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Natalie Merchant — The Dancing Bear
Album: Leave Your Sleep
Avg rating:
4.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 284









Released: 2010
Length: 5:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Oh, it's fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee,
The dancing bear ran away with me;
For the organ-grinder he came to town
With a jolly old bear in a coat of brown.
And the funny old chap joined hands with me,
While I cut a caper and so did he.
Then 'twas fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee,
I looked at him, and he winked at me,
And I whispered a word in his shaggy ear,
And I said, "I will go with you, my dear."

Then the dancing bear he smiled and said,
Well, he didn't say much, but he nodded his head,
As the organ-grinder began to play
"Over the hills and far away."
With a fiddle-de-dum and a fiddle-de-dee;
Oh, I looked at him and he winked at me,
And my heart was light and the day was fair,
And away I went with the dancing bear.

Oh, 'tis fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee,
The dancing bear came back with me;
For the sugar-plum trees were stripped and bare,
And we couldn't find cookies anywhere.
And the solemn old fellow he sighed and said,
Well, he didn't say much, but he shook his head,
While I looked at him and he blinked at me
Till I shed a tear and so did he;
And both of us thought of our supper that lay
Over the hills and far away.
Then the dancing bear he took my hand,
And we hurried away through the twilight land;
And 'twas fiddle-de-dum and fiddle-de-dee
When the dancing bear came back with me.
Comments (132)add comment
Natalie Merchant and a dancing bear. Interesting relationship.
must.....hit.........PSD
I can only think of Fagin...

..."youuuuu've got.to.pick.a.pocket.or.two....."
All you howling gnashing nabob naysayers: There's a reason that Bill invented the PSD button, folks! 
No Thank You.......! Please let there be something REALLY good next - chances are good on RP!
 chiguy wrote:
This is what makes me turn off RP
 
Doing that now...switching to...
Who listens to this tripe? Sounds like some old gypsy carney song.....no offense to either group....this is horrible.
Wow, what's with the vicious response to this?  It's not *that* bad.
Sorry but I just don't like Natalie
I refreshed three times to make sure the song title was right.  I sorta like it.  Not sure I'd buy it, but it's a bit of a toe-tapper...
Good on its own, I think, but an awful comedown from Yo-Yo Ma.
sorry bill. this song is a jarring, headache-inducing mess. please. no more.
it's not that bad.....why all the complaining?{#Stupid}

Almost a little gypsie "godfather" feel to it
Beastly.
Awful.
After this we need some Klezmer music, no?
This is what makes me turn off RP
Add another reason to dislike Natalie Merchant with this song.
it's not hard to conceive John Irving after listening to this tune... but harder yet is to conceive most folks that reply to this board... myself included.
 
 Bluesgrrl wrote:
I find it hard to believe Bill likes this song. Heck I find it hard to believe anyone would record such dribble. Is she that desparate? My 3 year neice might like it, thoug.
 
Or write such, um, drivel. And yes your 3 year old neice might like it a lot. In fact, the whole album is developed from old poems, from serious to nonsensical, for or potentially for young children. She wrote the melodies over years and sang them to her own young children. Hey, children need music, too. It's an excellent and highly literate album, for the young and playful at heart.


Natalie Merchant - The Dancing Bear

Natalie Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.

"Beautiful!! " 

i really like it


Natalie Merchant at Le Poisson Rouge by Bumss!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bumss/



please god, bill, MAKE IT STOP!!!!!      MAKE IT STOP!!!!!     PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!

Natalie has some commendable work but this isn't it.


 Dillinquent wrote:
 gjr wrote:
she SUCKS!!!
How do you know that?

 

just by listening to this song.  and apparently (by reading some of the other comments here) i'm not alone in that opinion

 gjr wrote:
she SUCKS!!!
How do you know that?

 gjr wrote:
she SUCKS!!!
 

ok - sorry - that's an insult to people who suck everywhere.  she's f&^%ing AWFUL
she SUCKS!!!
Dancing into the hearts of RP listeners everywhere...{#Lol}
I find it hard to believe Bill likes this song. Heck I find it hard to believe anyone would record such dribble. Is she that desparate? My 3 year neice might like it, thoug.

I'm at my desk totally lovin' Steve Wonder's Superstition, grovin' at my desk {#Dancingbanana}, and then this came on.......{#Headache}   A painful transition, Bill! 



 LongGoneDaddy wrote:
do we have to hear ever freakin song from this crappy ass album?  wtf?
 

Indeed - the whole album is a HUUUUGE desaster!
I say so as an ex-Natalie fan!

I have to admit that I like this song, I am going to go take a shower now......{#Eek}


do we have to hear ever freakin song from this crappy ass album?  wtf?
 xtalman wrote:

Hey Raffi is not bad.

Have kids who use to like him.

 
Raffi is ten times better than this.
I had to change my rating from 3 to 1.
The more I hear this the more I hate it! 
 crockydile wrote:
Hey, let's hear some Raffi next!! {#Bananajumprope}
 

Hey Raffi is not bad.

