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The Marvelous Toy

Written by Tom Paxton

When I was just a wee little lad
Full of health and joy
[One year for Christmas I recieved
A marvelous little toy]
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 that I set eyes on it
It give me hearts 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 his 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 I turned around my marvelous toy
Came a'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

I never knew just what it was
And I guess I never will

Notes 簡介

"The Marvelous Toy" was written in 1962 by folk singer Tom Paxton, and was first released on his album of songs recorded live at the Gaslight Cafe, Greenwich Village, with the title "I’m The Man That Built The Bridges".

The album liner notes opine that,

This LP marks Tom Paxton’s achievement. Taped at the Gaslight on a series of warm Autumn afternoons in 1962, it is his own interpretation of the songs he has given America – and a promise of the many fine songs yet to come … The singer is at home in the whimsical world of children, too. ‘THE MARVELOUS TOY’, with its zip, bop noises is a constant favorite with Village audiences.
The following year, in 1963, the Chad Mitchell Trio would cover ‘The Marvelous Toy’ as the promotional single from their album "Singin’ Our Mind". It just missed the US Top-40 but peaked at #20 on the MOR chart.

Another folk trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, recorded a version in 1969 for the album "Peter, Paul and Mommy" which would peak at #12 on the Album chart and received Gold record status. The album would go on to win a Grammy Award in 1970 for Best Album for Children.

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