THE 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 heart's delight. 

Refrain:
It went "Zip" when it moved and "Pop" when it stopped,
"Whirrr" 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 had a big surprise
Cause right on the bottom were two big buttons
That looked like big green eyes
I first pushed one and then the other, 
Then I twisted its lid
And when I set it down again, here is what it did: 

(Refrain) 

It first marched left, and then marched right
And 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 
'Cause he knew that I would find,
When I turned around my marvelous toy 
Would be chugging from behind. 

(Refrain) 

The years have gone by too quickly it seems, 
I have my own little boy
And yesterday I gave to him 
My marvelous little toy:
His eyes nearly popped right out of his head
And he gave a squeal of glee!
Neither one of us knows just what it is 
But he loves it just like me! 

It still goes... (refrain)