Music You Can Read®

"Pay Me My Money Down"
       
     
"Pay Me My Money Down"
 


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



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

Click to hear melody.
 


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,"
   
           


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Additional Formats


music

"Pay Me My Money Down," Music Format
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beats

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rhythm

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pitch numbers

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solfeggio

Click to Enlarge: "Pay Me My Money Down," Solfeggio Format
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letter names

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