Have kids who use to like him.


 shutter wrote:
I'm thinking she should probably just stick to doing summer theater somewhere in rural Connecticut
 
Don't send her here! Ack!
I'm thinking she should probably just stick to doing summer theater somewhere in rural Connecticut
Is Bill even reading these comments?
This is fideldee dumb!
I wonder: is Natalie's bear dancing?
Pseudo-Russian "village-dance" in a cheap caucasian "BORDELLO"

dai-dai-dai-dai....

Soooo BORING!

 

if i have to hear her say "organ grinder" one more time my head is going to explode.
WTF?

1 sucko-barfo! 
 gshrieves wrote:
You know, I loved Tigerlily. I greatly disliked 10,000 Maniacs. But this is just not ... good. Sounds like a song that should be in Fiddler on the Roof or something. 
I've enjoyed many of her solo tracks and even some 10,000 Maniacs tunes, but agree this is just NOT good... horrid {#Beat}
Feeling like I'm stuck in a polka karaoke tent!

Enough already Natalie!! Damn!!

 titanium667 wrote:
Completely downhill since leaving the Maniacs.
Maybe a reunion would help her. 
 
I think I have to agree.  I liked the Maniacs' stuff.

Please stop with this song already.
She must have other songs.

Torture.
Completely downhill since leaving the Maniacs.
Maybe a reunion would help her. 
 gjr wrote:
her voice is like a cat in a cuisinart
 
Cat lovers everywhere are offended,  Please, enough of Ms. Merchant.

her voice is like a cat in a cuisinart
 jagdriver wrote:

And for that the good captain preempted a Tom Terrific cartoon!
 
Another tragic waste. {#Lol}
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
This song takes me back to '59.
I was watching Captain Kangaroo on TV.
He announced that after the break, they were going to have a dancing bear perform.
I got all excited and went to tell my mom. I ran back to the TV as the commercial was ending waiting to see the dancing bear.
Then I realized it was just a man dressed up in goofy bear suit.
 
And for that the good captain preempted a Tom Terrific cartoon!


With the fiddle-dee-dah, and the fiddle-dee-dee

I'd like to sleep

embraced by your two

warm and ample ... _________ {#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajumprope}

 

Nice eyes!



The first couple times I liked this song.  But this is wearing thin quickly.  If you like contemporary Klezmer try Beirut.
Every time I listen to this song, my brain translates it to the sound of fingernails scraping a chalkboard...

I'm sorry Natalie... 

Next on our playlist —  Topo Gigio!
I normally eschew All Things Natalie Merchant™, but this I like.  Go figure.
You know, I loved Tigerlily. I greatly disliked 10,000 Maniacs. But this is just not ... good. Sounds like a song that should be in Fiddler on the Roof or something. 
Hey, let's hear some Raffi next!! {#Bananajumprope}
Please take this off the playlist......this isn't anything worth hearing during any time of my day or in any work situation I may get stuck in! HORRID...
Where else would this be played, except here on RP?  Love the cover photo and artwork, plus I actually like this song.


Possibly just a "Filler" on the album, not really intended to impress all that much?
 Byronape wrote:
It's Natalie singing with the guys from Gogol Bordello...
 
{#Lol}

This is as bad as Fiona Apples later attempts.....{#Puke}
It's Natalie singing with the guys from Gogol Bordello...
 handyrae wrote:
I think I finally figured out my dislike of Natalie Merchant, apart from her vocal technique that is. There is no joy or fun in her singing. It's all so painfully serious. This song  sounds like it would be fun to sing. But if she's having fun, she's not showing it.
 

hmmm... yup, I think you've got it.

This song takes me back to '59.
I was watching Captain Kangaroo on TV.
He announced that after the break, they were going to have a dancing bear perform.
I got all excited and went to tell my mom. I ran back to the TV as the commercial was ending waiting to see the dancing bear.
Then I realized it was just a man dressed up in goofy bear suit.

At 4 years old, there and then onwards, I began to question what people told me.
Especially Bob Keeshan.

What is Natalie trying to tell me now?

"Buy my CD?"
"Kiss me, you fool?"
"Join the gypsies?"

 handyrae wrote:
I think I finally figured out my dislike of Natalie Merchant, apart from her vocal technique that is. There is no joy or fun in her singing. It's all so painfully serious. This song  sounds like it would be fun to sing. But if she's having fun, she's not showing it.
 

You might be on to something there.
Sounds like a troop of nomadic Leftist bookstore employees from the Upper Haight. 
 LPCity wrote:

Would you settle for Lionel Hutz?
 
I think the only think those two have in common is that they're characters and they'd both do anything for money!
I think I finally figured out my dislike of Natalie Merchant, apart from her vocal technique that is. There is no joy or fun in her singing. It's all so painfully serious. This song  sounds like it would be fun to sing. But if she's having fun, she's not showing it.
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
I liked her better when she was named Mary Hopkin.  {#Mrgreen}
_______________________________________________________________________ 
KurtfromLaQuinta
(Yep. I'm still here in La Quinta.)
Posted: Apr 16, 2010 - 14:11 <
I hate doing this...
But I almost thought this was "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin.

