ZZ Top – Just Got Paid

“I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.”

That Little Ol’ Band From Texas has a great groove going on in this song. I was going to save this to a more appropriate Friday but for some of us the days are blending into each other at home so let’s just pretend.

This song was inspired by Peter Green’s opening riff in Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well.” Billy Gibbons was living in Los Angeles, sitting on the steps of his apartment and it was raining and he couldn’t go anywhere… he kept trying to learn that riff and as he said…it got tangled up and it stayed tangled up.

Just Got Paid was on their second album, Rio Grande Mud released in 1972. The album peaked at #104 in the Billboard Album Charts. The song didn’t chart in the Billboard 100 but it has become an FM staple.

Just Got Paid

I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
Said, I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
If you believe like workin’ hard all day,
just step in my shoes and take my pay.

I was born my papa’s son,
when I hit the ground I was on the run.
I had one glad hand and the other behind.
You can have yours, just give me mine.
When the hound dog barkin’ in the black of the night,
stick my hand in my pocket, everything’s all right.

I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
Said, black sheep, black, do you got some wool?
Yes, I do, man, my bag is full.
It’s the root of evil and you know the rest
but it’s way ahead of what’s second best.

 

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

24 thoughts on “ZZ Top – Just Got Paid”

    1. I saw them in 83 I believe or there abouts on the Eliminator tour…it was a great show with Sammy Hagar opening.

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  4. I was just thinking, one of the things that surprises me here is that I don’t hear a lot more ZZ Top on the radio. I mean, the ‘Eliminator’ singles still get spun on the retro station and classic rock one, and once in awhile you hear “Tush” or “La Grange” but I think I figured they’d be huge on radio here when I moved down, in fact I might have heard them more back up in Canada!

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      2. That is weird about the guy not getting credit. I could understand if it was just producing a little…but this is writing.

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      3. Yeah who knew that when I posted it I would hear from the actual guy. lol
        I’m a hack writer man hahaha
        At least ZZ did not shut me down. haha

        Another close call was when I did a post on Bon Jovi about them getting in the RNR Hall of Fame and that they have sucked since they canned Alec John Such. LOL

        He left a comment as well. I tried tracking him down to see If I could hit him up for a little Q&A
        lol to no avail.

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      4. Man that just sucks…I mean give the man his due…I’m sure he would take payment instead…just something…that is wrong.

        The only famous person I ever got come by my blog was Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues.

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      5. I think if my memory is correct I think they gave him some kind of payment and credit for Thugs, but I could be wrong.

        I was able to do a interview with Jonathon Valen who is supposedley the second drummer who was offstage on Judas Priests Turbo Tour back in 86.
        It was cool he took the time and answered my questions.

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      6. These blogs make the world a lot smaller. You never know who might drop by. I did a Friday thing before about one hit power pop bands and I had a few comment…its a cool deal.

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  8. Cool tune by three cool dudes – I generally dig ZZ Top, especially their earlier stuff. “Tush” is one of the greatest and tightest blues rockers I know – I simply cannot get tired of it!

    With all that being said, I saw ZZ Top live in May 2018. While the stuff they played was cool, they didn’t appear to be very engaged. They almost seemed to treat the gig as a routine performance – which of course it was, but I still found it a bit of a turn-off that they made it so obvious. Perhaps, they deliberately wanted to come across as cool and emotionless – don’t know. In any case, it didn’t fully convince me!

    On the other hand, John Fogerty who was also on the bill was the complete opposite. You could clearly feel he had fun being on that stage. He also was very proud that one of sons was part of his backing band. Both helped create a connection with the audience and give the gig a more authentic feel.

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    1. I saw ZZ Top in 83 and they were in the middle of the Eliminator tour so they were on when I saw them…they were in the middle of a rebirth so to speak.
      I do agree with you…I like their early stuff much better.

      I would love to see John Fogerty….It’s always been bad timing when he comes here. I hope I get a chance to see him.

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