Daddy played the banjo, ‘neath the yellow tree
It rang across the backyard, an old time melody
I loved to hear the music, I was only five
I listened as his fingers made the banjo come alive

Sometimes I’d wake up at night, and hear a distant tune
The banjo would echo, ‘round my childhood room
I’d sneak down the back stairs, Daddy never knew
I’d grab a broom and make believe, I was pickin’, too

One day Daddy put my fingers down upon his fist
He picked it with his other hand, we made the banjo ring;

Now the music takes me back, cross the yellow day
Soon the summer’s with my Dad, and the tunes he made

But I’m just tellin’ lyes ‘bout the things I did
See I’m that banjo player who never had a kid
Now, I sit, beneath that yellow tree
Hopin’ that a kid somewhere, is listening to me

Daddy played the banjo, ‘neath the yellow tree
It rang across the backyard and wove a spell on me
Now the banjo takes me back, through the foggy haze
With memories of what never was, become the good old days