THERE ONCE WAS
A MUSICAL TROUP
A PICKIN' SINGIN'
FOLK GROUP
THEY SANG
THE MOUNTAIN BALLADS
AND THE FOLK SONGS
OF OUR LAND
THEY WERE LONG
ON MUSICAL ABILITY
FOLKS THOUGHT
THEY WOULD GO FAR
BUT POLITICAL
INCOMPATIBILITY
LED TO THEIR DOWNFALL
WELL THE ONE
ON THE RIGHT WAS
ON THE LEFT
AND THE ONE
IN THE MIDDLE WAS
ON THE RIGHT
AND THE ONE
ON THE LEFT WAS
IN THE MIDDLE
AND THE GUY
IN THE REAR
WAS A METHODIST
THIS MUSICAL
AGGREGATION
TOURED THE ENTIRE
NATION
SINGING
TRADITIONAL BALLADS
AND THE FOLK SONGS
OF OUR LAND
THEY PERFORMED WITH
GREAT VIRTUOSITY
AND SOON THEY WERE
THE RAGE
BUT POLITICAL
ANIMOSITY
PREVAILED UPON
THE STAGE
WELL THE ONE
ON THE RIGHT WAS
ON THE LEFT
AND THE ONE
IN THE MIDDLE WAS
ON THE RIGHT
AND THE ONE
ON THE LEFT WAS
IN THE MIDDLE
AND THE GUY
IN THE REAR
BURNED HIS
DRIVER'S LICENSE
WELL THE CURTAIN
HAD ASCENDED
A HUSH FELL ON
THE CROWD
AS THOUSANDS THERE
WERE GATHERED
TO HEAR THE FOLK SONGS
OF OUR LAND
BUT THEY TOOK
THEIR POLITICS
SERIOUSLY
AND THAT NIGHT
AT THE CONCERT HALL
AS THE AUDIENCE
WATCHED DELIRIOUSLY
THEY HAD A
FREE FOR ALL
WELL THE ONE
ON THE RIGHT WAS
ON THE BOTTOM
AND THE ONE
IN THE MIDDLE WAS
ON THE TOP
AND THE ONE
ON THE LEFT GOT A
BROKEN ARM
AND THE GUY
ON HIS REAR
SAID OH DEAR
4 BAR
BREAK
NOW THIS SHOULD BE
A LESSON
IF YOU PLAN TO START
A FOLK GROUP
DON'T GO MIXIN'
POLITICS
WITH THE FOLK SONGS
OF OUR LAND
JUST WORK ON
HARMONY AND DICTION
PLAY YOUR BANJO WELL
AND IF YOU HAVE
POLITICAL CONVICTIONS
KEEP 'EM TO YOURSELF
NOW THE ONE
ON THE LEFT
WORKS IN A BANK
AND THE ONE
IN THE MIDDLE
DRIVES A TRUCK
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT'S
AN ALL NIGHT D.J.
AND THE ONE
IN THE REAR
GOT DRAFTED