My older brother Tommy was a lineman rest his soul
His job was hanging hot wires on them high-line power poles
Every morning bright and early he’d climb way up in the sky
And I never understood it so one day I asked him why

Chorus:
He said it pays big money and man I’m into that
It pays big money if you’re willing to take a chance
Let me tell you something sonny, you ought to see my bank account
It pays big money but he sure can’t spend it now

Well, my late Uncle Charlie was this demolition hound
He’d travel across the country blowing buildings to the ground
He carried a case of dynamite seemed everywhere he went
He smoked them big long cigars and he’d wink at you and grin

Repeat First Chorus

Well now the moral of this story boys, is don’t go getting yourself killed
Be kind to your rich relatives they just might put you in their will

Chorus:
That pays big money and we’re all into that
It pays big money and big money’s where it’s at
Let me tell you something sonny, you ought to see my bank account
It pays big money and we’re rolling in it now

Chorus:
It pays big money having foolish kin
It pays big money guess I owe it all to them
Let me show you something sonny, take a look at this bank account
It pays big money; let’s all spend some of it now