Reed, Jerry - The Preacher And The Bear Lyrics






Yeah here come the preacher ha ha
Well 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 him a mess of mighty fine quail and one old scraggly hare
But on the way home he crossed the path of a great big grizzly bear

Well the bear got down looked 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

Yeah look out preacher
Well about that time the limb broke off and the preacher come a tumblin' down
Had a straight razor out of his pocket about 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 just a flyin' from left to right

Well at first they was up and then they was down
The preacher and the bear runnin' round and round
The bear he roared and the the preacher he groaned
Havin' a tough time a holdin' his own
He said Lord if I get outta here alive
Then 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
Said Lord won't you give me 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 old Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den...

No get outta here bear
Lord do somethin' for me and forget that bear
I'm tellin' ya he's big look at the size of that thing whoa
Get what are you get offa this tree
Lord help me
Are you kiddin' me with the size of that bear





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Reed, Jerry The Preacher And The Bear Comments
  1. m.... h....

    Jerry Reed is a very talented and excellent singer and songwriter

  2. T.... W....

    I am not religious, but the preacher done made a mistake and is getting a lesson

  3. M.... K....

    What’s the matter with you boy?
    Ya too s-s-stupid to do what coach tells ya?

  4. J.... S....

    The greatest days on earth are over.

  5. m.... ....

    LOOKOUT PREACHA!

  6. m.... ....

    Dude is as talented as johnny cash but lesser known than me

  7. A.... ....

    Goddamn jeez, Jerry's lyrics are rough n tough all the time. Gotta love him!

  8. D.... W....

    Brilliant picker, singer, and writer. Check out his duets with Glen Campbell.

  9. T.... P....

    Reed - Fastest Claw with a Golden Jaw.

  10. Q.... ....

    this is so good UwU

  11. Q.... ....

    goode song

  12. r.... ....

    I haven't heard this song in a very long time. Probably have it on a 45 somewhere.

  13. P.... S....

    My first day on the job at the FBI I was on the way down to headquarters when my personal cell phone rings. It was 1995 and cell phones were still a luxury. I managed to afford one by using it as a professional driver (taxis, sedans). I was ordered to an active scene by my new superior (or whomever it was). When I tired to protest I was snapped at and told that I had a cell phone so that if I knew WHAT WAS GOOD FOR ME I would get my ass down there and report. I am not at liberty to discuss further the events that followed at this time but I will say this; I handled my ass because I could and was decorated for it. I had no official training time, no service weapon, no vest... all I had was the 22 cal target shooting rifle for sport that I had promised my parents I would never fire at another human being. They fucked me by putting me right at the scene of an active investigation for buying a fancy gadget. Now I'm being harassed by police following all kinds of crazy "leads" about me. I need a fucking lawyer.🦊🖕

  14. D.... H....

    Awesome guitar player and the 1st and most original rapper of all time

  15. C.... D....

    That's what I call Rap.

  16. p.... F....

    had a 45 with it from about 1924 wish i knew were it went

  17. y.... ....

    wonderful

  18. T.... W....

    ...and the bear said.. lord thank you for the food i am about to receive/

  19. S.... R....

    Bears: You can't outrun, out climb, or out swim them. Say your prayers cuz you're about to be a meal, lol

    S.... R....

    well the only bear you cant out climb is the black bear. Grizzly, brown, Kodiak and polar bears don't have the right shaped claw and are too heavy to climb

  20. H.... E....

    No its 3 god damn bald eagles.....they ben spray painting hair

  21. E.... H....

    Love just Jerry reed he was the best

  22. a.... s....

    What a GREAT SONG! There was ONLY ONE Jerry Reed!

  23. J.... H....

    I love Jerry but this is a Blind boy fuller piece from 1925- 35.Master Fuller is a little hard to follow . I believe they are of the same caliber though.Both masters of the fret and storytellers

  24. P.... B....

    I love this

  25. t.... ....

    My mom use to sing this to us when we were kids, love this song.

  26. J.... E....

    the first time I heard this album was about 47 years ago I think , he the man

  27. B.... W....

    Look, I understand why the Preacher was carrying a gun, but why was he carrying a razor? Sounds to me like he was expecting a fight.

  28. m.... ....

    *RIP Jerry: your warning is still being played - you did **_not_** die in vain.*

  29. k.... k....

    Such a good song in red dead redemption 2.

  30. L.... H....

    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"

    L.... H....

    Lord Hinkie Thank you Lord

  31. E.... E....

    Jerry Reed the Snowman is the absolute best his Pickin, His laugh and cool break into monologue while picking away. If you got the blues or sad listen to the Snowman and you'll be Laughing and Yippie Skippy My favorite for feeling good music

  32. M.... D....

    Had this on a 45 when I was a kid. Would listen to everyday, just loved it. RIP Jerry, thanks for sharing your talent with us.

    M.... D....

    Me too! RCA flip side of Amos Moses!

  33. R.... A....

    Yah preacher HA HA ABBA YAHWEH

  34. a.... ....

    This song is awesome.. my name is Jonah and my brothers is Daniel..

  35. B.... ....

    It always amazed me the energy and enthusiasm he displayed and had in his playing and music

  36. J.... ....

    Any German?

  37. R.... D....

    I laughed out loud at this!!! Good Good Stuff!!!

  38. F.... A....

    Jerry reed is a god

  39. s.... T....

    Great tune
    (F* off with the LGBT FEMINIST commercial)

  40. C.... E....

    jerry reed best man ever

  41. D.... L....

    Love Jerry reed, but, if you get a chance try Phil Harris's original version.

