The Payback Lyrics

[Intro]
Hey!
Got to, got to payback
(The big payback)
Revenge, I'm mad
(The big payback)
Got to get back, I need some get-back
Payback, payback
(The big payback)
That's it, payback, revenge
I'm mad!

[Verse 1]
You get down with my girlfriend, that ain't right
You hollering and cussing, you want to fight
Payback is a thing you gotta see
Hell, brother, do any damn thing to me
You sold me out for chicken change
(Yes you did)
You told me that they, they had it all arranged
You had me down, and that's a fact
And now you punk, you gotta get ready
For the big payback
(The big payback)
That's where I land, on the big payback
(The big payback)
[Verse 2]
I can do wheeling, I can do dealing
(Yes we can)
But I don't do no damn squealing
I can dig rapping
I'm ready, I can dig scrapping
But I can't dig that backstabbing
(Oh no)
Now brother get ready, that's a fact
Get ready you mother for the big payback
(The big payback)
Let me hit them, hit them, Fred hit them
Hey, hey, woo!

[Verse 3]
You took my money, you got my honey
Don't want me to see what you doing to me
I can get back, I got to deal with you
Got to deal with you
Got to deal with you
I got to deal with you
Hey, let me tell you!
Get down with my woman, that ain't right
You holler and cuss, you wanna fight
Look here
Don't do me no darn favor
I don't know karate, but I know ka-razy
(Yes we do)
Hey get ready, that's a fact, girl
Get ready you mother for the big payback
(The big payback)
Hey, I'm a man, I'm a man
I'm a son of a man, but don't they tell you that pappa can
Get ready for the big payback
(The big payback)
Hit me again
WOOOOO!!!!!
Lord, lord, hey
Get ready
I need it, I need a hit again
The same one, the same one, same one
Hit me back
WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Lord
(The big payback)
[Verse 4]
Sold me out for chicken change
Said my woman had it all arranged
Tried to make a deal, but she wanted to squeal
But I had my boys on her heels
Saw me coming, told a lie
She broke down and she wanted to cry
I don't care what she does
Won't be doing just like she was
Take those kids and raise them up
Show 'em how to drink out the righteous cup
Take her, take that woman, it's one place she found
Just run that mother out of town
Make her get up, make her get up, get out
Make her get up, make her get up, get out
I'm mad, I want revenge, I want revenge, my
(The big payback)
My patience ends, I want revenge
My patience ends, I want revenge
I want revenge, I want revenge
(The big payback)
Can I get some hits, I need those hits
I need those hits, hit me!
WOOO!!!!

[Outro]
Lord, I need those hits
Carry on, carry on, payback melody
(The big payback)
{Screams}
(The big payback)
Alright
(The big payback)
Da-dee-da-da, da-dee-da-da, da-dee-da-da
(The big payback)

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About

Genius Annotation

This song, and others on The Payback, were originally written and recorded as Original Soundtrack (OST) material for Hell Up in Harlem (1974), the sequel to Black Caesar (1973), a blacksploitation crime drama. Unfortunately, the music was turned down by related movie producers, who gave the job to Edwin Starr instead. Rather than scrapping the music, James Brown released it his latest album.

Sung lyrics were based on said movie’s script: Harlem gangster Tommy Gibbs (played by Fred Williamson) is angry about his situation and thus seeks revenge against his enemies.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

