Work ourselves, fingers to the bone
Suck the marrow, drain my soul
Pay your dues, and your debts
Pay your respect, everybody tells you
You pay for what you get
You pay for what you get

Everybody asks me how she's doing
Has she really lost her mind?
I said, I couldn't tell you
I've lost mine

Words, words, words, have you heard
A bird in hand is much better than,
Any number free to wander
Fly away...stay
You pay for what you get
You pay for what you get

Everybody asks me how she's doing
Since she went away
I said I couldn't tell you
I'm okay, I'm okay
Surprise, surprise you pay for what you get
You pay for what you get

Everybody asks me how she's doing
has she really lost her...

Everybody asks me how she's doing
Since she went away
I said I couldn't tell you I'm okay I'm okay
How are you?
You pay for what you get
Pay for what you get..oh..oh...


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Pay for What You Get song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think some of the comments are really good reads and great interpretations but others seem way off.

    Pay for what you get refers to making sacrifices for whatever it is we want or do. No matter what path you take in life often we end up "paying" in another area. Here Dave refers to working and in the process, losing his girl. He is getting in essence what he paid for; working his fingers to the bone" (an illumination to his career aspirations). The phrasing has a double meaning- he gets paid monetarily (thru work) and the spoils of being professionally successful but it's at a hefty price. He loses his relationship because of his lack of attention to its importance. He ultimately regrets the outcome but sarcastically quips "surprise, surprise" as he obviously could of seen it coming.

    planetearthon April 09, 2013   Link

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