diff --git a/Lib/email/Message.py b/Lib/email/Message.py
index 326d0b82f29..c018ae702bd 100644
--- a/Lib/email/Message.py
+++ b/Lib/email/Message.py
@@ -150,8 +150,10 @@ class Message:
             self._payload.append(payload)
 
     def get_payload(self, i=None, decode=0):
-        """Return the current payload exactly as is.
+        """Return a reference to the payload.
 
+        The payload is typically either a list object or a string.  If you
+        mutate the list object, you modify the message's payload in place.
         Optional i returns that index into the payload.
 
         Optional decode is a flag indicating whether the payload should be
@@ -180,7 +182,6 @@ class Message:
         # unchanged.
         return payload
 
-
     def set_payload(self, payload, charset=None):
         """Set the payload to the given value.