Now we all know the violin plays sweetly
And the steel guitar thrills all the world completely
But for all around good fun there's really only one
And it's round and firm and fully packed and puts the blues on the run
And you just can't play a sad song on the banjo
A banjo tune will have to make you smile
And when you're feeling low and melancholy just pick up the ol' banjo by golly
Cause you just can't play a sad song on the banjo
Now bad news just won't hang around the banjo
Old dismal gloom will have to disappear
A sad song can't be played so please don't be afraid
Cause you just can't play a sad song on the banjo