  1. 10.
    Think
  2. 20.
    Grits
  3. 61.
    The Payback
Credits
Producer
Recorded At
International Studios, Augusta, GA (Basic tracks; 4 August 1973); Advantage Studios, New York, NY (Brass and Female vocal overdubs; September 1973)
Released in
December 1973
Songs That Sample The Payback
Payback Is A Grandmother (Instrumental) by Common, Protection (Live at The Forum, London, November 1999) by Everything But The Girl, When The Sun Shines Again by Common & Pete Rock (Ft. Posdnuos), Rage (Didn't Have To Go) by Thrust, I'm a Villain by Nas, Sexual Healing by Maxamillion, KMD Step Off by Boogie Boys, EX (French Montana Remix) by Kiana Ledé (Ft. French Montana), Rester vivant by Ärsenik (FRA) (Ft. Makwa (Fr)), Miss My Lovin' by 4Kast (Ft. Mic Geronimo), What's Up by De De O'Neal (Ft. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes), Take Me Away by IamDerby (Ft. Rosamira & WanBob), They Want EFX (Remix) by Das EFX, Slap by Busta Rhymes (Ft. Big Daddy Kane & Conway the Machine), Eye No by Prince, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) (The Morning After Dub) by En Vogue, My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) (Extended Mix) by En Vogue, Tempos Difíceis by Racionais MC's, Sticky Fingers by Coolio, The Big Payback by Dave Hollister, If You Don't Know by Queen Latifah, CÓDIGO by Lil Supa’ & Jonas Sanche, Can't You See (So So Def Remix) by Total (Ft. Keith Murray), Can't You See (Bad Boy Remix - Extended) by Total (Ft. Keith Murray), Can't You See (Bad Boy Remix) by Total (Ft. Keith Murray), You by Monifah, Distant Lover (Teddy Riley Extended Mix) by Taral, Guilty by Sevyn Streeter, Chris Brown & A$AP Ferg, Make Room by Tha Alkaholiks, Last Call by Tha Alkaholiks, Ko Rock Stuff by King T (Ft. DJ Pooh), The Boomin’ System (Radio 2) by LL COOL J, The Boomin’ System (Radio 1) by LL COOL J, The Boomin’ System (Underground Mix) by LL COOL J, Straight From Queens by LL COOL J (Ft. Lt. Stitchie), Get Up (Live) by DJ Quik, I Wish U Would by Evil Mind Gangsta's, On & On by SWV (Ft. Erick Sermon), Safe Sex by Erick Sermon, Brooklyn To T-Neck by Das EFX, Funk On Ah Roll (S-Class Club Mix) by James Brown, Buck Tha Devil by Da Lench Mob, Sisterland by Yo-Yo, 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards - Uncut Cypher by BET (Ft. 2 Chainz, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris & Reek Da Villian), You Don’t Even Know by Nivea (Ft. Nick Cannon), What's My Name by Sauce Money, Dunkie Butt by 12 Gauge, Abracadabra by DJ Magic Mike & MC Madness, Ruffneck by MC Lyte, Una cantina piena di cafoni by Lou X, Everything (Live 1998) by Mary J. Blige, Seraphims by Princess Nokia, Diary of a Madman by Scarface, Hold On by En Vogue, Headz Ain't Redee by Black Moon (Ft. Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C. & Smif-N-Wessun), Scarface Groove by Paris (Rap), Hungah by Karyn White, One by Kat Graham, 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards - Indie Meets Mainstream Cypher by BET (Ft. Big K.R.I.T., B.o.B, Kendrick Lamar, mgk & Tech N9ne), Everything by Tonéx, Tonight’s Da Nite (Remix) by Redman, Payback Is a Grandmother by Common, We Don't Have A Plan B by Redhead Kingpin And The F.B.I., Good Life (Group Home Mix) by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Good Life by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Chuckwick by Bushwick Bill (Ft. Ganksta NIP), Hold Off by Mac Dre (Ft. Richie Rich), That's What Little Girls Are Made Of by Raven-Symoné (Ft. Missy Elliott), Ain't a Damn Thang Changed by WC and the MAAD Circle, 2 Skanless by Hi-C (Compton) (Ft. 2nd II None, AMG & DJ Quik), If You Love Me by Ann Nesby, Hump Bounce by R. Kelly, Cheka by Method Man & Redman, Sorry Louie by Eazy-E, Elements I'm Among by Queen Latifah, Final Chapter by Compton's Most Wanted, La justice by Tout Simplement Noir, 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards - Chris Brown & Friends Cypher by BET (Ft. Ace Hood, Chris Brown, Kevin McCall & Tyga), Jackin’ for Beats by Ice Cube, Payback time, GEZ! by Dendemann (Ft. Die Freie Radikale), Solo Un Altro Giorno by Neffa (Ft. Elise (ITA)), Oh, Yeah, It Feels So Good by New Edition, Mr. Fuck Up by MC Ren (Ft. Big Rocc & The Whole Click), Unchained (The Payback / Untouchable) by 2Pac (Ft. James Brown), Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside) (Remix) by Ice Cube (Ft. Chuck D), King Kunta by Kendrick Lamar, Mic Checka by Das EFX, The Wrong Nigga To Fuck Wit by Ice Cube, Rhymin' Wit' Biz by Def Squad (Ft. Biz Markie), My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) by En Vogue, I'm Outstanding by Shaquille O'Neal, In the Meanwhile by Jodeci (Ft. Timbaland), Everything by Mary J. Blige, Everything’s A Go by Memphis Bleek (Ft. JAY-Z), The Big Payback by EPMD, The Boomin’ System by LL COOL J, A Day of Sooperman Lover by Redman, Mr. Bozack by EPMD, I’m Mad by EPMD, Blow Your Mind by Redman, Black Coffee by Heavy D & The Boyz, Guerillas in tha Mist by Da Lench Mob, Happy Days by Silk (Ft. Keith Sweat), Soul Holidays by Sounds of Blackness (Ft. Ann Nesby & James "Big Jim" Wright), Super Agent by Public Enemy, The Big Payback by Big K.R.I.T., Payback’s a Mutha (1987) by King T (Ft. DJ Keith Cooley), Can't You See by Total (Ft. The Notorious B.I.G.), You Played Yourself [Remix] by Ice-T (Ft. DJ Aladdin & King T), Boon Dox by EPMD, Souljah's Revenge by 2Pac, Get Down by Nas, All the Places by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, The Payback (Gotta) by Madlib, 110 Freestyle by Chuku & Panik by MC Einar
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