The Syncopated Clock
Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra Lyrics

There was a man like you and me
There once lived an ordinary man, much like any one of us

As simple as a man could ever be
He had a very simple and uncomplicated life

And he was happy as a king
Despite his simple life, he was very content and happy

Except for one peculiar thing
But there was one strange thing that bothered him

He had a clock that worked all right
He owned a clock that functioned properly

It worked all right, but not exactly quite
However, the clock had an unusual way of keeping time

Instead of going: "tick, tock, tick"
Rather than making the traditional "tick, tock, tick" sound

The crazy clock went: "tock, tick, tock"
The clock made a strange "tock, tick, tock" noise

The poor old man just raved and raved
The man became extremely upset and frustrated

Because nobody could say
No one could figure out

Why his silly clock behaved that hickory dickory way
Why the clock operated in such an unusual manner

But now a famous man is he
Despite his previous frustrations, the man became well-known

He owns a public curiosity
His clock became an object of public curiosity

From far and wide, the people flock
People from different areas came to see the clock

To hear the syncopated clock
To listen to the unusual syncopated rhythm of the clock

Tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock
The clock makes an interesting "tick-a-tock" sound

There's a zing in the swing of that clock
The clock has a particular rhythm or swing that makes it unique

Tock-a-tick, tock-a-tick
Additionally, the clock makes a "tock-a-tick" sound

Don't you think it's a marvelous trick?
It's quite an impressive feat that the clock operates in this manner

Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling
The clock also makes a "ting-a-ling" sound

There's a zong in the bong of that ring
The clock's chime also has an unusual and interesting rhythm

Ling-a-ting, ling-a-ting
The chime also makes a "ling-a-ting" sound

Don't you think it's a wonderful thing?
Overall, the clock is quite a remarkable and wonderful creation

The experts came to hear and see
Experts in the field came to see and understand the workings of the clock

But none of them could solve the mystery
However, no one was able to solve the mystery of the clock's unique rhythm

They called Professor Einstein too
Even Professor Einstein was consulted about the clock

He said: "There's nothing I can do."
However, even the great scientist admitted that he had no solution to the puzzle

But soon the fickle human race
Human beings are unpredictable and will eventually move on to something else

Will find another freak to take its place
People will eventually forget about this clock and move on to a new fascination

And one fine day the man will hock
Eventually, the man who owned the clock will sell it

The poor old syncopated clock
This unusual and unique clock that caused so much attention and wonder