Songwriter: FRED SMALL

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In nineteen thirty-two at a zoo in Los Angeles
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A polar bear named Larry performed for the crowd,
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They'd cheer aloud
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He'd go slipping and sliding, jumping and diving
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The people would laugh. They took his photograph.
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Larry was born at the zoo
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He never knew as he grew older
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Anything colder Than Los Angeles
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Which is warmer than Alaska
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Where Larry's parents were born.

CHORUS:
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Larry the polar bear
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He'd never harm a hair on a child's head
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He'd do tricks for them At the Los Angeles zoo,
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As he'd been taught to by his keeper Fran.

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Fran would teach him new tricks
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A funny pose Scratching his nose
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He knew there'd be a fish at the end,
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Fran was his friend.
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One day she said "Larry, you'll be in the movies
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With real movie stars and a few simple tricks
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And lots of fish
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To be filmed on location in Alaska."
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And so they rehearsed for Larry's big scene,
He's supposed to be mean
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And growl at a woman who was rescued by a man who scared him away
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It was stupid But fun to do.
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The director would frown And jump up and down
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Kind of like the chimps at the zoo.

CHORUS

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At last came the day of the trip
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They put Larry in a crate Twelve foot by eight
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And he sailed aboard a steamship
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The journey was long And boring
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Fran would visit She'd talk to him
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And bring him his favorite fish
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Then the noise and the rumbling stopped
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And they lowered him down
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Set the crate on the frozen ground
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And opened it
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Fran said "Larry, we're here It's time for your tricks."
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And Larry appeared
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He looked out at the gray Bering Sea
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He squinted and puzzled Put his nose to the wind
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And the scent of the seal made him tremble
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He smelled the fox in it's lair And the weasel and hare
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Felt lichen and snow 'neath his paws,
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And he looked at the tundra and ice,
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Looked at the loon in the sky
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and he ran
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Slowly at first Kind of lumbering He ran
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Gathering speed Gathering memories from within
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Old and dim Growing stronger
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To run and to swim, To dive and to float,
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The cold at his throat
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But warm inside 'neath the fur and hide
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Ocean and ice all around him
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He ran He ran He ran And he swam away