The song changes key by half steps as you go to each new verse (starting in G and going to
G sharp/A flat and then to A). You pretty much have to play with bar (all major) chords or
power chords to play with the original recording.
There(G) was a boy in Arkansas
Who(C)wouldn't listen to his ma
When(D)she told him he should go to(G)school
He'd(G)sneak away in the afternoon
Take a(C)little walk and pretty soon
You'd(D)find him at the local auction(G)barn.
He'd(C)stand and listen carefully
Then(G)pretty soon he began to see
How the(A)auctioneer could talk so rapidly (D)
He(G)said, "Oh, my, it's do or die
I've(C)got to learn that auction cry
Gotta(D)make my mark and be an auctioneer." (G)
Twenty-five(G)dollar bid it now, thirty dollar, thirty
Will you(C)gimmie thirty, make it thirty
Bid it on a thirty dollar, will(D) you gimmie thirty
Who'll bid it at a thirty dollar(G)bid?
(G)Thirty dollar bid it now, thirty-five
Will you gimmie (C)thirty-five,
To make it thirty-five, to bid a thirty-five
(D)Who woulda bid it at a thirty-five dollar(G)bid? G#
As(G#)time went on, he did his best
And(C#)all could see he didn't jest
He(D#)practiced calling bids both night and (G#)day
His(G#)pop would find him behind the barn
Just(C#)working up an awful storm
As(D#)he tried to imitate the auctioneer.(G#)
Then his(C#) pop said, "Son, we just can't stand
To(G#) have a mediocre man
Sellin'(A#) things at auction using our good (D#)name
I'll (G#)send you off to auction school
(C#)Then you'll be nobody's fool
(D#)You can take your place among the (G#)best."
(G#)Thirty-five dollar bid it now, forty dollar, forty
Will you (C#)gimmie forty, make it forty
Bid it on a forty dollar, (D#) will you gimmie forty
Who'll bid it at a forty dollar bid? (G#)
(G#)Forty dollar bid it now, forty-five
Will you gimmie (C#) forty-five,
To make it forty-five, to bid at forty-five
Who(D#)woulda bid it at a forty-five dollar (G#)bid? (A)
So(A)from that boy who went to school
There(D)grew a man who played it cool
And(E)came back home a full-fledged auctioneer(A)
And the(A)people came from miles around
Just to(D)hear him make that rhythmic sound
That(E)filled their hearts with such a happy(A)cheer.
His(D)fame spread out from shore to shore
He had(A)all he could do and more
(B)Had to buy a plane to get(E) around
Now (A)he's the tops in all the land
Let's(D) pause and give that man a hand
He's(E) the best of all the auctioneers(A).
(A)Forty-five dollar bid it now, fifty dollar, fifty
Will you(D)gimmie fifty, make it fifty
Bid-it on a fifty dollar, (E)will you gimmie fifty
Who'll bid it at a fifty dollar(A)bid?
(A)Fifty dollar bid it now, fifty-five
Will you(D)gimmie fifty-five,
To make it fifty-five, to bid at fifty-five
Sold that(E)hog for a fifty-five dollar(A)bill?