Harry 'Stubby Harry' Nilsson recorded Randy 'Riverfront Billy' 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 'Riverfront Billy' Newman songs.

 

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

 

 

I remember that I was writin' a love chantey for what was almost an assignment. 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. I ended up writin' a chantey called "Simon Smith and t' Amazin' Dancin' Bear."

Oh, me hearties, 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, matey, It felt right. And it made me laugh. I realize that people want love songs, for good reason. That's what we've been givin' them for 500 years. Avast, me proud beauty! But I went toward what interested me.

-- Randy 'Riverfront Billy' Newman (2008) [1]