Pay for What You Get

this song has a great deal of meaning for me. My mother is schizophrenic and in and out of mental institutions. the lyrics "Everybody asks me how she's doing Has she really lost her mind? I said, I couldn't tell you I've lost mine" perfectly describe the way i feel every time i have to deal with an episode of this. Everyone is expecting for you to have answers for them, and you cant even get a grip on yourself. he has a great way of giving words to my emotions

I know for a fact that Dave wrote this after his bandmates demanded he write more songs.

Oh, and it's great.

At first I really only liked 3 or 4 songs from UTTAD. But slowly, as I've progressed as a fan, Lover Lay Down is really the only one I don't like or love.

Ok so "Pay for what you get" can only be taken two ways.

1. You get what you put into something
2. You get something and you will have to pay for it Personally I think he means it both ways in the song, he puts in the time and effort to get something let's just say a successful band hypothetically. Say in getting your goal it far exceeds what you've worked for and maybe due to the touring and schedule your girl leaves you.. It would almost seem that you're paying for the excess you've received.

Reasons for assumption Dead sister is after song written so it probably has nothing to do with her.

Song goes from working for something to "pay for what you get" to everybody asks me without her leaving yet and it seems shed be going through alot with everything and he'd be ok at this point inthe game and I think you can here that it's not sarcastic or feigned in this one to bird in hand where he seems to show a hint that he isn't sure if he wants to be with her or do his own thing (fly away stay) the more I think about that part the more I think it may be literal stay here or fly around with us on tour like him being a shitty inconsiderate boyfriend "you pay for" to everybody asks me with her leaving, without her losing her mind this happens in every rendition of the song. And he'd still be ok at this point in the game. His inflection almost seems like he really is doing great and is blowing over the thought of her focusing on himself Sax solo (long TIME passes)

Surprise Surprise you pay for what you get. Sounds like hes feeling the loss of her then he loses his.

Work to get famous instead get crazy famous causes you to lose something you wish you kept Get what you work for but you'll pay for what you get

Get it? Could be wrong but it seems to fit pretty well and accounts for the slight changes in the chorus over the song.

-Joel

Ok so "Pay for what you get" can only be taken two ways.

1. You get what you put into something
2. You get something and you will have to pay for it Personally I think he means it both ways in the song, he puts in the time and effort to get something let's just say a successful band hypothetically. Say in getting your goal it far exceeds what you've worked for and maybe due to the touring and schedule your girl leaves you.. It would almost seem that you're paying for the excess you've received.

Reasons for assumption Dead sister is after song written so it probably has nothing to do with her.

Song goes from working for something to "pay for what you get" to everybody asks me without her leaving yet and it seems shed be going through alot with everything and he'd be ok at this point inthe game and I think you can here that it's not sarcastic or feigned in this one to bird in hand where he seems to show a hint that he isn't sure if he wants to be with her or do his own thing (fly away stay) the more I think about that part the more I think it may be literal stay here or fly around with us on tour like him being a shitty inconsiderate boyfriend "you pay for" to everybody asks me with her leaving, without her losing her mind this happens in every rendition of the song. And he'd still be ok at this point in the game. His inflection almost seems like he really is doing great and is blowing over the thought of her focusing on himself Sax solo (long TIME passes)

Surprise Surprise you pay for what you get. Sounds like hes feeling the loss of her then he loses his.

Work to get famous instead get crazy famous causes you to lose something you wish you kept Get what you work for but you'll pay for what you get

Get it? Could be wrong but it seems to fit pretty well and accounts for the slight changes in the chorus over the song.

-Joel

One of my favorite Dave Matthews songs, not very popular I think but I love the lyrics, melody, guitar, everything...

One of my favorite Dave Matthews songs, not very popular I think but I love the lyrics, melody, guitar, everything...

yea i like this song a lot too...

Hey Lisa which sister is this? I know about the one who's husband killed her then killed himself but I wasn't aware of one who killed herself.

ive always thought this song was just about how dave's lover left him and how no one knows the pain he's feeling. he had a great time with her but now he has to pay up and he lost her. i could be wrong.