Music Hall

 

 

Edison Gold Moulded Record - 9000

Patent 1902

 

THE PREACHER AND THE BEAR

 

The preacher went out a huntin', it was on one Sunday morn'

It was against his religion, but he took a shotgun along

He got himself a mess o' mighty fine quail and one old scraggly hare

And on the way home he crossed the path of a great big grizzly bear

Well the bear got down lookin' ready to charge

The preacher never seen nothin' quite that large

They looked each other right smack in the eye

Didn't take that preacher long to say bye

 

The preacher, he run till he spotted a tree

He said, "Up in that tree's where I oughta be"

By the time that bear made a grab for him

The preacher was a sittin' on top a that limb

Scared to death, he turned about

He looked to the sky and began to shout

 

"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den

You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then

The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace

So the good books do declare

Hey lord, if you can't help me,

For goodness sake don't help that bear"

 

Yea, look out preacher!

 

Well, about that time the limb broke off

And the preacher came tumblin' down

Had a straight razor out of his pocket

By the time he lit on the ground

He landed on his feet right in front a that bear

And Lord, what an awful fight

The preacher and the bear and the razor and the hair

Flyin' from left to right

 

Well first they was up and then they was down

The preacher and the bear runnin' round an' round

The bear he roared, and the the preacher he groaned

He was havin' a tough time holdin' his own!

He said, "Lord if I get out a here alive

To the good book I'll abide

No more huntin' on the Sabbath day

Come Sunday I'm headin' to the church to pray"

 

Up to the heavens the preacher glanced

He said, "Lord won't you give me just one more chance"

So the preacher got away, he looked around

Seen a tree where he'd be safe and sound

Jumped on a limb, turned about

Looked to the sky and began to shout

 

"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den

You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then

The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace

So the good books do declare

Hey lord, if you can't help me,

For goodness sake don't help that bear"

 

(Popular/Joe Arzonia)