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Pay the Man

from Roubles and Kopecks by Sam Steffen

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lyrics

Filled my gastank up with gas—I had to pay the man
Cop pulled me over for drivin too fast—I had to pay the man
Pulled up straight to an old toll-gate where a fella held out his hand
I mistook it, and shook it—and then I had to pay the man

I ate something that made me sick—I had to pay the man
I needed medical attention quick—I had to pay the man
Doctor performed an operation, took out a swollen gland
He said I’s lucky, he saved my life—and I had to pay the man

Woe is me is nothing free in this godforsaken land?
Can’t I even own what’s mine—no ifs buts or ands
I work all day for a measly pay, I’m so tired I can hardly stand
As soon as I get off the clock I got to pay the man

I took my girlfriend out to eat—I had to pay the man
Wanted to use the W.C.—I had to pay the man
Fella’s in the bathroom givin out towels, sayin they’re to dry my hands
Then he looks at me expectantly—I had to pay the man

I went to visit mom and dad—I had to pay the man
Took a bus, a train, and a taxi-cab—I had to pay the man
When I got home I’s so worked up I shut the door and it slammed
My father says, “you know the rules,” –and I had to pay the man

chorus

I wanted to use a utility—I had to pay the man
Water, heat, electricity—I had to pay the man
the furnace popped and the power stopped and the water it froze and jammed
had to call someone to fix em all—and I had to pay the man

Well on Sunday I went down to mass—and I had to pay the man
arrived just in time for the plate to pass—and I had to pay the man
Father said, “You won’t be judged—just give up what you can,”
But I swear I couldn’t get out them doors—until after I paid the man

chorus

I expect one night I’ll go and die—and I’ll have to pay the man
Folks’ll gather round and cry—and I’ll have to pay the man
Let my epitaph be plain—I don’t want nothing grand
Let it read: “I’s born, I lived, and I had to pay the man”

Bound or free, alive or dead—I had to pay the man
Didn’t matter what no one said—I had to pay the man
Well I wanted to know where my money’s goin—I wanted to understand
I asked the first person I met—I had to pay the man

I went ahead and checked my facts—about having to pay the man
Seems every time I pay a tax—I’m payin uncle Sam
He spends it so our planes can go drop bombs on a foreign land
He says I shouldn’t be concerned, it’s all-American

If my money’s gonna fund a war—I ain’t gonna pay the man
If it’ll get a kid killed on a foreign shore—I ain’t gonna pay the man
When we got bad schools right here at home, poverty to beat the band
I’d rather pay a teacher’s salary than to pay that awful man

credits

from Roubles and Kopecks, released September 14, 2020

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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