The couesnophone, also known as the goofus or queenophone, is a free-reed musical instrument resembling a saxophone. Its reeds vibrate when the desired keys are activated and the player blows through a tube. French manufacturer Couesnon was awarded the patent no. 569294 in 1924 for an instrument that was described as a saxophone jouet (fr. "toy saxophone"). However, the couesnophone is a polyphonic instrument, while the saxophone is monophonic.
The couesnophone may be held like a saxophone or like a melodica (horizontally), given that the mouthpiece consists of a rubber tube that allows both positions. The keys are set in a layout similar to that of the Hohner early (proper – see ) melodicas, i.e. in two parallel rows: one corresponds to the white keys of a piano keyboard, while the other comprises the black keys.
The couesnophone was introduced in jazz music by bass saxophonist and vibraphonist Adrian Rollini. The term "goofus" might have been coined by jazz musicians.
"Goofus" is a 1930 popular song with music written by Wayne King and William Harold and lyrics by Gus Kahn.
Les Paul recorded the song in 1950 and his version was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1192. The record first reached the Billboard charts on September 29, 1950, peaking at number 21.
Phil Harris released his version on October 13, 1950. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3968. The other side of the release, The Thing. became the hit but the matrix number of Harris' single shows Goofus as the A-side. Chet Atkins recorded "Goofus" in 1960 for the studio album Chet Atkins' Workshop, RCA Victor catalog LSP-2232.
The Carpenters attempted to repopularize the song in 1976, when it was released as a single from their album A Kind of Hush. However, as a sign of the duo's declining popularity at the time, it was the first Carpenters A-side single since "Ticket to Ride" in 1970 to fail to make the top 40 portion of the Billboard Hot 100, or to reach either #1 or #2 on the Easy Listening chart.
I was born on a farm out in Ioway
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 used to say
"Sounds a little Goofus to me"
(*) Cornfed 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 learn 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 orchestree
And we all played just the same "Goofus" harmony
And I must admit we made a hit
"Goofus" has been lucky for me
Repeat (*)