Enjoy today’s video of the song “The Auctioneer.”
And in case you want to follow along, I’ve posted the lyrics below the video.
If you’ve ever been to an auction, it’s quite incredible to hear the patter of the auctioneer.
Lyrics found at: https://genius.com/Leroy-van-dyke-auctioneer-lyrics
[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
Chris Hennessy Sr
that was better then coffee @ Five & Hoek, dt Wheaton, Illinois. well, maybe not quite, but I ❤️ the auction language, could never come close to speaking it.
Sheri Dean Parmelee, Ph.D.
How retro! He’s not too shabby an auctioneer, himself!
BK Jackson
Always loved that song. I’ll take the old music over the modern any day!
Terri Gillespie
Whaaa!
georgia francis
Tis was a really FUN way to start my day! Thanks, Steve, thanks!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
The best auction that I know
that passes every litmus test
is that pure and funny flow
in North By Northwest.
Cary Grant just steals the scene
(and his suit’s still doing fine
after the duster, oh, so mean,
tried real hard to end his line).
The bids go up, Grant beats them down,
and James Mason rolls each eye,
knowing Cary’s not a clown;
he just doesn’t want to die.
Real good movie, don’t you think?
And now, like Cary, have a drink!
Carla
No one knows what to say to this one?
I smiled.
And Andrew, I can count on you.
Yay.