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key: C
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When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy,
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My father homeward came one day and gave to me a toy.
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A wonder to behold it was, with many colors bright,
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And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my heart's delight.
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It went “Zip!” when it moved and “Pop!” when it stopped,
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And “Whirr” when it stood still.
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I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will.
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The first time that I picked it up, I had a big surprise,
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'Cause there on the bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.
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I first pushed one and then the other, and then I twisted its lid,
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And when I put it down again, this is what it did:
Chorus
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It first marched left and then marched right, and then marched under a chair
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And when I looked where it had been, it wasn't even there.
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I started to cry, but my daddy laughed 'cause he knew that I would find
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When I turned around my marvelous toy would be chugging from behind.
Chorus
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The years have gone by too quickly, it seems; I have my own little boy,
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And yesterday I gave to him my marvelous little toy.
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His eyes nearly popped right out of his head and he gave a squeal of glee.
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Neither one of us knows just what it is, but he loves it just like me.
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It still goes “Zip!” when it moves and “Pop!” when it stops,
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And “Whirr” when it stands still.
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I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will.
Written by Tom Paxton