<P> `` The Payback '' is a funk song by James Brown , the title track from his 1973 album of the same name . The song 's lyrics , originally written by trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley but heavily revised by Brown himself soon before it was recorded , concern the revenge he plans to take against a man who betrayed him . The song is notable for its spare , open arrangement and its use of wah - wah guitar -- a relative rarity in Brown 's previous funk recordings . Released as a two - part single ( featuring a radio announcer at the beginning of part one ) in February 1974 , it was the first in an unbroken succession of three singles by Brown to reach # 1 on the R&B charts that year -- the last chart - toppers of his career . It also peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 . It was his second , and final , single to be certified gold by the RIAA . </P>
<P> `` The Payback '' is a funk song by James Brown , the title track from his 1973 album of the same name . The song 's lyrics , originally written by trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley but heavily revised by Brown himself soon before it was recorded , concern the revenge he plans to take against a man who betrayed him . The song is notable for its spare , open arrangement and its use of wah - wah guitar -- a relative rarity in Brown 's previous funk recordings . Released as a two - part single ( featuring a radio announcer at the beginning of part one ) in February 1974 , it was the first in an unbroken succession of three singles by Brown to reach # 1 on the R&B charts that year -- the last chart - toppers of his career . It also peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 . It was his second , and final , single to be certified gold by the RIAA . </P>
what is james brown the big payback about
what is james brown the big payback about
the revenge he plans to take against a man who betrayed him
the revenge he plans to take against a man who betrayed him