The Thing-Artist: Phil Harris as sung on "Mairzy Doats 44 Wacky Hits"-MCA Records-MSD2-35180/GMD80041-peak Billboard position # 1 for 5 weeks in 1950-competing versions also charted by Arthur Godfrey (#24), and-The Ames Brothers (#29)-uses the melody of the traditional song "The Tailor's Boy"-Words and Music by Charles R. GreanTranscribers' Note: the "! ! !" represents the sound of three drum beats in rapid succession—like "boom- ba-boom"While I was walkin' down the beach one bright and sunny dayI saw a great big wooden box a-floatin' in the bayI pulled it in and opened it up and much to my surpriseOh, I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyesOh, I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyesI picked it up and ran to town as happy as a kingI took it to a guy I knew who'd buy most anythingBut this is what he hollered at me as I walked in his shop"Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a cop"Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a copI turned around and got right out, a-runnin' for my lifeAnd then I took it home with me to give it to my wifeBut this is what she hollered at me as I walked in the door"Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, and don't come back no more"Oh get out of here with that ! ! !, and don't come back no moreI wandered all around the town until I chanced to meetA hobo who was lookin' for a handout on the streetHe said he'd take most any old thing, he was a desperate manBut when I showed him the ! ! !, he turned around and ranOh, when I showed him the ! ! !, he turned around and ranI wandered on for many years a victim of my fateUntil one day I came upon St. Peter at the gateAnd when I tried to take it inside he told me where to goGet out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down belowOh get out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down belowThe moral of this story is: if you're out on the beachAnd you should see a great big box, and it's within your reachDon't ever stop and open it up, that's my advice to you'cause you'll never get rid of the ! ! !, no matter what you doOh you'll never get rid of the
