TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "Smokey the Bear"

When I was a kid, I loved Smokey the Bear. One of my dad's friends periodically called our house, and my dad would say, "It's for you." I'd get on the phone, and I'd hear this deep voice say, "Skip? This is Smokey the Bear!" That used to thrill me to no end!

To this DAY I'm still not convinced that wasn't the real Smokey.

Smokey even had his own theme song! Which I proudly present to you now...

Smokey the Bear

With a Ranger's hat and shovel 

and a pair of dungarees, 

you will find him in the forest 

always sniffin' at the breeze. 

People stop and pay attention 

when he tells 'em to beware, 

'cause ev'rybody knows that 

he's the Fire Prevention Bear. 

Chorus: 

Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear. 

Prowlin' and a growlin' and a sniffin' the air. 

He can find a fire before it starts to flame. 

That's why they call him Smokey, 

That was how he got his name. 

You can take a tip from Smokey 

that there's nothin' like a tree. 

'cause they're good for kids to climb in 

and they're beautiful to see, 

you just have to look around you 

and you'll find it's not a joke, 

to see what you'd be missin' 

if they all went up in smoke.

Chorus 

You can camp upon his doorstep 

and he'll make you feel at home; 

You can run and hunt and ramble 

anywhere you care to roam. 

He will let you take his honey 

and pretend he's not so smart, 

but don't you harm his trees 

for he's a Ranger in his heart.

Chorus 

If you've ever seen the forest 

when a fire is running wild, 

and you love the things within it 

like a mother loves her child, 

then you know why Smokey tells you 

when he sees you passing through, 

'Remember...please be careful.... 

its the least that you can do.' 

Chorus