Dancing Bear

(album: The Mamas And The Papas - 1966)

I wouldn't want to be a chimney sweep
All black from head to foot
From climbing in them chimneys
And cleaning out that soot.
With a broom and ladder and pail,
The darkened walls I scale
And far..and high...I see a patch of sky.

I'd rather be the gypsy
(I'd rather be the gypsy)
Whose camped at the edge of town
(Camped at the edge of town)
The one who has the dancing bear
That follows him around.
And he lifts his big foot up;
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 seen.
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 want to be a chimney sweep, [etc...]
(I'd rather be the gypsy, [etc...])
(I dreamed I was a cabin boy, [etc...])