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You Pays Your Dues (You Takes Your Chances)

from Youth Is Not For Pleasure by Second Language

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    AVAILABLE NOW!

    Second Language's 'Youth Is Not For Pleasure' album recorded in 1985 on CD in a new Deluxe Limited Edition of 100. Comes with 16-page booklet containing photos, credits, liner notes and the lyrics to all the songs.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Youth Is Not For Pleasure via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    edition of 100 
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  • Streaming + Download

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  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Jessie Jacobson: Lead Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Keyboard, Anvil, Handclaps
Toni Zeto: Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Handclaps
Jerome Faulkner: Keyboards, Backing Vocal, Handclaps
Jarrett Lesko: Bass, Handclaps
Brian Bielski: Drums, Keyboard, Handclaps

lyrics

You Pays Your Dues (You Takes Your Chances)

You pays your dues
And you takes your chances

It’s a slow torturous path
To the top of the scrapheap
It’s a dark narrow road
And the muck runs knee deep

You pays your dues
You takes your chances
You pays your dues
And you takes your chances

It’s a steep uphill fight
To that ivory tower
It’s a long lonely walk
Down the corridors of power

You pays your dues
You takes your chances
You pays your dues
You takes your chances
And you pays your dues
And you takes your chances

Keep your eye on the wheel
And your nose to the grindstone
Keep a stiff upper lip
Work your fingers down to the bone

You pays your dues
You takes your chances
You pays your dues
You takes your chances

No guiding lights anoint the day
No helping hands to point the way
No black or white
Just shades of gray
Shades of gray

You pays your dues
You takes your chances
And you pays your dues
And you takes your chances
You pays your dues
And you takes your chances

Take your chances

© Jessie Jacobson • Music: 9/29/83 + 3/84 • Lyrics & Melody: 5/24/84

credits

from Youth Is Not For Pleasure, released November 16, 2023
Produced by Second Language with Earle Mankey, 1985.

license

all rights reserved

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Second Language Los Angeles, California

Second Language (1981-present) is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles. They will be releasing 7 albums of vintage and new material throughout 2024 on GO2L Records with Atmos/stereo singles releases on Alternator Records (mixed by Michael James).

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