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Pay the Band

from A Poison Melody by Curtis Eller

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lyrics

Pay the Band

If you're looking
For a heart that's true
You come to the right place
I can get one for you
And if you're feeling all alone and blue
I can make that cruel sun
Shine down on you too
But it's blood
That you need
There's just one thing that'll
Make this poor heart bleed

I ain't talkin’ ‘bout love
Although that's nice too
If you think that's all you need, well
You must be confused
The only gun that I know
That can truly kill
Come on sister
Gimme that goddamn
Greenback dollar bill
Well it might sound ugly
And it may seem cruel
Money make the engine turn
When there ain't no fuel

Like morphine on the frontline
It'll nullify the pain
Or that special something Elvis has
That drives the girls insane
The way Brigitte Bardot knocks 'em out
With just a passing glance
If you can pay the band
You can watch the people dance
Don't you know you go to
Pay the band if you wanna watch those losers dance

A guy like me can get loaded
And jump behind the wheel
Everybody loves a wealthy man
In a Cadillac automobile
An intoxicated man
Feeling truly free
Everyday is the fifth of December
1933
All the roads are open
Even the cops let you slide
These American hearts come
Equipped with a smoother ride

You can walk around like Henry Ford
On the banks of the river Rouge
Tell the workers how they're gonna live
And you know that they can't refuse
You can bust the union if you've got
A little bit of money in your pants
If you can pay the band
You can watch the people dance

Like morphine on the frontline
It'll nullify the pain
Or that special something Elvis has
That drives the girls insane
The way Brigitte Bardot knocks 'em out
With just a passing glance
If you can pay the band
You can watch the people dance
Don't you know you got to
Pay the band if you wanna watch those losers dance

Everybody, clap your hands
Hey you losers
We come here to watch you dance

credits

from A Poison Melody, released May 30, 2019
Curtis Eller: lead vocals, banjo
Dana Marks: harmony vocals
Stacy Wolfson: harmony vocals
Hugh Crumley: upright bass
Jack Fleishman: drums, percussion
Steve Cowles: tenor saxophone
Danny Grewen: trombone
Danny Abrams: Baritone saxophone
Tom Merrigan: piano

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Curtis Eller Durham, North Carolina

Curtis Eller is a banjo player, songwriter and rock & roll singer who's songs describe a dreamlike vision of American history where all points in time have collapsed into one. A twenty-year show business veteran, Eller has developed a devoted international following with his band, The American Circus. ... more

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