The Typewriter
by Leroy Anderson, Alasdair Malloy, BBC Concert Orchestra & Leonard Slatkin
Lyrics and Meaning
Released
October 1, 2014
Ratings
Song Lyrics
Song Meaning
Verse 1
There was a man like you and me, as simple as a man could ever be;
And he was happy as a king, except for one peculiar thing.
Verse 2
He had a clock that worked all right,
It worked all right, but not exactly quite;
Instead of going "tick, tock, tick",
the crazy clock went "tock, tick, tock".
Verse 3
The poor old man just raved and raved, because nobody could say
Why his silly clock behaved that hickory dickory way.
But now a famous man is he, He owns a public curiosity;
From far and wide the people flock To hear the syncopated clock.
Verse 4
Tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock,
There's a zing in the swing of that clock,
Tock-a-tick, tock-a-tick,
Don't you think it's a marvelous trick?
Verse 5
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling,
There's a zong in the bong of that ring,
Ling-a-ting, ling-a-ting,
Don't you think it's a wonderful thing?
Verse 6
The experts came to hear and see,
But none of them could solve the mystery.
They called Professor Einstein too,
He said "There's nothing I can do".
Verse 7
But soon the fickle human race will find another freak to take its place,
And one fine day the man will hock the poor old syncopated clock.