Written by Tom Paxton
key: C
C G C G
When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy,
F C D G7
My father homeward came one day and gave to me a toy.
C G C C7 F
A wonder to behold it was, with many colors bright,
F C D G7
And the moment I laid eyes on it, it became my heart's delight.
C G
It went ?Zip!â? when it moved and ?Pop!â? when it stopped,
C C7 F
And ?Whirrâ? when it stood still.
F C G G7 C
I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will. 
C G C G
The first time that I picked it up, I had a big surprise,
F C D G7
'Cause there on the bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.
C G C C7 F
I first pushed one and then the other, and then I twisted its lid,
F C D G7
And when I put it down again, this is what it did:
Chorus
C G C G
It first marched left and then marched right, and then marched under a chair
F C D G7
And when I looked where it had been, it wasn't even there.
C G C C7 F
I started to cry, but my daddy laughed 'cause he knew that I would find
F C D G7
When I turned around my marvelous toy would be chugging from behind.
Chorus
C G C G
The years have gone by too quickly, it seems; I have my own little boy,
F C D G7
And yesterday I gave to him my marvelous little toy.
C G C C7 F
His eyes nearly popped right out of his head and he gave a squeal of glee.
F C D G7
Neither one of us knows just what it is, but he loves it just like me.
C G
It still goes ?Zip!â? when it moves and ?Pop!â? when it stops,
C C7 F
And ?Whirrâ? when it stands still.
F C G G7 C
I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will.
Full
key step up
Half
key step up
Half
key step down
Full
key step down
