Fred Small - Larry The Polar Bear Lyrics
In nineteen thirty-who at a zoo in Los Angelesa polar bear named Larry performed for the crowd,they'd cheer aloudHe'd go slipping and sliding, jumping and divingThe people would laugh. They took his photograph.Larry was born at the zooHe never knew as he grew olderanything colderthan Los Angeleswhich is warmer than Alaskawhere Larry's parents were born.CHORUS:Larry the polar bearHe'd never harm a hair on a child's headHe'd do tricks for themat the Los Angeles zoo,as he'd been taught to by his keeper Fran.Fran would teach him new tricksA funny posescratching his noseHe knew there'd be a fish at the end,Fran was his friend.One day she said "Larry, you'll be in the movieswith real movie stars and a few simple tricksand lots of fishto be filmed on location in Alaska."and so they rehearsed for Larry's big scene,He's supposed to be meanand growl at a woman who was rescued by a man who scared him awayIt was stupidbut fun to do.The director would frownand jump up and downkind of like the chimps at the zoo.CHORUSAt last came the day of the tripThey put Larry in a cratetwelve foot by eightand he sailed aboard a steamshipThe journey was longand boringFran would visitshe'd talk to himand bring him his favorite fishthen the noise and the rumbling stoppedand they lowered him downset the crate on the frozen groundand opened itFran said "Larry, we're hereIt's time for your tricks."And Larry appearedHe looked out at the gray Bering SeaHe squinted and puzzledput his nose to the windand the scent of the seal made him trembleHe smelled the fox in its lairand the weasel and harefelt lichen and snow 'neath his paws,and he looked at the tundra and ice,looked at the loon in the sky and he ranslowly at firstkind of lumberinghe rangathering speedgathering memories from withinold and dimgrowing strongerto run and to swim,to dive and to float,the cold at his throatBut warm inside'neath the fur and hideOcean and ice all around himHe ranHe ranHe ranand he swam away
