The Preacher and the Bear Songtext
von Rufus Thomas

A preacher, he went hunting
It was on a Sunday morn
Course, it was against his religion
He took his gun along
Shot some very fine quail
One little measly hare
On his way returning home
He met a great big grizzly bear

Bear walked around, stood on the ground
He walked straight to the preacher, you see
Preacher got so excited
Ah, then he run up a sycamore tree
Bear walked around, stood on the ground
Preacher crawled out on a limb
Cast his eye to the Lord above
And these are the words he said to Him


He said, "Oh Lord
Oh Lord, Lord"
You remember Daniel in the lion′s den
Samson strong as a hundred men
Hebrew children in the furnace of fire
David when he killed Goliath
The good book do declare
Oh Lord, if You don't help me
Don′t You help this big black bear

The preacher stayed up in that tree
I think it was all night
Said, "Oh Lord, if You don't help me
See that we're both alright"
Just about that time the limb let go
The preacher come tumbling down
You should′ve seen him getting that razor out
Before he struck the ground

He struck the ground both left and right
He put up a very good fight
′Bout that time the bear hugged the preacher
And smote him a little too tight
Preacher lost the razor
Bear held on with the vim
Cast his eye to the Lord above
Once more prayed to Him


He said, "Oh Lord
Oh Lord
Oh Lord
Oh, oh Lord"
You remember Daniel in the lion's den
Samson strong as a hundred men
Hebrew children in the furnace of fire
David when he killed Goliath
The good book do declare
Oh, oh, oh Lord
If You, if You, if You don′t help me
Put a muzzle on this big black bear

(Oh preacher, preacher, help the bear)
Yeah, oh he's hurting me
(Oh preacher, preacher, help the bear)
He′s hurting me, he's hurting me
(Oh preacher, preacher, help the bear)
Somebody help me, somebody help me
(Oh preacher, preacher, help the bear)
Somebody help me, somebody help me
(Oh preacher, preacher, help the bear)
Help me, somebody