The Mamas & the Papas

Dancing Bear

I wouldn’t wanna be a chimney sweep
All black from head to foot
From climbin’ in them chimneys
And cleanin’ out that soot

With a broom and ladder and pail
The darkened walls I’d scale
And far
And High
I see a patch of sky

I rather be the gypsy
Who’s camped at the edge of town
The one who has the dancing bear
That follows him around

And he lifts his big foot up
And he puts his big foot down
And bows
And twirls
And dances round and round.

I found I was a cabin boy
Last night as I did dream
Bound upon a magic ship
For a land I’d never see

And the moon she filled our sails
And the stars they steered our course
And on our bow
There was a golden horse

The Queen eats fruit and candy
The Bishop nuts and cheese
And when I am a grown man
I’ll taste just what I please

The honey from the bee
The shellfish from the sea
The earth
The wind
A girl
Someone to share these things with me

I wouldn’t wanna be a chimney sweep
(I’d rather be a gypsy)
(I found I was a cabin boy)
All black from head to foot
(Camped at the edge of town)
(Last night as I did dream)
From climbin in them chimneys
(The one who has the dancing bear)
(Bound upon a magic ship)
And cleanin out that soot
(That follows him around)
(For a land I’d never see)

I’d rather be the gypsy
(I wouldn’t wanna be a chimney sweep)
(I found I was a cabin boy)
Who’s camped at the edge of town
(All black from head to foot)
(Last night as I did dream)
The one who has the dancing bear
(From climbin’ in them chimneys)
(Bound upon a magic ship)
That follows him around
(And cleanin out that soot)
(For a land I’d never see)