Auctioneer (1958 original - clip) - Marshall Flippo

This is an audio clip of the first of three recordings Marshall Flippo made of this tune; this is the recording that launched his career as a square dance caller.

Transcription provided by Jeff Garbutt, an Australian participant on the sd-callers listserv

THE AUCTIONEER (ORIGINAL)

CALLED BY: Marshall Flippo, Abilene, Texas
Record: Blue Star 1517
Music by Earl & His Hoedowners

FIGURE:
FIRST AND THIRD YOU'LL BOW AND SWING
GO UP THE MIDDLE AND BACK AGAIN
GO FORWARD UP AND SWING THAT OPPOSITE GAL
FACE TO THE SIDES WITH A RIGHT AND LEFT THRU
TURN 'EM AROUND LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.
AND DUCK TO THE MIDDLE AND SWING THE GAL YOU MEET (Original partner)
GO DOWN THAT CENTRE, CROSSTRAIL THRU
UP THE OUTSIDE AROUND JUST TWO
MEET YOUR GIRL AND SWING HER ROUND SO NEAT
HALF SQUARE THRU ACROSS THE SET
WITH YOUR CORNER GAL YOU BOX THE GNAT (Corner becomes new Partner)
THEN ALLEMANDE LEFT (with new corner) MEET EM ALL WITH AN ELBOW SWING

1st time
IT'S AN ELBOW SWING YOU'RE DOING FINE
NOW SWING THE NEXT GAL DOWN THE LIVE
THEN SWING THAT PRETTY GAL IN CALICO
SWING EM ALL WITH AN ELBOW SWING
YOU MEET YOUR OWN COMING AROUND THE RING
AND YOU PROMENADE THIS GAL BACK HOME YOU KNOW

2nd time
25 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 30 DOLLAR 30, WILL YOU GIMMA 30 MAKE IT 30
BID IN POEM OF 30 DOLLAR, WILL YOU
WHO'LL MAKE A 30 DOLLAR BID
30 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 35, WILL YOU GIVE ME 35
BID ME THAT 35 DOLLAR BID

3rd time
35 DOLLAR BIDDA, NOW 40 DOLLAR 401 WILL YOU GM ME 40, MAKE IT 40
BID IN FORM OF 40 DOLLAR WILL YOU GIVE ME 40
WHO'LL MAKE A 40 DOLLAR BID
40 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 45, WILL YOU GIVE ME 45, MAKE IT 45, BIDDLE DE 45
WHO'LL BID ME, THAT 45 DOLLAR BID

4th time
45 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 50 DOLLAR 501 WILL YOU GIVE M 50, MAKE IT 50
BID IN FORM OF 50 DOLLAR, WILL YOU GIVE ME 50
WHO'LL MAKE A 50 DOLLAR-BID
50 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 55, WILL YOU GIVE ME 55, MAKE IT 55, BIDDE DE 55
SOLD TO THAT SQUARE FOR A 50 DOLLAR BID

SEQUENCE:
FIGURE, BREAK, FIGURE, BREAK, FIGURE BREAK, FIGURE BREAK;
NOTE: ELBOW SWING CAN BE USED FOR THE BREAK EACH TIME IF DESIRED

FIRST CHANGE BID SUGGESTION IS AS FOLLOWS, IF DESIRED:
10 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 20 DOLLAR 20, WILL YOU GIMMA 20, MAKE IT 20
BID IN FORM OF 20 DOLLAR, WILL YOU GIVE ME 20
WHO'LL BID A 20 DOLLAR BID
20 DOLLAR BIDDA NOW 25, WILL YOU GIVE.ME 25, MAKE IT 25, BIDDLE DE 25
WHO'LL BID ME THAT 25 DOLLAR BID