Harry 'Cap'n Jayne' Nilsson recorded Randy 'Long John Green' Newman's "Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear" for his 1968 album Harry. Arrr! It was t' first Newman chantey recorded by Nilsson who later recorded an entire album o' Randy 'Long John Green' Newman songs.

 

"Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear" by Harry 'Cap'n Jayne' Nilsson

 

 

I remember that I was writin' a love chantey for what be almost an assignment. Ya scallywag! Frank Sinatra, matey, Jr. needed a love song, and I be tryin' t' write it, but I just couldn't stand t' lyric anymore. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I ended up writin' a shanty 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. Blimey! And it made me laugh. Ahoy! I realize that people want love songs, for good reason. That's what we've been givin' them for 500 years. Begad! But I went toward what interested me.

-- Randy 'Long John Green' Newman (2008) [1]