One day in a jungle long ago,
In another land, somebody felt a need.
Though everywhere they looked it was paradise,
Food was hanging from the trees.
It started with a gourd, a stick, and a string,
Turned an ordinary drum into a drum that could sing.
Looked up at the night, plucked out a tune,
Turned to his friends and said
Someday there’ll be banjos, banjos on the moon.

In the belly of a ship long ago,
Filled with stolen men, somebody felt a need.
Longing for a half-forgotten paradise
Miles across the sea.
It started with a gourd, a stick, and a string,
Turned an ordinary drum into a drum that could sing.
Looked up at the night, plucked out a tune,
Turned to his friends and said
Someday there’ll be banjos, banjos on the moon.

Up on the moon, banjos on the moon.
Up on the moon, banjos on the moon.

Somewhere in a Smokey Mountain dream
Sitting by a fire, somebody felt a need
Dreaming of his mansion up in paradise
When he heard the banjo strings
He heard the angels sing.
It started with a gourd, a stick, and a string,
Turned an ordinary drum into a drum that could sing.
Looked up at the night, plucked out a tune,
Turned to his friends and said
Someday there’ll be banjos, banjos on the moon.

One day in a jungle long ago,
In another land, somebody felt a need.