A DOLLAR DOWN
Words and music by Jesse Stone
As recorded by Louis Jordan, 1954.

A dollar down and a dollar when I'm caught—
Yeah, Lord, I'm stuck with all this mess I bought.
Ev'ry time somebody knocks,
I tip to the bathroom in my socks
On account o' that dollar down and a dollar when I'm caught.

Yeah, a dollar down and a dollar when I can.
Mm-hm-hm, Lord, I hate that easy credit plan.
Though my baby's dressed to kill,
It keeps me strugglin' with these bills
On account o' that dollar down and a dollar when I'm caught.

I found a man's place on the avenue.
He said: "Come in, boy; what can I do wi' you?"
I said: "All I've got is a dollar and a dime.
I'd like to get a little ol' stuff on time."

He grabbed me and shoved me through the door
And loaded me down with ev'rything in the store.
Picked fifteen things and started to leave,
When I heard him say as he grabbed my sleeve:

"Your teeth may grin and your eyes may shine,
But you can't cut out till these papers been signed."
Just about noon I started to write.
When I staggered home it was near midnight.

Woke late next mornin' and lost my dime,
So I ran to my job tryin' to make time.
I fell in the door out o' breath and tired.
The boss picked me up and said: "Boy, you're fired."

On account o' that dollar down and a dollar now and then.
Yes, I ain't had a buck since, le' me see, since Lord knows when.
I get lots an' lots o' mail
Sayin' I'm headed straight for jail
'Cause I can't pay a dollar down and a dollar when I'm caught.