The Marvelous Toy - Tom Paxton

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

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 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

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

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

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

It still goes zip when it moves bop when it stops

And whirr when it stands still

I never knew just what it was

And I guess I never will