Goofus

                                  I was born on a farm out in Ioway

A flaming youth who was bound that he'd fly away

I packed my grip and I grabbed my saxophone

Can't read notes, but I play anything by ear

I made up tunes on the sounds that I used to hear

When I'd start to play folks used to say

"Sounds a little Goofus to me"

 

Cornfed chords appeal to me, I like rustic harmony

Hold that note and change the key, that's called "Goofus"

Not according to the rules that you learn at music schools

But the folks just dance like fools, they go "Goofus"

 

Got a job but I just couldn't keep it long

The leader said that I played all the music wrong

So I stepped out with an outfit of my own

Got together a new kind of orchestree

And we all played just the same "Goofus" harmony

And I must admit we made a hit