Brothers Oliver and Chris Wood grew up in Boulder, CO, and both left the area after graduating from high school, Oliver moving to Atlanta while Chris ended up in New York. Oliver, a guitarist, discovered he had a knack for writing songs and formed the blues-based King Johnson, which continues to do frequent gigs on the Southern circuit. Chris, a bassist, began playing jazz and rock in New York, eventually teaming up with John Medeski and Billy Martin to form the successful jazz-funk trio Medeski, Martin & Wood. The brothers began jamming together at family functions, and the duo's roots-inflected blend of blues, folk, and rock quickly took shape. They privately released the Live at Tonic EP, which was drawn from their first-ever public concert at New York's Tonic venue on March 5, 2005. Signed to Blue Note Records, the Wood Brothers released their debut album, Ways Not to Lose, in 2006. The album, which features drummer Kenny Wollesen on five tracks, was produced by John Medeski and recorded at Allarie Studios in Shokan, NY.
Payday
The Wood Brothers Lyrics
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Can't get along with you
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
No matter what I say
Well i just cant find a way
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
Payday, payday
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
Well theres a rabbit in the lawn
Aint' got no rabid dog
And I'd hate to see that rabbit get away
Get away, get away
Well Id'a hate to see that rabbit get away
Get away, get away
Well Id'a hate to see that rabbit get away
Don't matter where I go
There's always things that I dont know
But I'm gonna keep my skillet greasy if I can
If I can, if I can
I'm gonna keep my skillet greasy if i can
And if I can, if I can
I'm gonna keep my skillet greasy if I can
Don't matter what i do
Can't get along with you
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
No matter what i say
Oh I just cant find a way
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
Payday, payday
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
Payday, payday
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
The Wood Brothers's song "Payday" is a simple but catchy tune that tells a story of struggles in a relationship. The opening line "It don't matter what I do, can't get along with you" sets the tone for the rest of the song where we hear the struggles of the singer in dealing with his partner who he just can't seem to connect with. He entertains the idea of taking her back to her momma on payday, emphasizing that their relationship is at a breaking point and he no longer wants to be with her.
The second verse brings in some interesting imagery with a rabbit and a lawn, a situation that seems a little out of place in the context of the song. The line "Ain't got no rabid dog, and I'd hate to see that rabbit get away" is perhaps a metaphor for the relationship that the singer is trying to save, but without the proper tools (the rabid dog) to make it happen.
The chorus repeats the lines "I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday" twice, emphasizing the desperation of the singer to end this relationship and get out. The final verse suggests that the singer is an independent person who is determined to keep his "skillet greasy" and be able to take care of himself even if the relationship doesn't work out.
Overall, "Payday" is a song that touches on themes of relationship struggles, independence, and the need to move on when something isn't working out. It's a catchy tune that can be interpreted in many different ways.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't matter what I do
No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to work out.
Can't get along with you
I can't seem to find a way to get along with you.
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
I'm going to take you home to your mother on payday, because we can't seem to work things out.
No matter what I say
My words and reasoning seem to fall on deaf ears.
Well i just cant find a way
I can't seem to find a solution to our problems.
Payday, payday
The day when we get paid and leave each other is coming soon.
Well theres a rabbit in the lawn
There is a rabbit on the grass outside.
Aint' got no rabid dog
Thankfully, there is no rabid dog around to harm the rabbit.
And I'd hate to see that rabbit get away
I don't want the rabbit to escape without me being able to see it.
Get away, get away
I don't want the rabbit to leave my sight.
Don't matter where I go
No matter where I end up or what I do, there are always unknowns.
There's always things that I dont know
There will always be things that I don't understand or am not aware of.
But I'm gonna keep my skillet greasy if I can
Despite the unknowns, I am going to keep working and trying to provide for myself.
If I can, if I can
As long as it's possible, I will continue to work hard.
Payday, payday
Again, the day when we get paid and go our separate ways is coming soon.
I'm gonna take you to your momma on payday
Once we get paid, I am going to take you back home to your mother and end things between us.
Oh I just cant find a way
Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to find a way to make this work.
Contributed by Mateo J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.