Michael Franti & Spearhead

The payroll (Stay String)

Michael Franti & Spearhead


(Chorus) 
(He's strong!) 
Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No" 
(So strong!) 
Got sick and tired of seein' brothers being treated ill 
(He's strong!) 
They say to chill, they say my homey's not available 
(Stay strong!) 
I hear Mama they got him working on tha Payroll 
(She's strong!) 
Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No" 
(So strong!) 
Got sick and tired of seein' sistas being treated ill 
(She's strong!) 
They say to chill, they say my homegirl's not available 
(Stay strong!) 
I hear Mama they got her working on tha Payroll 

At 21 the brother "Smooth" he got a record deal 
been working hard been writin' songs about the things he feels 
he says it's real, 'cause I got bills, but I got skills 
my deck is stacked, if I could only get my shit on wax 
when it was ripe he took his tape up to the rec execs 
they smoked cigars and rolled their eye's at him behind their specs 
your shit is phat but I don't hear it in the format Jack 
what's all this black crap check page twenty one of your contract 

(Chorus) 

A friend of mine Roberta she got a job at the post office 
she was college edjamacated but got fired up at the law office 
I'm all alone two kids at home, I need a job just any job 
so I can get back on my feet like Tina "T"(urner) 
the boss came up to her said, "why don't you come home with me" 
I'd like to see you take off your clothes for me 
she said "No way man!" 
he said "You don't understand" 
"You lose your life, you lose your job if you don't do this shift!" 

(Chorus) 

I met a black man who became a police officer 
officer, officer, officer, officer, officer, overseer 
he tried to tell me it was the only job available 
either rob or join the mob 'cause I'm not salable 
one night he went out on an undercover sting-ing 
bought some smack tried to break the heroin ring-ring 
Two cops white cops saw juggling goin' down 
they spilled his brain like homey the fuckin' clown 
(He's gone!) 
Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say no 
got sick and tired of seein' people bein' treated ill 
picked up my nines, walked up from behind 
tapped two of them on the neck so I could meet their eyes direct 
Pom! Pom! 
I didn't do it for tha payroll 

(Chorus)