Dance the Grizzly Bear

Subject: The Yum Yum Tree
From: GUEST,Tom Dark himself
Date: 31 Jan 13 - 12:09 AM

Hey Jim,

Don't know how I stumbled across this tonight. E-mail me for the correct lyrics to "The "Yum Yum Tree." I still remember how to spell all that stuff.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: GUEST,Brad Sondahl
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 11:54 AM

Since this thread has reappeared, I've long since answered the origin question myself--Jim Jackson, 1928, first recorded it. And I put my version up on Youtube: When I woke up this morning
Jim Jackson also recorded a prototypical version of "Kansas City."

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: clueless don
Date: 30 Jan 13 - 09:17 AM

As I recall (and I'm working from memory here), The Youngbloods recorded a song called Grizzly Bear ("When I woke up this morning, she was gone ... solid gone ...".) It was one of their first hits, and had lyrics similar to the ones posted by Brad Sondahl back in 07 Oct 99. However, the lead singer (whose name I forget, but it might have been Jerry Corbitt, according to Wikipedia) on the song was not Jesse Colin Young, and that singer left the band shortly thereafter. This was before "Get Together", "Darkness, Darkness", and the other songs most of us associate with the Youngbloods. At Youngbloods concerts, it was a regular occurrence for someone in the audience to request Grizzly Bear, and then Mr. Young would decline, declaring that it was Jerry Corbitt's (if that's who it was) song.

Don

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: cptsnapper
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 01:56 PM

Am I right in thinking that Cosmotheka used to do this or have the little grey cells completely disintegrated?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GRIZZLY BEAR (I. Berlin, G. Botsford)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 10:22 AM

This song—with a catchy ragtime tune—probably didn't start the dance fad, but was written to capitalize on its popularity. From the sheet music at Indiana University:

(THE DANCE OF) THE GRIZZLY BEAR
Words by Irving Berlin, music by George Botsford
New York: Ted Snyder Co. (Inc.), ©1910.

VERSE 1. Out in San Francisco where the weather's fair,
They have a dance out there,
They call the grizzly bear.
All your other lovin' dances don't compare—
Not so coony,
But a little more than spoony.
Talk about yo' bears that Teddy Roosevelt shot!
They couldn't class with what
Old San Francisco's got.
Listen, my honey, do,
And I will show to you
The dance of the grizzly bear.

CHORUS 1: Hug up close to your baby.
Throw your shoulders t'ward the ceiling.
Lawdy, Lawdy, what a feelin'!
Snug up close to your lady.
Close your eyes and do some nappin'.
Something nice is gwine to happen.
Hug up close to your baby.
Sway me everywhere.
Show your darlin' beau
Just how you go to Buffalo,
Doin' the grizzly bear.

VERSE 2. Let's sit down and rest a minute, honey dear.
My head feels awful queer.
Please call the waiter near.
"Water, water, quick! The lady's gone, I fear."
"Thank you, honey.
In my purse you'll find some money."
Where's the man who showed me how to do that dance
That put me in a trance?
I'll take another chance.
Now that I've got my breath,
I'm his'n until death.
Come on with yo' grizzly bear.

CHORUS 2: Hug up close to your baby.
Hypnotize me like a wizard.
Shape yo'self just like a blizzard.
Snug up close to your lady.
If they do that dance in heaven,
Shoot me, hon', tonight at seven.
Hug up close to your baby.
Sway me everywhere.
You and me is two.
I'll make it one when we get through,
Doin' the grizzly bear.

Originally sung by Sophie Tucker on vaudeville stage. One verse and chorus are sung by Sophie Tucker as part of the medley called SOPHIE TUCKER'S HALF CENTURY IN SHOW BUSINESS on the album "My Dream" (2010); an excerpt from this medley is on "The Very Best of" (2009). Also sung by Mae West on "Great Balls of Fire" (2012); by Alice Faye, Jack Okie, and June Havoc in the film "Hello, Frisco, Hello" (1943), on the Alice Faye albums "Greatest Hits" (2012) and "The Ultimate Collection" (2011) and on the various-artists compilation "Favorite Movie Melodies, Vol. 3" (2011); and by Ann Gibson w/Frederick Hodges on "Hello, Frisco" (2008); by Marilyn Horne, Robert White, and Dick Hyman on "Berlin Lieder" (2001).

