Song about a strange toy, circa 1965
Gary Gocek
About 25 or 30 years ago, when I was pushing 10 years old, I occasionally
heard a song on the radio by a man who sang about having received a strange toy
from his father (or maybe some other relative). The toy was simple looking,
like maybe a black box with a button. But when the button was pushed, the toy
did interesting things. This is what I remember:
It went "pop" when it moved,
"Buzz" when it stopped,
"Whirrr" when it stood still.
I never knew just what it was,
And I guess I never will.
Can anyone tell me the correct song name or performer, or provide the words,
chords, tab, etc.?
Thanks,
Gary
go...@eso.mc.xerox.com
pen...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
The> song was called "The Marvelous Toy" and I believe it was by Tom
Paxton, but the version you are thinking of is probably the one made
famous by Peter Paul and Mary on their "Peter, Paul, and Mommy" album.
D A7 D A7
When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy
G D E A7
My father homeward came one night and gave to me a toy
D A7 D G
A wonder to behold it was , with many colors bright
G D E E7
And the moment I lay eyes on it, it became my heart's delight,
It went zip when it moved and pop when it stopped
And whirrrrrr 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 the when I set it down again, here is what it did
(chorus)
It first marched left and then marched straight, then marched under a chair
And when I looked where it had been it wasn't even there
I started to cry but my daddy laughted 'cause he knew that I would find
When I turned around my marvelous toy would be chugging on behind
The years have gone by too quick it seems now 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.
Terrific kids song, they really get in to singing along on the chorus
--John
Patrick Hertel
In article <1994Jan11.2...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>,
pen...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
|> In article <1994Jan11.1...@spectrum.xerox.com>,
go...@eso.mc.xerox.com (Gary Gocek) writes:
|> >
|> > About 25 or 30 years ago, when I was pushing 10 years old, I occasionally
|> > heard a song on the radio by a man who sang about having received a
strange toy
|> > from his father (or maybe some other relative). The toy was simple
looking,
|> > like maybe a black box with a button. But when the button was
pushed, the toy
|>
|> Paxton, but the version you are thinking of is probably the one made
|> famous by Peter Paul and Mary on their "Peter, Paul, and Mommy" album.
|>
|> --John
|>
The version I am familiar with was by the Irish Rovers.
Was this only in Canada?
Pat Hertel Canadian Meteorological Centre
Analyst/Programmer 2121 N. Service Rd.
phe...@cmc.aes.doe.ca Dorval,Quebec
Environment Canada CANADA H9P1J3
duncan,scott p
>|> Paxton, but the version you are thinking of is probably the one made
>|> famous by Peter Paul and Mary on their "Peter, Paul, and Mommy" album.
>The version I am familiar with was by the Irish Rovers.
While I am familiar with PPM doing it, I first heard it done by the Chad
Mitchell Trio during the mid-60's. I, too, recall it as being a Tom Paxton
song.
Trond J. Strom
dun...@dasher.cc.bellcore.com (duncan,scott p) wrote:
You're absolutely right. Allthough I'm not familliar with the song itself,
a quick venture into Gopherspace resulted in this:
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
It went "zip" when it moved and "bop" when it stopped
And "whirr" 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
For right on its bottom were two big buttons that
Looked like big green eyes.
I first pushed one and then the other, and then I twisted its lid
And when I set it down again, this is what it did:
It first marched left and then marched right
And then marched under a chair
And when l looked where it had gone, it wasn't even there:
I started to sob and my daddy laughed, for he knew that I would find,
When l turned around, my marvelous toy, chugging from behind.
Well, 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.
@kids
Written, printed, and recorded by Tom Paxton
Copyright Tom Paxton
--
Trond J. Strom t.j....@ub.uio.no
Bob D'Amore
: In article <1994Jan11.2...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>,
: pen...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
: |> In article <1994Jan11.1...@spectrum.xerox.com>,
: go...@eso.mc.xerox.com (Gary Gocek) writes:
: |> >
: |> > About 25 or 30 years ago, when I was pushing 10 years old, I occasionally
: |> > heard a song on the radio by a man who sang about having received a
: strange toy
: |> > from his father (or maybe some other relative). The toy was simple
: looking,
: |> > like maybe a black box with a button. But when the button was
: pushed, the toy
: |>
: |> The> song was called "The Marvelous Toy" and I believe it was by Tom
: |> Paxton, but the version you are thinking of is probably the one made
: |> famous by Peter Paul and Mary on their "Peter, Paul, and Mommy" album.
: |>
: |> Terrific kids song, they really get in to singing along on the chorus
: |> --John
: The version I am familiar with was by the Irish Rovers.
: Was this only in Canada?
: Pat Hertel Canadian Meteorological Centre
I've heard this song done by various artists. I have it on at least
two children's Christmas song cassettes that I can think of right off.
My kids love it. --BobD
--
US MAIL: Bob D'Amore Concurrent Computer Corp.
FAX: 908-870-5952 2 Crescent Pl. Oceanport NJ 07757 Ph: 908-870-4654
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