The top it hummeth a sweet, sweet song To my dear little boy at play - Merrily singeth all day long, As it spinneth and spinneth away.
And my dear little boy He laugheth with joy When he heareth the monotone Of that busy thing That loveth to sing The song that is all its own.
Hold fast the string and wind it tight, That the song be loud and clear;
Now hurl the top with all your might Upon the banquette here;
And straight from the string The joyous thing Boundeth and spinneth along, And it whirrs and it chirrs And it birrs and it purrs Ever its pretty song.
Will ever my dear little boy grow old, As some have grown before?
Will ever his heart feel faint and cold, When he heareth the songs of yore?
Will ever this toy Of my dear little boy, When the years have worn away, Sing sad and low Of the long ago, As it singeth to me to-day?
