Would You Like to Buy an "O"?
performed by The Salesman (aka Lefty) (Frank Oz) and Ernie (Jim Henson)
Written by Joe Raposo
where a shady character tries to sell Ernie an O
Shhhhh!!!! Don't spread it around, everyone will want one!
(spoken)
Lefty: Hey, bud.
Ernie: Who me?
Lefty: SHHHHHH!
Ernie: (whispering) Who me?
Lefty: Riiiiiiiight!
(sung)
How would you like to buy an "O"?
Round and neat
A nearly perfect circle
Tidy and complete
You can sing a pretty song
With it like so:
O! O! O!
(spoken)
Isn't that catchy?
Ernie: Ah!
(sung)
Lefty: Would you like to buy an "O"?
Circular and sweet
"O" looks just like a donut
Really good enough to eat
It'll cost you just a nickel
(spoken)
Ernie: A nickel?
Lefty: SHHHHHH!
Ernie: (whispering) A nickel?
Lefty: Riiiiiiiight!
(sung)
So buy the "O" and take it home tonight.
(spoken)
Now, listen. When you buy this "O," you get two sounds for the price of one.
You get one sound that you can use for words like "olive," "ostrich," and "ox."
And for no extra money, you get another sound for like "ocean," "over," "old," and "opening."
(sung)
So would you like to buy an "O"?
I'm opening the door
It's not often that I offer
Well, could you ask for more?
It'll cost you just a nickel
(spoken)
Ernie: A nickel?
Lefty: SHHHHHH!
Ernie: (whispering) A nickel?
Lefty: Riiiiiiiight!
(sung)
So buy the "O" and take it home tonight.
Don't ask any questions.
Just buy the "O" and take it home tonight.
You'll really love it.
So buy the "O" and take it home tonight.
Transcribed by L.Penner, William Powell, and Silvery Shoe
Originally released on
The Muppet Alphabet Album (1971)
Children's Television Workshop
The same album was reissued in 1996 as
Sing The Alphabet (CD) and on Cassette
also released on the album
Ernie's Hits (1975)
Children's Records of America
and on the album
Sesame Street Silver - 10th Anniversary Album (1978)
Children's Television Workshop (Out of print)
and on the cassette
Bert & Ernie: Side By Side (1981)
Golden Music
and on the album
Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo (1992)
Golden
Also available on the CD-ROM
Available on the 3-DVD Set
Sesame Street - Old School, Vol. 1 (1969-1974) (2006)