Tom Paxton - Only a Game lyrics

While stopping one innocent afternoon, For paper and magazines, My attention was drawn to a riot of color The loveliest I've ever seen. All in the shape of a plastic cube, Red and yellow and blue, “How lovely!” I cried, “what a clever design! Pray tell me sir, what does it do?” “That's easy”, he said as he handled my cash And dropped the cube into a sack “Some of the colors you twist left or right; Some you twist forward, some back. Before very long, if you're clever at this, You've got all the colors the same, And then if you like you start over again For it's fun, and it's only a game!” “Only a game! Only a game!” I'm muttering under my breath, “Only a game! Only a game!” Like dying is only d**h! I talk to myself as I walk down the street 'Till old friends all cry, “what a shame! For he used to say ‘hullo' and ‘how do you do?' All he says now is ‘only a game'” That night after dinner I settled myself Planning to watch some TV Safe in the warmth of my favorite chair And the bosom of my family Basking in fellowship, brimful of cheer I bade my child, “turn on the tube!” And as I was watching my favorite show I carelessly picked up The Cube I twiddled it this way I twiddled it that “Ha-ha!” I exclaimed, “This is strange! No matter how often I twiddle this cube, The blasted thing don't seem to change!” I felt myself growing the slightest bit warm As I twisted and whirled and spun They tell my they found me there, early next morn I was screaming “By God! Nearly done!” For it's “Only a game! Only a game!” I'm muttering under my breath “Only a game! Only a game!” Like dying is only d**h I talk to myself as I walk down the street ‘Till old friends all cry, “what a shame! For he used to say ‘hullo' and ‘how do you do?' All he says now is ‘only a game'” Well somehow I got dressed and they drove me to work And I slowly came out of my haze By a fierce act of will I sat down to my task There was talk I might soon earn a raise The boss called me in to his office at 10 And he said to me “glad that you came!” For I'm thinking of adding this toy to our line It's fun, and it's only a game Well I don't know what happened I don't want to know. I have all my life to repent They say I did something with that little cube That the boss was obliged to resent And now I get visitors here in my room And they murmur, “Poor man, what a shame. For he's twisting his ears and he's twiddling his nose And he tells us it's only a game” “Only a game! Only a game!” I'm muttering under my breath “Only a game! Only a game!” Like dying is only d**h I talk to myself as I walk down the street ‘Till old friends all cry, “what a shame! For he used to say ‘hullo' and ‘how do you do?' All he says now is ‘only a game'”