When I was just a wee little lad, full of health and joy,
My father homeward came one day 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!â? when it moved and ?Pop!â? when it stopped,
And ?Whirrâ? 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,
'Cause there on the 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,
Chorus
It first marched left and then marched right, and then marched under a chair
And when I looked where it had been, 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.
Chorus
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!â? when it moves and ?Pop!â? when it stops,
And ?Whirrâ? when it stands still.
I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will.