This one´s for you Al Freed,
Wherever you go, whatever you do
´Cause the things they´re doing today
Will make a saint out of you
Payola blues.
I´ve got the payola blues
Even though I already paid my dues.

Listen to me Mr. D.J.,
hear what I´ve got to say
If a man is making music,
they ought to let his record play.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

Well, here´s three thousand,
that ought to get it on.
Well, thanks a lot man!
I love your new song.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

And it goes like this.

I got a brand new record company,
new manager too.
Got a great new record,
I can´t get through to you.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

How about this new Mercedes Benz,
that ought to get it on.
Well, thanks a lot man!
I´ll play it all day long.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

I´ve got the payola blues, payola blues
I´m paying those payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.