MARVELOUS TOY

• Thomas Paxton is a well-known American folk singer and singer–songwriter who has

  been writing, performing and recording music for over forty years. While attending the

  Clerk Typist School in Fort Dix, New Jersey, he began writing songs on his typewriter

  and spent almost every weekend visiting Greenwich Village in New York City during the

  emerging early 1960s folk revival. Shortly after his honorable discharge from the Army,

  Tom auditioned for the Chad Mitchell Trio via publisher Milt Okun in 1960. He initially

  received the part, but his voice did not blend well enough with those of the group

  members. However, after singing his song “The Marvelous Toy” for Okun, Tom became

  the first writer signed to Milt’s music publishing company, Cherry Lane Music

  Publishing.

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

  One Christmas morning I received this Marvelous Little 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 whirrrrr 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 it’s bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.

  I first pushed one and then the other, then I twisted it’s lid.

  And when I set it down again, this is what it did.

  It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped whirrrrr 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, then marched under a chair

  and when I looked where it had gone it wasn’t even there.

  I started to cry but my Daddy laughed ’cause he knew that I would find.

  when i turned around my marvelous toy would be chugging from behind.

  It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped and whirrrrr when it stood

  still

  I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.

  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 and bop when it stops, whirrrrr when it

   stands still
  I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will