This is my grandfathers favorite song. He used to sing it to me all the time when I was a kid. He knows every word. I found this video several years ago and played it for him. He was so happy and now he listens to it on RU-vid almost everyday.
I've heard that when young, unknown musical writer Meredith Wilson was looking for players for his new musical, The Music Man, he offered the title role (Professor Harold Hill) to Phil, who I believe would have made a fantastic Prof. Hill. But Phil turned it down (must have thought, "Who's this guy?"). The part then fell to (equally unknown? . . up and coming? . . both?) Robert Preston, whose career was essentially launched by it. I'm sure Phil would have knocked it out of the park. Bob actually *did.*
he led a band and did public performances, not just records and radio, so he probably knew a few lyrics for his material. i was expecting the version in which the bear says grace
Now a Preacher went out walkin' Twas on one Sunday Morn It was against his religion But he took his gun along He shot himself some mighty fine quail And one little measly Hare But on his way returnin'home He met a great big Grizzly bear. Now the Bear got won in the middle of the road On all fours like a great big toad The Preacher looked at him and started to run The bear right after that Preacher did come They ran and they ran for about a mile Then they both sat down and rested awhile The Preacher got up and started again The bear he started out with more vim They ran and they ran till he spotted a tree Said up on the limb is the place for me Preacher leaped up and he made the limb The bear reached out made a grab for him He pulled himself up and turned about Cast his eyes to the skies and he did shout Oh Lord you delivered Daniel from the lions den Also delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale And then The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace So the Good Book do declare So Lord Lord if you can't help me For goodness sake don't help that bear. Now just about then the limb let go And the Preacher came tumbling down Reached in his pocket pulled his razor out Just before he hit the ground He hit the ground with with an awful bang It was a terrible site The preacher and the bear with the razor in his hair Just a'cuttin' left and right Now they rolled around on the ground The Preacher was up then he was down The bear let out an awful moan Looked like the Preacher was holdin' his own He thought if I get out of here alive By that Good Book I will abide I'll never sin on Sabbath day and Sunday Come I'll pray and pray Then his suspenders gave away And he knocked that bear ten feet away. Preacher got up and made a bound For the tree where he'd be safe and sound Pulled himself up and turned about Cast his eyes to the skies And he did shout. Oh Lord you delivered Daniel from the Lions den Also delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale And then The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace So the Good Book do declare So Lord Lord if you can't help me For goodness sake don't help that bear.
Fabulous job - thanks! Only thing, in line 9, replace "won" with "down" Now the Bear got *down* in the middle of the road BTW, all the online lyrics sites seem to repeat this error. I believe that's because, for the most part, they're one big echo (i.e., plagiarism) chamber.
Don’t you think it’s ironic that this man voiced a bear or other two of them Little John from 1973’s animated classic Robin Hood And Baloo from the jungle book
