Only a Game Tom Paxton

While stopping one innocent afternoon
For paper and magazines
My attention was drawn to a riot of colour
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!
Great, tell me sir, what does it do?"

"That's easy," he said as he handled my cash
And he dropped the cube into a sack
"Some of the colours 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 colours 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 death!"
I talk to myself as I walk down the street
Till old friends all cry, "What a shame!
For he used to say 'Hello!' and 'How do you do?'
All he says now is 'Only a game'!"