Clarence Washington - Shit Down My Back (1975)

[Intro — Funk Guitar / Horns] [Clarence, spoken] Everywhere I go... Somebody wants somethin'. My boss wants more work. My landlord wants more money. My woman wants to know where I been... GOOD GOD! Would everybody please... Get off my back?! [Band] ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! [Verse 1] Boss man caught me at a quarter past nine Said, "Clarence, you ain't been pulling your line" I said, "I've been working since the morning light!" He said, "Well, you better work late tonight!" Landlord called me when I got back home Telephone wouldn't leave me alone Everybody wants this, everybody wants that I'm getting mighty tired of— [BREAK] [Clarence] SHIT DOWN MY BACK! [Background Singers] *(Down his back!)* [Chorus] Don't shit down my back! I'm doing the best I can Don't shit down my back! I'm only one man You can ask me once You can ask me twice But riding me all damn day Ain't very nice! So get up off me, Jack! And don't... SHIT DOWN MY BACK! [Horn hits] BAH! BAH! BAAAAH! [Verse 2] Walked through the door about half past ten My woman said, "Where the hell you been?" I said, "Baby, you ain't gonna believe my day" She crossed her arms and looked the other way Said, "Trash ain't out and the sink ain't clean And that grass outside is looking obscene!" I said, "Woman, I've been working all day!" She said, "Clarence—" I said— [Band STOP] Don't. You. Start. [Drummer: kick-kick-snare] [Clarence] SHITTIN' DOWN MY BACK! [Background Singers] *(There she goes again!)* [Clarence] I KNEW IT! [Chorus] Don't shit down my back! *(Get off that man!)* Give me a little room! Don't shit down my back! *(Give Clarence room!)* I'll get to it soon! Everybody pushing Everybody keeping track Lord, have mercy... STOP SHITTIN' DOWN MY BACK! [Breakdown — Bass & Drums Only] [Clarence] Take me to the bridge! [Horn stab] No, no, no... Not THAT bridge. Take me to that FUNKY bridge! [Groove drops] That's it. Now listen... There's a man out there right now... Working TWO jobs... Paying his bills... Cutting his grass... Taking out his trash... And somebody STILL standing behind him saying— [Background Singer] *"Clarence, you forgot the dishes!"* [Clarence] SEE?! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Give that man some ROOM! [Background Singers] *(Give him some room!)* Give that man some PEACE! *(Give him some peace!)* And most importantly... GET... OFF... HIS... BACK! [Band EXPLODES] [Final Chorus] Don't shit down my back! *(Down his back!)* Don't shit down my back! *(Leave that man alone!)* Boss man! GET OFF MY BACK! Landlord! GET OFF MY BACK! My woman— [Music stops] [Clarence] ...Baby, you can stay. [Background Singer] *Mmm-hmm.* [Clarence] But quit asking about them damn dishes. [Band crashes back in] SHIT DOWN MY BAAAAACK! [Background Singers] *(NO MORE! NO MORE!)* [Clarence ad-libbing] I'm only one man! I got TWO HANDS! Twenty-four hours! And I need EIGHT OF 'EM TO SLEEP! GOOD GOD! GET OFF ME! [Hard horn ending] [Clarence, spoken quietly] ...I'll do the dishes tomorrow.