The song changes key by half steps as you go to each new verse (starting in G and going to G sharp/A flat and then to A). You pretty much have to play with bar (all major) chords or power chords to play with the original recording. There(G) was a boy in Arkansas Who(C)wouldn't listen to his ma When(D)she told him he should go to(G)school He'd(G)sneak away in the afternoon Take a(C)little walk and pretty soon You'd(D)find him at the local auction(G)barn. He'd(C)stand and listen carefully Then(G)pretty soon he began to see How the(A)auctioneer could talk so rapidly (D) He(G)said, "Oh, my, it's do or die I've(C)got to learn that auction cry Gotta(D)make my mark and be an auctioneer." (G) Twenty-five(G)dollar bid it now, thirty dollar, thirty Will you(C)gimmie thirty, make it thirty Bid it on a thirty dollar, will(D) you gimmie thirty Who'll bid it at a thirty dollar(G)bid? (G)Thirty dollar bid it now, thirty-five Will you gimmie (C)thirty-five, To make it thirty-five, to bid a thirty-five (D)Who woulda bid it at a thirty-five dollar(G)bid? G# As(G#)time went on, he did his best And(C#)all could see he didn't jest He(D#)practiced calling bids both night and (G#)day His(G#)pop would find him behind the barn Just(C#)working up an awful storm As(D#)he tried to imitate the auctioneer.(G#) Then his(C#) pop said, "Son, we just can't stand To(G#) have a mediocre man Sellin'(A#) things at auction using our good (D#)name I'll (G#)send you off to auction school (C#)Then you'll be nobody's fool (D#)You can take your place among the (G#)best." (G#)Thirty-five dollar bid it now, forty dollar, forty Will you (C#)gimmie forty, make it forty Bid it on a forty dollar, (D#) will you gimmie forty Who'll bid it at a forty dollar bid? (G#) (G#)Forty dollar bid it now, forty-five Will you gimmie (C#) forty-five, To make it forty-five, to bid at forty-five Who(D#)woulda bid it at a forty-five dollar (G#)bid? (A) So(A)from that boy who went to school There(D)grew a man who played it cool And(E)came back home a full-fledged auctioneer(A) And the(A)people came from miles around Just to(D)hear him make that rhythmic sound That(E)filled their hearts with such a happy(A)cheer. His(D)fame spread out from shore to shore He had(A)all he could do and more (B)Had to buy a plane to get(E) around Now (A)he's the tops in all the land Let's(D) pause and give that man a hand He's(E) the best of all the auctioneers(A). (A)Forty-five dollar bid it now, fifty dollar, fifty Will you(D)gimmie fifty, make it fifty Bid-it on a fifty dollar, (E)will you gimmie fifty Who'll bid it at a fifty dollar(A)bid? (A)Fifty dollar bid it now, fifty-five Will you(D)gimmie fifty-five, To make it fifty-five, to bid at fifty-five Sold that(E)hog for a fifty-five dollar(A)bill?
