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