The marvelous toy    (midi)

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1. When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy,

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    my father homeward came one night 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 "bop" 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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2. The first time that I picked it up, I had a big surprise,

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    for right on its bottom were two big buttons,

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    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 set it down again, this is what it did :  

+ CHORUS

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3. It first marched left and then marched right,

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    and then marched under a chair.

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    and when l looked where it had gone, it wasn't even there.

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    I started to cry and my daddy laughed, for he knew that I would find,

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    when l turned around, my marvelous toy, chugging from behind.

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It went "zip" when it moved and "bop" 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.

+ CHORUS as instrumental

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4. Well, the years have gone by too quickly, it seems,

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    I have my own little boy,

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    and yesterday I gave to him my marvellous little toy. 

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    His eyes nearly popped right out of his head, 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 moved and "bop" when it stopped,

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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.

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    (Tom Paxton)