Gordon Lightfoot - The Auctioneer
CAPO: 3rd Fret
[INTRO]
G
N.C.
Hey well, all right, sir
G
Open the gate and let 'em out and walk 'em boys
N.C.
Here we come and let in number twenty-nine
What are you gonna give for the little fella
[CHORUS]
G
I want a five dollar want a bid
Would you bid it on a five on a five on a five
Will you bid it on a twenty-five
Got a twenty-five dollar would you bid it on five on the five
Will you bid it on a thirty dollar five on five
Will you bid it on a five, will you bid it on a thirty-five
[VERSE 1]
Well, there was a boy from Arkansas
C
Who wouldn't listen to his ma
D G D
When she told him that he should go to school
G
Well, he'd sneak away in the afternoon
C
Take a little walk and pretty soon
D G
You'd find him at the local auction barn
[VERSE 2]
C
Well, he'd stand and listen carefully
G
Until at last he began to see
A D
How the auctioneer could talk so rapidly
G
Well, he said, "Oh my, it's do or die
C
I've got to learn that auction cry
D G
Gonna make my mark and be an auctioneer"
[CHORUS]
Twenty-five dollar bid you now thirty dollar thirty
C
Will you make it thirty, bid it on a thirty dollar thirty dollar
D G D
Will you give me thirty, will you give me thirty dollar bill
G
I got a thirty dollar bid you now
C
Five will you beat it on a thirty-five, bid it on thirty-five, thirty-five
D G
Who's gonna bid it at a thirty-five dollar bill
[INSTRUMENTAL]
G C D G C D G
[VERSE 3]
Well, the time went by and he did his best
C
And all could see he did not jest
D G D
He practiced calling bids both night and day
G
Well, his pappy found him behind the barn
C
Just working up an awful storm
D G
As he tried to imitate the auctioneer
[VERSE 4]
C
Then his pop said, "Son, we just can't stand
G
To have a mediocre man
A D
Selling things at auction, using our good name
G
Gonna send you off to auction school
C
And then you'll be nobody's fool
D G
And you can take your place among the best"
[CHORUS]
Thirty-five dollar bid you now forty dollar forty
C
Will you make it forty, bid it on a forty dollar forty dollar
D G D
Will you give me forty, will you give me forty dollar bill
G
I got a forty dollar bid you now
C
Five will you beat it on a forty-five, bid it on forty-five, forty-five
D G
Who's gonna bid it at a forty-five dollar bill
[INSTRUMENTAL]
G C D G C D G
[VERSE 5]
And from that boy that went to school
C
There grew a man who played it cool
D G D
He come back home a full fledged auctioneer
G
And the people would come from miles around
C
Just to hear him make that rhythmic sound
D G
That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer
[VERSE 6]
C
And his fame spread out from shore to shore
G
He'd all that he could do and more
A D
He had to buy a plane to get around
G
Well, now he's the best in all the land
C
Let's pause and give that man a hand
D G
'Cause he's the best of all the auctioneers
[CHORUS]
Forty-five dollar bid you now fifty dollar fifty
C
Will you make it fifty, bid it on a fifty dollar fifty dollar
D G D
Will you give me fifty, will you give me fifty dollar bill
G
I got a fifty dollar bid you now
C
Five will you beat it on a fifty-five, bid it on fifty-five, fifty-five
D G
Who's gonna bid it at a fifty-five dollar bill
[INSTRUMENTAL]
G C D G C D G
[OUTRO]
D G
Well, I sold that hog for a fifty dollar bill
