Larry The Polar Bear Lyrics - Singles - Small Fred

In nineteen thirty-who at a zoo in Los Angeles 

a polar bear named Larry performed for the crowd, 

they'd cheer aloud 

He'd go slipping and sliding, jumping and diving 

The people would laugh. They took his photograph. 

Larry was born at the zoo 

He never knew as he grew older 

anything colder 

than Los Angeles 

which is warmer than Alaska 

where Larry's parents were born. 

CHORUS: 

Larry the polar bear 

He'd never harm a hair on a child's head 

He'd do tricks for them 

at the Los Angeles zoo, 

as he'd been taught to by his keeper Fran. 

Fran would teach him new tricks 

A funny pose 

scratching his nose 

He knew there'd be a fish at the end, 

Fran was his friend. 

One day she said "Larry, you'll be in the movies 

with real movie stars and a few simple tricks 

and lots of fish 

to be filmed on location in Alaska." 

and so they rehearsed for Larry's big scene, 

He's supposed to be mean 

and growl at a woman who was rescued by a man who scared him away 

It was stupid 

but fun to do. 

The director would frown 

and jump up and down 

kind of like the chimps at the zoo. 

CHORUS 

At last came the day of the trip 

They put Larry in a crate 

twelve foot by eight 

and he sailed aboard a steamship 

The journey was long 

and boring 

Fran would visit 

she'd talk to him 

and bring him his favorite fish 

then the noise and the rumbling stopped 

and they lowered him down 

set the crate on the frozen ground 

and opened it 

Fran said "Larry, we're here 

It's time for your tricks." 

And Larry appeared 

He looked out at the gray Bering Sea 

He squinted and puzzled 

put his nose to the wind 

and the scent of the seal made him tremble 

He smelled the fox in its lair 

and the weasel and hare 

felt lichen and snow 'neath his paws, 

and he looked at the tundra and ice, 

looked at the loon in the sky and he ran 

slowly at first 

kind of lumbering 

he ran 

gathering speed 

gathering memories from within 

old and dim 

growing stronger 

to run and to swim, 

to dive and to float, 

the cold at his throat 

But warm inside 

'neath the fur and hide 

Ocean and ice all around him 

He ran 

He ran 

He ran 

and he swam away.