Meet the Merchant - Clark Aboud

What's it like there outside With the living, with the living Here I've found a place I can hide From the living, from the living Because I don't care to stay with the living Oh, the bottle has been to me My closest friend, my worst enemy Full of flavor, I walked a fine line Squandered it all and wasted my time And I don't stand a chance among the living For the lovers I've gambled and lost Count my mistakes, whatever the cost I'll go off, I'll make myself scarce Oh, come tomorrow You won't find me here 'Cause I don't care to stay with the living I don't think I'll remain with the living And I don't care to stay with the living No, I don't care to stay

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.

The Man in the wilderness He asked of me How many strawberries grow in the salt sea? And I answered him, as I thought good As many a ship sails in the wood The Man in the wilderness He asked me, Why His hare could swim and his pig could fly? And I answered him, as I thought best They were both born in a cuckoo's nest The Man in the wilderness Asked me to tell Tell all the sands in the sea and I counted them well And with the grain, well, not one more I answered him, you go make sure Said with the grain, well, not one more I answered him, you go make sure I answered him, you... you go make sure