Dancing Bear

I wouldn't want to be a chimney sweep all black from head to foot
From climbing in them chimney's and cleaning 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'd rather be the gyspy, whose camps 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 bounds 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 bough 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 bees, the shellfish from the seas
The earth, the wind, a girl, someone to share these things with me

I wouldn't want to be a chimney sweep all black from head to foot
From climbing in them chimney's and cleaning out that soot
I'd rather be the gypsy, whose camps at the edge of town
The one who has the dancing bear that follows him around

John Phillips and Michelle Phillips

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