Lyr Req: The Auctioneer (LeRoy Van Dyke)

Subject: Lyric Req.
From: Ronims
Date: 18 Feb 97 - 12:56 AM

Does anyone out there know the lyrics to " The Auctioneer"? This was recorded by Gordon Lightfoot on his 1979 album " Dream Street Rose ". Would be forever grateful for them or where to get them. He sings it so fast on the recording, it's impossible to write them down. Thanks! Ronims

Subject: RE: Lyric Req.
From: Ralph BUtts
Date: 27 Feb 97 - 06:30 PM

Subject: RE: Lyric Req.
From:
Date: 28 Feb 97 - 02:27 AM

Let me know if you don't get this right away, cuz i have it too... IF you're talking about the one that came out in the 50s that begins "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 and 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"

well, that's verse one... let me know if it's the right song and if you want 2 and 3... chuck

Subject: Lyr Add: THE AUCTIONEER (LeRoy Van Dyke)
From:
Date: 28 Feb 97 - 04:23 AM

THE AUCTIONEER - Recorded by LeRoy Van Dyke
Written by LeRoy Van Dyke and Buddy Black

There was a boy in Arkansas
Who wouldn't listen to his ma
When she told him 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."

"Twenty-five dollar bid it now, thirty-dollar,
Will you gimmie thirty, make it thirty,
Bid it on a thirty dollar, will you gimmie thirty,
Who'll bid a thirty-dollar bid?
Thirty-dollar bid it now, thirty-five,
Will you gimmie thirty-five, to make it thirty-five,
To bid it a thirty-five,
Who woulda bid it at a thirty-five dollar bid?"

As time went on, he did his best,
And all could see he didn't jest.
He practiced calling bids both night and day.
His pap would find him behind the barn
Just working up an awful storm
As he tried to imitate the auctioneer.

Then his pap said, "Son, we just can't stand
To have a mediocre man
Sellin' things at auction using our good name.
I'll send you off to auction school.
Then you'll be nobody's fool.
You can take your place among the best."

"Thirty-five dollar bid it now, forty-dollar,
Will you gimmie forty, make it forty,
Bid it on a forty-dollar, will you gimmie forty?
Who'll bid a forty-dollar bid?
Forty-dollar bid it now, forty-five,
Will you gimmie forty-five, to make it forty-five,
To bid it a forty-five.
Who woulda bid it at a forty-five dollar bid?"

So from that boy who went to school,
There grew a man who played it cool,
And came back home a full-fledged auctioneer;
And the people came from miles around
Just to hear him make that rhythmic sound
That filled their hearts with such a happy cheer.

His fame spread out from shore to shore.
He had all he could do and more.
Had to buy a plane to get around.
Now he's the tops in all the land.
Let's pause and give that man a hand.
He's the best of all the auctioneers.

"Forty-five dollar bid it now, fifty-dollar,
Will you gimmie fifty, make it fifty,
Bid it on a fifty-dollar, will you gimmie fifty,
Who'll bid a fifty-dollar bid?
Fifty-dollar bid it now, fifty-five,
Will you gimmie fifty-five, to make it fifty-five,
To bid it a fifty-five.
Sold that horse for a fifty-five dollar bill!

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

"Here we come with lot number 29 in. What ya gonna give?

Subject: RE: Lyric Req.
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Feb 97 - 09:05 PM

Gene, at times you amaze me.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req.
From: ronims
Date: 03 Mar 97 - 12:04 AM

Much, Much thanks to all who responded and especially to Gene Graham who gave me the actual lyrics. I do some auctioneering at times, so you can guess how this song figures in my list of favorites.

Subject: The Auctioneer - When was it written?
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 06:43 AM

Could anyone tell me when Leroy Van Dyke and Buddy Black wrote The Auctioneer ? To be more specific- which came first The Auctioneer or Chuck Berry's Johnny B Good ? One of them must surely have influenced the other lyrically ,unless there's a common ancestor that I've never heard of .

Subject: RE: The Auctioneer - When was it written?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 08:53 AM

Some things are easily found with an internet search.

Auctioneer 1956
Johnny B. Goode 1958

Subject: RE: The Auctioneer - When was it written?
From: GUEST,2
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 09:14 AM

Wikipedia says 1955 for JBG, but I've learned to take whatever I read there with a grain of salt, as anyone can say just about anything there. Accuracy is not necessarily a strong suit. So you are left with some question there.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: The Auctioneer-Lightfoot?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:42 PM

Is this song the one Gordon Lightfoot recorded, or did he sing a different "Auctioneer" song? I thought he recorded mostly his own compositions.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: The Auctioneer
From: vlmagee
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:48 PM

Yes, Lightfoot recorded it. In fact, he had been performing it live for more than a decade. It was always an audience favorite.

And yes, he recorded mostly his own songs, as do Dylan and Simon as other examples, but they also occasionally recorded someone else's song. On Lightfoot's first (official) album, he had three covers (First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Ewan MacColl), Changes (Phil Ochs) and Pride of Man (Hamilton Camp). Over the years, he recorded maybe a half dozen other covers scattered over several different albums.

As for the lyrics, a couple of friends tried to transcribe Lightfoot's version; they are available on the Dream Street Rose album page on my web site at gordonlightfoot.com. He has an auction call at the start, and there are probably some differences scattered throughout the song. One of these days I'll have to compare the lyrics here with what my friends came up with.