The Thing

A popular song from 1950.
Words and music by Charles R. Grean.


Sheet music provided by Nicholas Leunissen:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

  1. While I was walking down the beach one bright and sunny day
    I saw a great big wooden box a-floatin’ in the bay
    I pulled it in and opened it up and much to my surprise
    Oh, I discovered a (stamp, stamp, stamp) right before my eyes
    Oh, I discovered a (stamp, stamp, stamp) right before my eyes
  2. I picked it up and ran to town as happy as a king
    I took it to a guy I know who’d buy most anything
    But this is what he hollered at me as I walked in his shop
    Oh, get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp) before I call a cop
    Oh, get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp) before I call a cop
  3. I turned around and got right out a-runnin’ for my life
    And then I took it home with me to give it to my wife
    But this is what she hollered at me as I walked in the door
    Oh, get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    And don’t come back no more
    Oh, get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    And don’t come back no more
  4. I wandered all around the town until I chanced to meet
    A hobo who was looking for a handout on the street
    He said he’d take most any old thing, he was a desperate man
    But when I showed him the (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    He turned around and ran
    Oh, when I showed him the (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    He turned around and ran
  5. I wandered on for many years, a victim of my late
    Until one day I came upon Saint Peter at the gate
    And when I tried to take it inside, he told me where to go
    Get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    And take it down below
    Oh, get out of here with that (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    And take it down below
  6. The moral of the story is if you’re out on the beach
    And you should see a great big box and it’s within your reach
    Don’t ever stop and open it up, that’s my advice to you
    ‘Cause you’ll never get rid of the (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    No matter what you do
    Oh, you’ll never get rid of the (stamp, stamp, stamp)
    No matter what you do

Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: