jack clement
One of "Cowboy" Jack Clements' humourous songs. Political incompatibility has ruined quite a lot of bands. Although written 60 years ago, it's still valid.
The song was first released in November 1965 by "Homer & Jethro": Henry D. "Homer" Haynes (1920–1971) and Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns (1920–1989), a humouristic country duo somewhat famous in the fifties and sixties for parodies, but also skilled jazz players, featuring the Django Reinhardt style.
In January '66 Johnny Cash included it with the novelty album "Everybody Loves a Nut" together with several other Clement songs, and it was also released as a charting single.
The album cover was decorated by MAD cartoonist Jack Davis, who merged many of the song titles into the drawing, like the crawling bug, an egg-sucking dog, a coffee cup, a Boa Constrictor ... and the fabulous folk group ...
there once was a musical troupe • 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 the 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 fray 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 in the rear said "oh dear"
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 and play your banjo well
and if you have political convictions keep them 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 deejay
and the guy in the rear got drafted
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G G7 C G there once was a musical troupe a pickin' singin' folk group C G Am Dm7 D7 they sang the mountain ballads and the folk songs of our land G G7 C G they were long on musical ability folks thought they would go far C G D7 G but political incompatibility led to their downfall C G Bm well the one on the right was on the left Am D7 G G7 and the one in the middle was on the right C G Bm and the one on the left was in the middle D7sus4 G and the guy in the rear was a methodist
