Pay to Cum Lyrics
I make decisions with precision
Lost inside this manned collision
Just to see that what to be is
Perfectly my fantasy
I came to know with now dismay
That in this world we all must pay
Pay to write, pay to play
Pay to cum, pay to fight
[Post-Verse 1]
And all in time, with just our minds
We soon will find what's left behind
[Verse 2]
Not long ago, when things were slow
We all got by with what we know
The end is near, hearts filled with fear
Don't want to listen to what they hear
And so it's now we choose to fight
To stick up for our bloody right
The right to ring, the right to dance
The right is ours, we'll take the chance
[Post-Verse 2]
At peace together, apiece apart
A piece of wisdom from our hearts
About
“Pay to Cum” was Bad Brain’s debut single, originally released in 1980, a year before it would appear on their their full-length self-titled album. The 7" single has since been reissued by Dischord Records.
The original 7" single sleeve
The song also gave its name to Pay To Cum 1979-1981, a compilation album released in 2006.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
About his incredibly fast and difficult bassline on “Pay to Cum,” Darryl Jenifer told Premiere Guitar,
Well it wasn’t that fast at first. It started very slow, but the times change. We’d play “Pay to Cum” at a show in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and the kids who thought we were playing fast would start their own bands and then they’d play faster than us. Then we’d end up playing at gigs where we’d come on after them—so then we end up playing faster than them. But it wasn’t conscious. That’s just what happened when Earl got back there and counted off with his sticks.
- 1.Sailin’ On
- 3.Attitude
- 6.Jah Calling
- 10.I
- 11.Big Takeover
- 12.Pay to Cum
- 13.Right Brigade
- 14.I Luv I Jah
