Them That Got / Payola
Blues / Everybody's Got Nice Stuff But Me
(4:50)
[1959/1983/1988]
MP3
Liner Notes
I've gotten down to my last pair of shoes;
Can't even win a nickel bet
Because, uh, them that's got are them that gets
& I ain't got nothing yet.
This one's for you, Alan Freed, 'cause whatever you'd do,
The things they're doing today would make a sainted man of you.
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
Payola Blues!
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
I got the Payola Blues,
Even though I already paid my dues.
(Pay it to play it, babe.)
I'm sneaking in & out ducking my landlord;
All I can do is stay in debt
Because, uh, them that's got are them that gets
& I tell you all I ain't got nothing yet.
Listen to me, Mr DJ, hear what I've got to say:
If a man is making music, they ought to let his records play.
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
Payola blues!
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
No matter where I go, I never hear my record on the radio.
(And it goes like this . . .)
PAYOLER: "Well, here's three hundred grand, that ought to get it
on."
PAYOLEE: "Well, thanks a lot man! I love your brand new
song!"
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
Payola Blues.
(Cash-a-wad-a-wad-a, cash-a-wad-a-wad-a)
No matter where I go,
I never hear my record on the radio.
That old saying, "Them that's got are them that gets,"
Is something I can't see;
If you got to have something before you can get something,
How you get your first's a mystery to me.
I see folks with long cars & fine clothes;
That's why they're called the smarter set,
Because they manage to get what only them that's got supposed to get,
& I ain't got nothing yet,
Whoah, I tell you all I ain't found nothing yet,
I just can't seem to rub some Hampshire coins together even for a cup
of coffee,
If I could get us some airplay, I know our luck would change,
I would be grateful to get my hands on most anything,
But I ain't got nothing yet.
She's got eyes of deepest blue,
He's got hair of green.
I wish I had the kind of cash
To make heads turn when I walk past.
I wish I could live in luxury . . .
(Everybody's got nice stuff but me.)
I want cash, I want more me . . .
(Everybody's got nice stuff but me.)
I want stereos, I want TVs . . .
(Everybody's got nice stuff but me.)
I want cars, I want jet-skis . . .
(Everybody's got nice stuff but me.
Everybody's got nice stuff but me.
Everybody's got nice stuff but me.
Everybody's got nice stuff but me.
Everybody's got nice stuff but me.)
[“Them That Got” written by R Charles & R Harper, Ray
Charles Enterprises, 1959; “Payola Blues” written by N Young
& B Keith, Silver Fiddle ASCAP / Cayenne, Inc BMI, 1983; “Everybody’s
Got Nice Stuff But Me” written by The Dead Milkmen, Golf Pro Music
BMI, 1988] |
| |
Like Charles’ &
Young’s, The Dead Milkmen’s influence on REN’s music
&
very way of communicating (God help us) can’t be underestimated,
ergo this trilogy of smashed-together, anti-radio/materialism rants.
That suave gray phantom bookending this tune is none other than Mr Rock
‘n’ Roll himself, looking down the melancholy barrel of the
’59 Payola scandal; it turned out to be goodbye after all.
Jim Voegli - Piano / Theresa Brooks - Background Vox
Alan Freed - “Apology After Coronation Ball Riot” & “WABC
Farewell Sign-Off” |
|
