Info
This work song originated among the African American stevedores (manual laborer who is involved in loading and unloading ships) working in the Georgia Sea Islands. (source)
Lyrics
(American folk song)
Refrain
Pay me, Oh pay me,
Pay me my money down.
Pay me or go to jail,
Pay me my money down.
1. I thought I heard the Captain say,
Pay me my money down,
Tomorrow is our sailing day,
Pay me my money down Refrain
2. As soon as the boat was clear of the bar,
Pay me my money down,
The captain knocked me down with a spar,
Pay me my money down. Refrain
See also
- Country: Southeastern States (US)
- Subject: boats
- Form: ABA
- Harmony: Orff arrangements / chords I V
- Melody: mi, re, do / D,E,F#,G,A,B
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm: syncopation
- Scale: hexachord
- Tones: drmfsl
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords + Orff arrangement
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
