To make you laugh and bend your ear
 Up the steps you'll hear him climb
 All full of thoughts, all full of rhymes
 Listen to the pictures flow
 Across the room into your mind they go
 Listen to the strings
 They jangle and dangle
 While the old guitar rings
 The minstrel of the dawn is he
 Not too wise but oh so free
 He'll talk of life out on the street
 He'll play it sad and say it sweet
 Look into his shining face
 Of lonelines you'll always find a trace
 Just like me and you
 He's tryin' to get into things
 More happy than blue

 A minstrel of the changin' tide
 He'll ask for nothing but his pride
 Just sit him down upon that chair
 Go fetch some wine and set it there
 Listen to the pictures flow
 Across the room into your mind they go
 Listen to the strings
 They jangle and dangle
 While the old guitar rings

 A minstrel of the dawn is near
 Just like a step 'n fetchit here
 He's like an old time troubador
 Just wanting life and nothing more
 Look into his shining eyes
 And if you see a ghost don't be surprised
 Like me and you
 He's tryin' to get into things
 More happy than blue

 The minstrel boy will understand
 He holds a promise in his hand
 He talks of better days ahead
 And by his words your fortune's read
 Listen to the pictures flow
 Across the room into your mind they go
 Listen to the strings
 They jangle and dangle
 While the old guitar rings

 The minstrel of the dawn is gone
 I hope he'll call before too long
 And if you meet him you must be
 The victim of his minstrelsy
 He'll sing for you a song
 The minstrel of the dawn