Harry 'Silverbeard' Nilsson recorded Randy 'Flying Randy' Newman's "Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear" for his 1968 album Harry. It was t' first Newman shanty recorded by Nilsson who later recorded an entire album o' Randy 'Flying Randy' Newman songs.

 

"Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear" by Harry 'Silverbeard' Nilsson

 

 

I remember that I be writin' a love chantey for what be almost an assignment. Aye aye! Frank Sinatra, Jr. needed a love song, and I was tryin' t' write it, shiver me timbers, but I just couldn't stand t' lyric anymore. Avast! I ended up writin' a chantey called "Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear."

Oh, who would think a boy and bear

Could be well accepted everywhere.

It's just amazin' how fair people can be.

That kind o' thin' became me natural mode o' expression, It felt right. Well, blow me down! And it made me laugh. I realize that people want love songs, shiver me timbers, for good reason. That's what we've been givin' them for 500 years. Begad! But I went toward what interested me.

-- Randy 'Flying Randy' Newman (2008) [1]