TANGLEWOOD BOB
Words: Garrison Keillor, © 2001 Garrison Keillor
Music: traditional, RAILROAD BILL

Tanglewood Bob, Tanglewood Bob,
He never got a real summer job.
He just plays, plays, plays.

Sits in the woods, sits on the lawn,
Playin' scales all the day long.
He just plays, plays, plays.

Plays in the orchestra, second chair,
Behind a girl with long blonde hair,
And it's hey, hey, hey.

Plays his Bruckner, plays his Mozart,
Workin' away at the viola part.
Hey, hey, hey.

He plays viola. It was all that was left.
Now he's livin' in a lower clef.
It's hey, hey, hey.

Girl in front with the long blonde hair,
She's a violinist and she does not care.
It's hey, hey, hey.

She never looks back, this violinist.
She doesn't know that violas exist.
No, it's hey, hey, hey.

Tanglewood Bob sittin' in his tux,
Waiting for the day when he conducts.
Hey, hey, hey.

Standin' up front with baton in his hand,
That beautiful woman at his command.
Now it's hey, hey, hey.

Tanglewood Bob, Tanglewood Bob,
He never got a real summer job.
He just plays, plays, plays.

[As performed by Garrison Keillor, Pat Donohue, and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, on A Prairie Home Companion, Saturday, June 30, 2001. Click to play.]