The Syncopated Clock
Syncopated Rhythms: A Tale of Quirky Clocks and Human Fascination
Lyrics
There was a man like you and me
Introduction of a man similar to the narrator.
As simple as a man could ever be
Describing the man as simple in nature.
And he was happy as a king
The man was content and happy.
Except for one peculiar thing
Except for one strange aspect of his life.
He had a clock that worked all right
The man had a functional clock.
It worked all right, but not exactly quite
Though it worked, it had an unconventional behavior.
Instead of going: "tick, tock, tick"
Describing the typical sound of a clock.
The crazy clock went: "tock, tick, tock"
The clock made a peculiar sound, not conforming to expectations.
The poor old man just raved and raved
The man became distressed.
Because nobody could say
No one could explain the strange behavior of the clock.
Why his silly clock behaved that hickory dickory way
Expressing the unpredictability of the clock's behavior.
But now a famous man is he
The man gains fame for the peculiar clock.
He owns a public curiosity
The clock becomes a public attraction.
From far and wide, the people flock
People from everywhere gather to witness the clock.
To hear the syncopated clock
The clock is known for its syncopated rhythm.
Tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock
Describing the sound of the clock.
There's a zing in the swing of that clock
The clock has a unique quality in its ticking.
Tock-a-tick, tock-a-tick
Further emphasis on the distinctive sound of the clock.
Don't you think it's a marvelous trick?
A rhetorical question about the marvelous nature of the clock.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling
Describing another sound, possibly related to the clock.
There's a zong in the bong of that ring
Highlighting the uniqueness of a particular ring sound.
Ling-a-ting, ling-a-ting
Reiteration of the remarkable quality of the ringing.
Don't you think it's a wonderful thing?
Posing a question about the wonderful aspect of the ringing.
The experts came to hear and see
Experts tried to understand the clock but failed.
But none of them could solve the mystery
No one could unravel the mystery of the clock.
They called Professor Einstein too
Even Professor Einstein couldn't provide an explanation.
He said: "There's nothing I can do."
Professor Einstein acknowledges his inability to solve the mystery.
But soon the fickle human race
Speculation that a new curiosity will captivate people soon.
Will find another freak to take its place
Anticipation that society will move on to a new fascination.
And one fine day the man will hock
Prediction that the man will sell the peculiar clock one day.
The poor old syncopated clock
Referring to the clock as "syncopated" once again.
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