The Music Man (song)

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The Music Man is a popular cumulative folksong among children, rugby players and Hash House Harriers. For each verse the participants act out different instruments with specific actions. Some of the actions for the adult version can be rude or crude. They may also attempt to imitate the sound of each instrument.

It is sometimes performed in cabaret with the audience challenging the artistes to ever more extravagent - and difficult - renditions of, for example, the flugelhorn.

[edit] Song structure and lyrics

Each verse begins with the following chorus lines, divided between the lead singer ("The Music Man") and the audience:

The Music Man: "I am the music man, I come from down your way, and I can play!"

Audience: "What can you play?"

Each verse features a specific instrument with accompanying actions. After each verse, singers sing the previous verses in reverse order before singing the main chorus lines again. The song proceeds thus:

Piano:

The Music Man: "I play the piano!"

Sing "Pia-pia-pia-no, pia-no, pia-no; pia-pia-pia-no, pia-pia-no" to the tune.

Actions - act out playing chords on a piano

Trombone:

The Music Man: "I play the trombone!"

Sing "oomp-pa-oomp-pa-ooomp-pa-paaaa, oomp-pa-paaaa, oomp-pa-paaa; oomp-pa-oomp-pa-oomp-pa-paaaa, oomp-pa-oomp-pa-pa" to the tune.

Actions - mime playing trombone.

Follow with pia-no lines again then chorus

Bagpipes:

The Music Man: "I play the bagpipes!"

Sing "Scotland the Brave"

Actions - mime playing bagpipes.

Follow with pia-no, oomp-pa etc.

Call and response section:

The Music Man: "Whoawhooaa!"

Audience: "Whoawhooaa!"

The Music Man: "Yeeaah-yeah-yeah-yeah"

Audience: "Yeeaah-yeah-yeah-yeah"

The Music Man: "Oggy oggy oggy!"

Audience: "Oi oi oi!"

The Music Man: "Oggy oggy oggy!"

Audience: "Oi oi oi!"

Football section:

The Music Man: "I am the music man, I come from down your way and I can play".

Audience: "What can you play?"

Match of the Day, (followed by a scarf waving section to the music of BBC's Match of the Day music)

Dambusters:

The Music Man: "I play The Dam Busters!"

Sing the theme to The Dam Busters with arms outstretched, like bomber aircraft.