The Thing 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. Grean Transcribers' 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 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 ! ! !, right before my eyes Oh, I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyes I picked it up and ran to town as happy as a king I took it to a guy I knew 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 ! ! !, before I call a cop" Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a cop 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 ! ! !, and don't come back no more" Oh get out of here with that ! ! !, and don't come back no more I wandered all around the town until I chanced to meet A hobo who was lookin' 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 ! ! !, he turned around and ran Oh, when I showed him the ! ! !, he turned around and ran I wandered on for many years a victim of my fate Until one day I came upon St. Peter at the gate And when I tried to take it inside he told me where to go Get out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down below Oh get out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down below The moral of this 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 ! ! !, no matter what you do Oh you'll never get rid of the ! ! !, no matter what you do Transcribed by Robin Hood These lyrics were transcribed from the specific recording mentioned above and do not necessarily correspond with lyrics from other recordings, sheet music, songbooks or lyrics printed on album jackets.