Gordon Lightfoot - The Auctioneer lyrics

The Auctioneer

Gordon Lightfoot

Hey well all right sir, open the gate and let 'em out and walk 'em boys

Here we come and let in number twenty-nine, what are you gonna give for the little fella

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

Well there was a boy from Arkansas who wouldn't listen to his ma

When she told him that he should go to school

He'd sneak away in the afternoon and take a walk and pretty soon

You'd find him at the local auction barn

He'd stand and listen carefully until at last he began to see

How the auctioneer could talk so rapidly

He said "Oh my, it's do or die, I've got to learn that auction cry

Gonna make my mark and be an auctioneer"

Twenty-five dollar bid you now thirty dollar thirty

Will you make it thirty, bid it on a thirty dollar thirty dollar

Will you give me thirty, will you give me thirty dollar bill

I got a thirty dollar bid you now

Five will you beat it on a thirty-five, bid it on thirty-five, thirty-five

Who's gonna bid it at a thirty-five dollar bill

Well the time went by and he did his best and all could see he did not jest

He practiced calling bids both night and day

Til his pappy found him behind the barn just working up an awful storm

As he tried to imitate the auctioneer

His pop said "Son we just can't stand to have a mediocre man

Selling things at auction using our good name

Gonna send you off to auction school and then you'll be nobody's fool

And you can take your place among the best"

Thirty-five dollar bid you now forty dollar forty

Will you make it forty, bid it on a forty dollar forty dollar

Will you give me forty, will you give me forty dollar bill

I got a forty dollar bid you now

Five will you beat it on a forty-five, bid it on forty-five, forty-five

Who's gonna bid it at a forty-five dollar bill

And from that boy that went to school there grew a man who played it cool

He come back home a full fledged auctioneer

And the people would come from miles around

Just to hear him make that rhythmic sound

That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer

And his fame spread out from shore to shore

He'd all that he could do and more

He had to buy a plane to get around

Well now he's the best in all the land, let's pause and give that man a hand

'Cause he's the best of all the auctioneers

Forty-five dollar bid you now fifty dollar fifty

Will you make it fifty, bid it on a fifty dollar fifty dollar

Will you give me fifty, will you give me fifty dollar bill

I got a fifty dollar bid you now

Five will you beat it on a fifty-five, bid it on fifty-five, fifty-five

Who's gonna bid it at a fifty-five dollar bill

Well I sold that hog for a fifty dollar bill