When he was ten he had the notion
About a thing called perpetual motion.
Worked all day in his daddy’s shop
To invent a machine that would never stop.
He’s been at it now for sixty-seven years,
Wheels, weights and balances, levers and gears.
He keeps working on his great endeavor
To make it go around and around forever.

A young boy’s notion and an old man’s dream,
Oh, perpetual motion machine.
Craziest thing that you’ve ever seen,
Perpetual motion machine.

His wife’s complaining he’s getting thinner,
Works in his garage every night after dinner.
When he thinks about it he can’t sleep,
He tosses and he turns and he grinds his teeth.
He just wants to leave something behind,
Yeah, for the benefit of all mankind.
He says he’s almost got it, can’t give up now,
He’s sure it’ll all work if he can figure out how.

A young boy’s notion and an old man’s dream…etc.

That machine don’t work yet but he keeps on trying,
And that’s the most important thing he’s leaving behind.

A young boy’s notion and an old man’s dream…etc.

He never gives up, he never gives up,
He’s always working day and night.
He never gives up, he never gives up,
He never gives up working, day or night.