Papa Hardy

Songs of Peace, Love, and Legacy — The Music of Jeffrey Charles Hardy

Toy Jay

© 1971

I wrote the song about a toy jay (maybe it was a finch) that I found in the gutter outside my home. After writing the song I realized that it might be interpreted as ‘jay’ that’s short for ‘joint’ that’s short for a marijuana cigarette. Sure. Why not? When I wrote the song there might have been a little bit of him within me.


All birds sing in the forest

Except the toy jay in the florist

And nothing can stop the golden crop

So, I would say; if you buy the jay

At only ten cents you can’t go wrong

If you buy the jay; you get a song

Wind him up and let him go

Remember while he flies between you 

If he’s high and you are low

There’s a little bit of him within you

Press your nose to the window

Feast your eyes on the floral rainbow

And if you have heard the tiny bird

Then listen; as his tune begins

And while the flowers dance to and fro

If you watch them close; you can see them grow

Sitting there by the flowers

The happy toy jay waits for hours

He watches the door for many more

He sings a tune; fills the little room

You can watch the flowers thrive

You can see the jay keeps the flowers alive

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