Johnny Cash
Webb Pierce
Johnny Horton
The Louvin Brothers
George Jones
Carl Perkins
Jim Reeves
Ray Price
Merle Travis
Leroy Van Dyke
Marty Robbins
Eddy Arnold
Don Gibson
Carl Belew
Johnny Cash
The Osborne Brothers
Jim Reeves
Webb Pierce
George Jones
Benny Barnes
Hank Snow
Ray Price
Bobby Bare
Marvin Rainwater
Johnny Horton
“The Auctioneer” by Leroy Van Dyke is a very literal song. It tells a simple story of a novice auctioneer’s journey to fame; it is not a song of euphemisms or hidden messages. The chorus itself is quickly paced, built in a syllabic manner (each word gets one note as opposed to several) to simulate t...
[Intro]
Hey, alright, sir here we go there an' what can we get for 'em?
I have a 600 dollar down here now 10 now 25 an' a 35 an' now 55, 60, 65, 75, 75 another 85 dollars gonna buy 'em there
[Verse 1]
There was a boy in 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, take a little walk and pretty soon
You'd find him at the local auction barn
He'd stand and listen carefully then pretty soon 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
Gotta make my mark and be an auctioneer"
[Chorus]
25 dollar 30 now 30 dollar 30 dollar
30 dollar 30 dollar give me a hollar 30 dollar
Who will bid it at a 35 dollar bid?
35 dollar 35 35 make it 35 and a 35 make it 35 and a 35
Who will bid it at a 35 dollar bid?
[Verse 2]
As time went on he did his best and all could see he didn't jest
He practiced call and bids both night and day
His pappy'd find him behind the barn just a workin up an awful storm
As he tried to imitate the auctioneer
Then his pap said "Son we just can't stand a havin' a mediocre man
You gotta take that auction usin' our good name
I'll send you off to auction school and then you'll be nobody's fool
You can take your place among the best"
[Chorus]
35 dollar 40 now 40 dollar 40 dollar
40 dollar 40 dollar give me a hollar 40 dollar
Who will bid it at at a 40 dollar bid?
40 dollar 45 45 will you make it 45 give me 45 and a 45
Who will bid it at a 45 dollar bid?
[Verse 3]
So from that morning he went to school there grew a man who played it cool
He came back home a full fledged auctioneer
And people came from miles around just to hear him make that rhythmic sound
That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer
His fame reached out from shore to shore he had all he could do and more
He had to buy a plane to get around
Now he's the tops in all the land so let's all give that man a hand
He's the best of all the auctioneers
[Chorus]
45 dollar 50 now 50 dollar 50 dollar
50 dollar 50 dollar give me a hollar 50 dollar
Who will bid it at a 50 dollar bill?
50 dollar 55 55 make it 55 and a 55 make it 55 and
Sold that hog for a 50 dollar bill
[Outro]
Hey, alright, sir open the gate, let em' out and walk 'em boys. Here a comes a lot number 29 in, what're we gon' get for 'em? I got a 25 I get a 35 an' now a 50 make it 50 better t' make it 55, 60, will ya give me 65, 75, an' now 85, an' now 95, 100, an' now a 25, an' get a 75 an' a 2 an' a 3 an' a 4 an' a 5 an' a 6 an' a 7 an' a 800 dollars gonna buy 'em there
Auctioneer was written by Buddy Black & Leroy Van Dyke.