I was born on a farm out in Iowa   A flaming youth I was bound I would fly away   I packed my grip and I grabbed my saxophone      Can't read notes, but I play anything by ear   I made up tunes on the sounds that I used to hear   When I'd start to play folks to say   Sounds a little goofus to me      Corn fed chords appeal to me   I like rustic harmony   Hold a note and change the key   Hey but that's goofus      Not according to the rules   That you learned in music schools   But the folks just dance like fools   They sure go for goofus      Got a job but I just couldn't keep it long   The leader said that I played all the music wrong   So I stepped out with an outfit of my own      Got together a new kind of orchestra   And we all played just the same goofus harmony   And I must admit we made a hit   Goofus has been lucky for me      Got together a new kind of orchestra   And we all played just the same goofus harmony   And I must admit we made a hit   Goofus has been lucky for me      Goofus has been lucky for me   Goofus has been lucky for me