The Auctioneer, ©1956 by Buddy Black and Leroy Van Dyke (Auction call and other spoken parts as transcribed by a fan) 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 5 dollar, want a bid Would ya bid it on a 5 on a 5 on a 5 would ya bid it on a 25? Got a 25 dollar would ya bid it on 5 on the 5 Would ya bid it on a 30 dollar 5 on 5 would ya bid it on a 5 Would ya bid it on a 35? Well there was this boy from Arkansas who wouldn't listen to his ma When she told him that he should go to school Well he'd sneak away in the afternoon and take a little walk and pretty soon You'd find him at the local auction barn Well he'd stand and listen carefully until at last he began to see How the auctioneer could talk so rapidly Well 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" 25 dollar bid ya now 30 dollar 30 will ya make it 30, bid it on a 30 dollar 30 dollar Will ya give me 30, will ya give me 30 dollar bill? I got a 30 dollar bid ya now 5 will ya bid it on a 35, bid it on a 35, 35 Who's gonna bid it on a 35 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 Well his pappy found him behind the barn just a-working up an awful storm As he tried to imitate the auctioneer Then his pop said "Son we just can't stand to have a mediocre man Selling things at auction using our good name Well I'm gonna send you off to auction school and then you'll be nobody's fool And you can take your place among the best" 35 dollar bid ya now 40 dollar 40 will ya make it 40, bid it on a 40 dollar 40 dollar Will ya give me 40, will ya give me a 40 dollar bill? I got a 40 dollar bid ya now 5 will ya beat it on a 45, bid it on a 45, 45 Who's gonna bid it at a 45 dollar bill? Well from that boy that went to school there grew a man who played it cool Well 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 Then 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 45 dollar bid ya now 50 dollar 50 will ya make it 50, bid it on a 50 dollar 50 dollar Will ya give me 50, will ya give me a 50 dollar bill? I got a 50 dollar bid ya now 5 will ya beat it on a 55, bid it on a 55, 55 Who's gonna bid it at a 55 dollar bill? Well I sold that hog for a 50 dollar bill