"La la la la..."

Not in a bad way.
_______________________________________________________________________

I said it first. {#Nyah}


Didn't know this was NM until Bill announced it. No wonder I hated it so much.

fiddle dee dee...{#Stop}
 llamadragon wrote:
FYI: This an album of folky tunes aimed at small kids.  If you're judging it thinking that it was made for you, then instead listen to it and think about what your kids might think.  If you don't have kids, chill out, this song isn't for you.
 
and maybe not for RP...
I am going to loose it if I hear this song again.
It's one of those tunes that you should only play once or twice a month.
Reminds me of that old song "Those Were The Days"...can't rem. her name but it was on Apple records.
FYI: This an album of folky tunes aimed at small kids.  If you're judging it thinking that it was made for you, then instead listen to it and think about what your kids might think.  If you don't have kids, chill out, this song isn't for you.

Can this be over already? I like Natalie but am starting to feel like I'm at some Russian circus...

LOL...Bill is really workin this new album, trying to soften us up. :)
 zipper wrote:
As pleasant as an icy cool speculum.
 

oOOOO
agreed.
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
I liked her better when she was named Mary Hopkin.  {#Mrgreen}
 
{#High-five}  {#Lol}

De da die, die, die, die, die de die!  My thoughts on this drivel exactly.
I liked her better when she was named Mary Hopkin.  {#Mrgreen}
 Karmala wrote:

What is it with you guys? You do not recognize good folk with an international twist when you hear it? Shame on you!

 

 
{#High-five}

More_Cowbell wrote:
I was just thinking, 'Damn we need more Gypsy accordion music on RP' - Thanks {#Propeller}
Agreed, but this is too watered down/precious/careful to meet my Minimum Daily Requirement.

This song is terrible. 
As pleasant as an icy cool speculum.
Ok, when I heard the opening notes I was thinking this song was played just yesterday, and then I thought, "That can't be right - RP doesn't play songs two days in a row!" In reading through the comments, I see that I was correct.

Please Bill, even if this song is new Natalie Merchant and fairly good, you're going to ruin it for us if you start overplaying it!

Having had a little time to figure out what she was up to, I'm liking this more than I did at first. Let's slap a 7 on it and see if it sticks.
I was just thinking, 'Damn we need more Gypsy accordion music on RP' - Thanks {#Propeller}

A soundtrack from a bad russian movie, sorry.
maybe once a year is enough for this one.
I've been a fan of Natalie's from way back when I first heard 10,000 Maniacs. This is simply not doing it for me. Haven't cared for anything I've heard off this record. This song is particularly annoying to me. I'm actually surprised so many like it. 
I hate fiddle-dee-anything.
 AliGator wrote:
Wow, her voice sounds like it used to. Nice.
 
Yes I agree, she sounds much better here than on the Motherland album. Some artists seem to attract a lot of negative comments, Natalie is one of them. I can't quite figure out why... let's see...she didn't tear up a picture of the Pope, although these days that would bring an artist kudos {#Roflol}
Wow!  13 comments on one playing.  (Not counting this one.)  Generating strong emotional responses indeed!
brander wrote:
An incredibly ambitious project from Ms. Merchant. 5 years in the making...
A studious, intense work that should be available for rapturous review by those with a similar interest, not used to punish those of us with none. Care to read my four volume exposition on the Cretaceous bar sand trapping trend exhibited in the Wilcox formation?

Coming from a region which patented fiddle and accordion molestation, I can say this comes pretty close to some serious patents violation.
Wow. I can't express how awful I think this is.
Never was much of a natalie fan and this hasn't done a thing to change that.  {#Yawn}
Not working for me: kind of out of place....    
i like this one a lot more than that pseudo-reggae song from the same album that was playing the other day!
as if her other stuff wasn't bad enough.... I feel like going to the Russian Circus

hummmmm......I don't like it .....love natalie..but not this


 govna wrote:
this song should never, ever be played again.

Does she have young children? Doing inner child work? Recently suffered brain trauma? {#Think}
IS "over the hills and far away" a Zep referance?
Wow, her voice sounds like it used to. Nice.
I'm really enjoying this new disc.  It is worth a listen.
I hate doing this...
But I almost thought this was "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin.

"La la la la..."

Not in a bad way.




An incredibly ambitious project from Ms. Merchant. 5 years in the making...

Different. Interesting. Original.


 dexev wrote:
Not sure how long I have until it starts to annoy me, but it's certainly better than the other song we've been hearing from this album.

And is it just me, or is Natalie starting to sound a bit like Tori, voice-wise?
 
it's you
 ick wrote:
Another stinker!
 
What is it with you guys? You do not recognize good folk with an international twist when you hear it? Shame on you!

 

Not sure how long I have until it starts to annoy me, but it's certainly better than the other song we've been hearing from this album.

And is it just me, or is Natalie starting to sound a bit like Tori, voice-wise?
 ick wrote:
Another stinker!