow is my sailing day, pay me my money down."
The singer heard a captain demand payment before he sets sail the next day.


Chorus: Oh, pay me. Pay me. Pay me my money down. Pay me or go to jail. Pay me my money down.
The chorus urges listeners to pay their debts or face the consequences of imprisonment.


Soon as that boat was clear of the bar, pay me my money down, well, he knocked me down with the end of a spar Pay me my money down.
As soon as the boat was clear, the captain demanded payment and then violently attacked the singer when he didn't comply.


(Chorus)
The chorus repeats the same message of demanding payment.


Wish I was Sherman Adamson, pay me my money down. Get a coke and watch the fun. Pay me my money down.
The artist wishes they were someone else so they could take pleasure in demanding payment from others and watching them struggle to pay.


(Chorus)
The chorus repeats the same message of demanding payment.


Wish I was Erv Jellison, pay me my money down. Fly away and have some fun. Pay me my money down.
The singer wishes they were someone else so they could leave their debts behind and go have fun, while still demanding payment from others.


(Chorus, twice)
The chorus repeats the same message again, emphasizing the importance of paying debts.




Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DP, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Michael Boyce

Rare Outtake from the "Stereo Concert" album,but not first included until 1999.

K. Sebastian Henwood

While we're young!... (relatively!;)...

Bill Davis

Dave Guard not John Stewart ... wrong photo

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