Arthur Little Red Bear

From the Album Songs for My Grandchildren

Courageous and noble, Arthur Little Red Bear.
The same as my father with golden red hair.
When he comes of age, fathers beware.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear.

He wakes up each morning with laughter and screams
from beneath a woolen blanket of green.
There’s no time to waste, “Wake up!” says he.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear

On March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day,
we gather and feast in a joyous parade.
To celebrate Arthur’s birthday.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear

He plays with his food that falls to the floor
covered with peas, on out the door,
where the whole neighborhood, Arthur they adore.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear

Green ribbons and shamrocks, unconquered soul.
Gentle and kind, yet so strong and bold.
Now getting too big for Grandpa’ to hold.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear.

From building log cabins to fish to sell,
his two great-great-grandfathers had stories to tell.
Their first name he carries, he carries them well.
The pride of our family, Arthur Little Red Bear

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 2021 BMI

February 21, 2022

Our grandson, Arthur, was born on St. Patrick’s Day, 2021. He’s named after my grandfather Arthur Veach who quit school in the 6th grade to work in the coal mines of Missouri after his father died to help support the family. Grandpa’ later worked his way north into Iowa peddling fish, where he established the East Side Fish Market in Des Moines, Iowa. We all learned the value of hard work by working alongside Grandpa’ growing up. Grandson Arthur is also named after his father Ryan’s grandfather, who was a pioneer and built log cabins. The Gaelic and Celtic roots to the name Arthur is Bear. My father’s name was Harlan Keith Long, but everyone called him Red because of the color of his hair. They say for a child to have red hair it must be in their genes from both sides of the family and that’s exactly what baby Arthur has. That’s why we call him, Arthur Little Red Bear.

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