MARVELOUS TOY 

Tom Paxton

When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy
My father homeward came one night And gave to me a toy
A wonder to behold it was with many colors bright
And the moment I laid eyes on it. It became my hearts delight

It went zip when it moved, bop when it stopped and whir when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will

The first time that I picked it up I got a big surprise
For right on the bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.
I first pushed one, then the other, then I twisted its lid
And when I put it down again, here is what it did.

It went zip when it moved, bop when it stopped and whir when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will

It first marched left, then marched right, then marched under a chair.
And when I looked where it had gone, it wasn't even there
I started to cry, but my daddy laughed for he knew that I would find
When I looked around, my marvelous toy, just a'chugging from behind.

It went zip when it moved, bop when it stopped and whir when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will

Well, the years have gone by too swiftly it seems, I now have my own little boy
And yesterday, I gave to him my marvelous little toy.
His eyes nearly popped right out of his head, he gave a squeal of glee
Neither one of us knows just what it is, but he loves it just like me

It went zip when it moved, bop when it stopped and whir when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will