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Ewan McVicar
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 08:45 AM

This niggled at me all night. This morning I recalled that the recorded version I learned the song from was Dave Van Ronk's - a true stylist.

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 07:58 AM

There were indeed lots of "animal" dances in the 'twenties: the turkey trot (Moe Zart's or otherwise), and the only survivor, the fox-trot. Aussie/British Music Hall comic Billy Wiliams had a song called "The Kangaroo Hop", which mentions the Grizzly Bear and the Texas Tommy, whatever that was. I've been told that to dance the GB, yoiu hold your partner in a bear-like hug, and dribble down her ear!

Steve

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Brad Sondahl
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:08 PM

Thanks. I remember "Wild about my Lovin' from Jim Kweskin's jug band. I see from Allmusic that he hung around with Gus Cannon and Robert Wilkins. I like the primitive simple style of Gus, songs like Lela, Lela, why don't you get up and go to bed; and Stealin...

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: woody
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 09:06 PM

The version on the Blues Project album was done by Mark Spoelstra. Also recorded on his self-titled album from the sixties. It was written and first recorded by Jim Jackson, he called it When I Woke Up This Morning She Was Gone. Spoelstra shortened the title to She's Gone. Jim Jackson also wrote Wild About My Loving, My Monday Woman Blues and I Heard The Voice Of A Pork Chop. Check him out on www.allmusic.com. You can read his bio and list of song titles. woody

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Duane D.
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 08:50 PM

The Blues Project evolved into the pop group Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Yes, the Grizzly Bear was a dance or dance craze, but the Bill Morrisey reference is a euphemism for having sex.

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:07 PM

Easy Rider,

Sure, I have that album. It may be where I heard this song (and not from Jim Kweskin). A few of the guys who played on the album eventually formed a group called the Blues Project (naming themselves after the album) and put out their own album.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Easy Rider
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 01:35 PM

The "Grizzley Bear" was a dance craze, in the roaring 20s. There were other popular party dances named after animals, back then.

I first heard this song, on an Elektra album, in the early 60s, named "The Blues Project". I forgot who sang it, but I'll look it up tonight.

It's a GREAT album of the best White, urban, Blues musicians of the time, all except John Hammond Jr. Does anybody else have this album?

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Allan S.
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 01:21 PM

Paul Richards[Shakey] Sang it c.1951 At U-Conn. Wasn't there a thread on this before????

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: dwditty
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 12:15 PM

The Youngbloods (Jesse Colin Young) covered this song on one of their albums circa 1969-1970 or so. Another great song is Bill Morrissey's Grizzly Bear.

Subject: RE: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 12:01 PM

Brad Sondahl,

I am vaguely familiar with this tune as a jug band number (Jim Kweskin era for me), which would imply it goes back to the Gus Cannon era (early 1800's?).

I am sure some other 'Catters will be more knowledgeable than I. I'm just pointing you in a direction.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Dance the Grizzly Bear
From: Brad Sondahl
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:30 AM

Wondering where this comes from: (I first heard it on Mill City Blues- Soupy Milton and Papa John Kolstad-- an album that's gone, gone, gone, gone.)

Well when I woke up this morning, she was gone, gone, gone gone. And she did not even say the reason why--why I don't know, Ref: But the way she used to love to dance the Grizzly Bear, I guess she went to Frisco, to dance it there, But when I woke up this morning, She was gone, gone, gone, gone.

Well she made me mad, and I felt so bad, But she did not even say, the reason why-why I don't know. repeat refrain. Brad http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/bradindex.html