Pay Me My Money Down Chorus: 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 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 3) If I wish I was Mr. Howard’s son Pay me my money down, Sit in the house and drink good rum, Pay me my money down 4) If I wish I was Mr. Steven’s son Pay me my money down, Sit on the bank and watch the work done, Pay me my money down 5) Well 40 nights, nights at sea Pay me my money down, Captain worked every last dollar out of me, Pay me my money down A work song, “Pay Me My Money Down” originated among the stevedores working in the Georgia Sea Islands. It was collected by Lydia Parrish and published in her 1942 book, “Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands.” It was performed and popularized by The Weavers and The Kingston Trio in the 1950’s. A version was played by the Grateful Dead in the 1960’s. It was also a single and video released by Bruce Springsteen in 2006. The melody is much older and is used in other songs.