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Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear Lyrics

Artist: Randy Newman
Album: Sail Away

I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear
Oh I'd step out in style with my sincere smile and my dancing bear
Outrageous alarming courageous charming
Oh who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It's just amazing how fair people can be

Seen at the nicest places where well fed faces all stop to stare
Making the grandest entrance is Simon Smith and his dancing bear
They'll love us, won't they?
They feed us, don't they?
Oh, who would think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It's just amazing how fair people can be

Who needs money when you're funny?
The big attraction everywhere
Will be Simon Smith and his dancing bear
It's Simon Smith and the amazing dancing bear

Comments/Interpretations

by peter on 11/24/2008 11:34am
"Who needs money,when you're funny"...

Answer:We ALL do,unless you happen to be a professional comedian,like Graham Norton or that beginner,Frank Skinner.

by ruth on 12/28/2008 10:44am
This is one of my favorite songs. When I'm having a bad day, I sing this song and it takes me to a silly and somehow more sane place. Thank you Randy Newman.

by Annie on 2/18/2009 5:29am
I second Ruth's comments; this song just takes you over that hill, and I like to think it sounds particularly good in the shower...

by Ruth 2 on 8/30/2009 3:02am
I won Marcie Bear at assembly and all of my young students will spend time with her in my music room. This was the first bear song I thought of and I bought it yesterday so we can all dance with bears this week.

by Bernie on 10/4/2011 6:23am
Great words and music by Randy Newman, but covered wonderfully by Alan Price.

by Andrew on 12/21/2011 4:58am
Fozzy Bear & Skooter did a version on The Muppet Show. Brilliant!

by Simon Smith on 1/8/2012 12:08pm
No really it is ! I was born 2 weeks before this song was released in the UK. I like to think it was sung for me and like ruth above it makes me smile

by simon smith on 3/5/2012 5:47am
i wish i did have a dancing bear this song haunted me when i was a child thankfully most people have are now to old to remember it alan price sang the best version

by jake on 5/22/2013 8:02pm
This song is really sad. It strikes me as a bitter sarcasm: people aren't fair everywhere; funny people still need money. That poor Simon Smith has nothing but the bear: no food, no money, and he's ostracized from society.

by dave on 5/25/2013 8:36pm
i agree with jake it's a sad song , but i think it's a rueful sadness,i think it's a little bit about the author,i think the bear represents his schtick , a kind of alchemy that turns sadness into humor .but then in the passing moment the joy turns back into sadness.

by Markface on 6/14/2014 7:43am
I sometimes think this song is about an ageing gigolo/hustler who still thinks he can get by on his "substantial physical gifts", for which the dancing bear is a metaphor. I suppose it's about anyone who is so lacking in identity and self-esteem that they have to resort to people-pleasing tricks to get by. The novelty eventually wears off, the years roll by, and they've found that they've never confronted the personal limitations which initially held them back.

by Maharg neerg on 4/6/2016 12:32am
Blimey. Some of you go a bit deep here dent you?
It's just a bit of a fun song, and absolutely suited to sing in the shower

by Glenlightened on 3/3/2017 10:54pm
Got the lyrics at last! After 50 years! Now I can go. Sleep is mine now.

Alana, the key is to the right of the elm tree, four paces northwest and then turn 90 degrees and pace out ...

by Martin on 5/15/2017 3:17am
Learned something from Bernie. Always thought Alan Price did the original. Now I know it was Randy Newman! Agree with Andrew's comment about the Muppets. (Where is the thumb-up symbol for that one?) Jake's, Dave's and Markface's comments are all very interesting.