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"Pay Me My Money Down," Lyrics, Text Format


Advanced syncopation, limited range, two intervals, and exploring variations in phrases between the verse and refrain.

Description

  • Grade: Fourth
  • Origin: USA – African American Work Song
  • Key: C Major
  • Time: 4/4
  • Form: AB – verse/refrain
  • Rhythm: advanced: | ta ta ta ta | ta ta ta/a |
    | (ta) ta ta ta | ti ta ta/ (ti) ti | syncopation,
    | ti ta ta/a/ | syncopation, | ta/ ta/ ta | syncopation
    | ta/ ta/a/ | syncopation, | (ta) ta ta ta | syncopation
  • Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi Fa So La
  • Intervals: intermediate: So\Mi (m3), Mi/La (P4)
  • Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, eighth; rest: quarter, eighth; pickup beat, tied notes, two double barlines, call/response, verse/refrain, syncopation on the second half of the first, second, and fourth beats (& of 1, & of 2, & of 4), repeated syncopated entrances on the second beat, and syncopated rhythmic divisions of half beats into groups of 3-3-2

    NOTE: refrain is composed of the calls and responses:
    measures 10-11 are syncopated variations of measures 2-3,
    measures 12-13 changes one pitch from measures 4-5,
    measures 14-17 mirror measures 6-9
    omitting one beat/pitch

  • Key Words: USA history, African American history, Georgia Sea Islands, slave ships, slave trade, thought, captain, sailing day, boat, dock bar, boat dock, knocked, end of a spar (thick, strong pole), pay, money down

“Pay Me My Money Down” 
1.
Call
I thought I heard the captain say,
Responce
“Pay me my money down,”
Call
Tomorrow is our sailing day,
Responce
“Pay me my money down,”
Refrain:
“Pay me, oh, pay me,
Pay me my money down,
Pay me or go to jail,
Pay me my money down,”
2.
Call
As soon as the boat was clear of the bar,
Responce
“Pay me my money down,”
Call
He knocked me down with the end of a spar.
Responce
“Pay me my money down,”
Refrain:
“Pay me, oh, pay me,
Pay me my money down,
Pay me or go to jail,
Pay me my money down,”
Additional Formats (click to enlarge)
music
"Pay Me My Money Down," Music Format
bbeats
Click to enlarge: "Pay Me My Money Down," Beats Format
rhythm
Click to Enlarge: "Pay Me My Money Down," Rhythm Format
pitch numbers
Click to Enlarge: "Pay Me My Money Down," Pitch Number Format
solfeggio
Click to Enlarge: "Pay Me My Money Down," Solfeggio Format
letter names
Click to Enlarge: "" Letter Names Format