There once was a musical troop a pickin ' singin' folk g roup
They s ang the mountain b allads and the folk songs of our l and
They were l ong on musical a bility folks t hought they would go f ar
But p olitical incompatibilit y l ed to their downf all
Well the o ne on the right was o n the left
And the o ne on the middle was o n the right
And the o ne on the left was i n the middle
And the g uy in the rear was a M ethodist
This musical aggr egation t oured the entire n ation
Singing t raditional b allads and the folk songs of our l and
They perf ormed with great virtuos ity and s oon they were the r age
But p olitical animosit y p revailed upon the s tage
Well the o ne on the right was o n the left
And the o ne on the middle was o n the right
And the o ne on the left was i n the middle
And the g uy in the rear burned his driver's l icense
When the curtain had a scended a h ush fell on the c rowd
As t housands there were g athered to hear the folk songs of our l and
But they t ook their politics s eriously
A nd that night at the concert h all
As the a udience watched delir iously t hey had a free for a ll
Well the o ne on the right was o n the bottom
And the o ne on the middle was o n the top
And the o ne on the left got a b roken arm
And the g uy on his rear said oh d ear
Now this should be a l esson i f you plan to start a f olk group
D on't go mixing p olitics with the folk songs of our l and
Just w ork on harmony and d iction p lay your banjo w ell
And if y ou have political c onviction k eep 'em to y ourself
Now the o ne on the left works i n the bank
And the o ne on the middle d rives a truck
The one o n the right's an a ll night DJ
And the g uy in the rear got d rafted
