I learned this song at a concert and John Berquist from N. Minnesota sang me the song over a long distance phone call. I have sung it for almost 20 years. I am currently a resident Mountain Man for a wagon train on the prairie of Colorado and the song has become our standard campfire moment. We add a coyotte howl in the chorus after "...Uncle Walter won't do, Houuuu", and actually get coyottes to howl back.

I have written my own verses I will share for your use or enjoyment.

My Verse
We bought Uncle Walter a teddy one day
And with this new partner we hoped he would stay
But the bears took him out to a dance bright and gay,
And while changing partners he gave it away

CHORUS
(This is the traditional last verse.)
Well we begged and we pleaded, "Oh please won't you stay"
(And tried) Managed to keep him at home for a day
But the bears all barged in and they took him away
Now he's dancing with pandas, And he can't understand us
And the bears all demand at least one waltz a day

(But I wanted a better conclusion to the song, so I wrote:)

We then tried to reason, we tried to explain
"But Walter you have neither claws, coat nor mane
And we really think all of this waltzing's insane
But he married a Grizzly, who's hair was all frizzley,
and he left us all dizzy, as he waltzed to the train

My hope is that some day, I will be at a folk festival and hear one of you sing it to me. That's folk music.

Jon Erickson
Brush, Colorado