Track 3 of the album Back Together and Barely in Tune · 2026
Banjo on the Courthouse Steps
“A cardboard sign that says we play for gas money, which is how we started. The banjo is the one from the first tour.”
folk rock · banjo folk rock · busker jangle · 2:57
Lyrics
Noon on the courthouse steps, we set up the show A cardboard sign says "We Play for Gas Money, Y'all Know" Harmonica, banjo and a borrowed drum Folks on their lunch break, and here they come A lawyer in a suit taps his polished shoe A kid with a popsicle dances right through The sheriff just grins and tips his hat Says "Play one more, boys, I'll allow that" Hey, hey, play it loud on the courthouse steps Hey, hey, no permit for the joy we kept Sing it to the pigeons, sing it to the town Nobody's gonna tell us to turn it down A lady in the crowd starts clapping on two Then the whole block's clapping, and we all feel new The tip jar's heavy with a fistful of change A quarter, a button, a five, kind of strange Hey, hey, play it loud on the courthouse steps Hey, hey, no permit for the joy we kept Sing it to the pigeons, sing it to the town Nobody's gonna tell us to turn it down So what if the judge shuts his window tight We'll be back tomorrow with the same old light A van full of dreams and a song to share The whole town singing in the open air Hey, hey, play it loud on the courthouse steps Hey, hey, no permit for the joy we kept Sing it to the pigeons, sing it to the town Nobody's gonna tell us to turn it down Play it loud on the courthouse steps Hey, hey, hey