Pay Me My Money Down

A traditional shanty originating among 19th century Black dockworkers in the American South. Its first known publication was in Lydia Parrish's book *Slave Songs of the Georgia Sea Islands* in 1942, though it is referenced as far back as 1888. It was popularized by Pete Seeger in the 1960s, and has been performed by numerous other artists.

The Longest Johns' original a cappella arrangement appears as the 10th track on Between Wind and Water, but in summer 2020, they debuted a new arrangement with instrumental accompaniment, including a harmonium solo by Robbie borrowed from They Might Be Giants' "Particle Man"; this version has since featured in streams, live sets, and a somewhat unconventional music video.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Between Wind and Water.

>
> I thought I heard the captain say,
>
> (Pay me my money down)
>
> "Tomorrow is our sailing day."
>
> (Pay me my money down) [continues throughout verses]
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> Well, pay me! (pay me!) pay me! (pay me!)
>
> Pay me my money down!
>
> Pay me or go to jail!
>
> Pay me my money down!
>
>
>
> Well as soon as the boat was clear of the bar
>
> The captain knocked me with a spar
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well I wish I was a rich man's son
>
> I'd sit by the river and drink dark rum (mm!)
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well I wish I was Mr. Gates
>
> They'd bring my money down in crates
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> Well forty nights, nights at sea
>
> The captain bled every last dollar out of me
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music (Between Wind and Water version)
* Amazon Music (Commodore 1864 version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Between Wind and Water version)
* Apple Music/iTunes (Commodore 1864 version)
* Bandcamp (Between Wind and Water version)
* Deezer (Between Wind and Water version)
* Deezer (Commodore 1864 version)
* Pandora (Between Wind and Water version)
* Pandora (Commodore 1864 version)
* Spotify (Between Wind and Water version)
* Spotify (Commodore 1864 version)

#### YouTube Videos

* Music Video
* Music video filmed in a car with many a GoPro!
* Between Wind and Water version
* Commodore 1864 version

#### Gig Videos

* Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival, June 2019
* Bie Daip - Appingedam (24 Aug 2019)
* Teign Shanty Festival, Teignmouth (28 Sep 2019)
* XXXIX Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki Żeglarskiej (23 Feb 2020)
* Shrewsbury Folk Festival (27 Aug 2021)
* Shrewsbury Folk Festival (28 Aug 2021)
* Old Songs (25 Feb 2022)
* Le Poisson Rouge, NYC (27 Feb 2022)
* Exeter Phoenix (26 April 2022)

#### Full Band Streams

* The Longest Johns, Album Launch gig/party (19 Jun 2018)
* The Longest Johns and Friends, April. w/Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 Apr 2019)
* Live Stream, All aboard the Good Ship Valentine(ish) with The Longest Johns (19 Feb 2020)
* We Built This Stream(y) on Shant and Folk (11 Nov 2020)
* STREAM (4 Aug 2021)
* Cadbury Stream Egg (13 Apr 2022)
* Ghost in the Mastream (30 Aug 2023)
* JINGLE JAM DAY 8! The Longest Johns Live Jingle Jam Concert (8 Dec 2023)

#### Gaming Streams

* The Longest Johns Play Sea of Thieves but the servers die and we sing anyway (20 Mar 2018)
* \*bangs table\* boat boat dogs vaults sing boat! - 11/09/2020
* Sea of Sings? Sea of chaos! - 25/09/2020
* Sea of Sings! with KroTukk! SHANT! - 3/11/2020
* Sea of Sings! With JD, Dave, Robbie and WIREDmag! - 08/03/2021
* How many pirates does it take to change THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS WE KNOW IT?!? - 07/05/2021

1. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S318268