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