John Banvards Folly

from Rompin' and Stompin' by The Charles Darwin Selection

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lyrics

John Banvards folly (words&music Hans Hartgers)

One day as I was passing through a town called Louisville
I saw an advertisement that struck me as surreal
A painting on an epic scale, to put other works to shame
Painted by an unknown man, John Banvard was his name

It was the river Mississippi as it flows through seven states
Banvard rowed his boat two years and stretched it all the way
I saw it with my own eyes as Banvard rolled it by
Three miles of canvas, I tell you it's no lie!

(He said) "It is the biggest in the land, watch me roll it out
Yes! I'm gonna show it to the whole damn crowd
Believe me when I tell you, and don't you get me wrong
I tell you that this thing of mine is three mile long!"

Sure it was the biggest that I had ever seen
Banvard had all other painters turn a jealous green
Who cared if there were painters with a subtle brushtechnique?
From now on it's the size that counts: SMALL EQUALS WEAK!

Well... but Banvard was a braggart prone to exaggerate
His painting was not half as big as he himself did state
He met his fate with Barnum, who called for his dimise
And lured all Banvard clients away with even bigger lies

(He argued) "It's the biggest in the world, please do take a seat
Observe the Mississippi, I ain't no cheat!
Believe me when I tell you and don't you get me wrong
I tell you that this thing of mine is three miles long!"

credits

from Rompin' and Stompin', released January 8, 2018
Hans: leadvocals + banjo
Ludo: dobro + vocals
Manus: guitar, vocals + objections
Chris: bass + vocals

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The Charles Darwin Selection Enschede, Netherlands

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