  42. H.... N....

    I bought this 45 when i was 9 and staying at my grandparents for the weekend.Well wouldn't ya know it,my grandmother wanted to hear this song over and over andeven in her last years she would still bring it up on ocassion..lol

  43. R.... ....

    Amos Moses could trap the biggest, the meanest grizzly bear, and just use one hand.

  44. E.... M....

    Pffffft he wants to eat a Bear? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

  45. T.... .....

    The tune actually goes back before World War One. Recorded in 1905-06 and later by recording pioneer Arthur Collins. Would have been a vaudeville staple which like many of those tunes went into folk tradition. Phil Harris around World War II brings it back to popularity and it bangs around in various genres after that. Jerry's version is great.

  46. R.... ....

    Scared to death turned about!

  47. D.... F....

    Man this guy was the Bestest.

  48. Y.... W....

    This is my favourite version altho the original is great to

  49. Y.... W....

    This is my favourite version altho the original is great to

    Y.... W....

    Who sang the original??

    Y.... W....

    Arthur Francis Collins, a ragtime artist from the turn of the 20th century; this was his biggest hit - and big it was, selling around 2 million copies

  50. O.... M....

    Man, nobody could sing so awesome as Jerry. I especially love it everytime he does those small laughs or "YEAH!" in his songs. This song is SO awesome.

  51. J.... w....

    Oh yes indeed,MR. REED!!

  52. E.... S....

    rad good stuff

  53. A.... W....

    Who else is getting fucking sick of that candy fish commercial?

  54. C.... C....

    IPhones are amazing

  55. a.... g....

    Man he sure can play. 😎

    a.... g....

    Later on, when Jerry started making movies with Burt Reynolds, Burt was quoted as saying that Jerry could pick guitar so quick - "he could thread the needle on a sewing machine - while it was running".

    a.... g....

    @onethumbpicker haha thats awesome

  56. B.... ....

    Jerry Reed! We love you Snowman!

  57. p.... ....

    This is everything jack "white" wants to be

  58. e.... ....

    are you kidding me with the size of that bear.

    e.... ....

    I'm tellin ya, HE'S BIG.

    e.... ....

    Are you trying to get people to wipe a fake hair off of their screens? You bamboozled me you scoundrel!

    e.... ....

    I tried to wipe it off too hahaaa

  59. h.... ....

    in the version I heard the
    "preachers suspenders gave away
    and knocked that bar 10 feet away".
    love this song.
    my dad sang it to me playing the ukulele

    h.... ....

    Take a listen to the Phil Harris version, the original.

  60. B.... ....

    the original is STILL the best although jerry was the man

  61. m.... s....

    crazy jerry

  62. T.... C....

    Hey Lord, if you can't help me, for goodness sakes don't help that bear... he's BIG! Just look at him!

  63. P.... M....

    very good song

  64. C.... g....

    This is like Chuck Norris plus bear grills put together

  65. s.... ....

    Best version by far. Ol Jerry's pickin in heaven

  66. J.... H....

    I remember my preacher uncle singing this to his own guitar.  Thanks.

  67. A.... ....

    Ray Stevens did a version of it, too. It's on his 2012 box set "The Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music". In the box set's booklet, Ray singles out the Phil Harris rendition. Ray recorded a couple of other novelty songs made popular by Phil Harris elsewhere in that box set.

  68. A.... W....

    Correction old as at least World War II

    A.... W....

    Try 1907 at least. Arthur Collins recorded it in 1907. Different lyrics, slightly. I like this version better. 

  69. A.... W....

    This song is as old as at last World War II when I first head it.  Not nearly as neat a version as Jerry Reed's, but on an old hard 33 size 78 rpm record.  Nice to find Jerry did it.

  70. T.... F....

    What a great songwriter. but I was waiting for a punchline ending to knock me on my ass. I wanted to hear God's Old testament-themed reply why the preacher would get eaten. but that's just me. Jerry Reed rocks.

    T.... F....

    He didn't write it, it was written well before he was born, but he did make it better. 

  71. j.... E....

    Jerry Reed has been an entertainment personality musician favorite for many many years and liked or loved for as many.  He can make happy and can make you smile.  Who else could be any better?

    j.... E....

    Sr. Gault , I do agree.

  72. g.... b....

    Love it but Mac wiseman has a great verison of this song on you tube

  73. S.... ....

    Goddamn, bears are fucking scary.

    S.... ....

    don't cus

  74. D.... A....

    love it

  75. M.... L....

    Hell yeah to the 426 likes

  76. M.... L....

    You 7 people and the 8th suck.

  77. L.... V....

    you me both :) 19 Hyar

  78. J.... B....

    It's called "the talkin' blues". It's a thing.

  79. L.... N....

    "He's Big!"

  80. d.... ....

    "The Ranger and the Guai" - Has a nice ring to it.

  81. D.... ....

    Here is the BEST version I like Jerry but he messed it up bad. Sam Chatmon: The Preacher and the Bear (1978)

  82. b.... k....

    Good stuff.

  83. d.... ....

    for heaven sakes, don't you help that bear!!!!!! Awesome!!

  84. b.... ....

    Jerry!!! Help!!! We're surrounded by Nikki and little Wayne . Music has no talent any more!!

  85. R.... H....

    Well don't give up!!!

  86. s.... ....

    Jerry was one of the most underrated & unappreciated musicians from the 20th century. He was in a class of his own.

    s.... ....

    I like him as much as I like any of the other musicians from this time,

  87. T.... ....

    how do you think I feel? my generation sucks

  88. J.... F....

    True. I didn't fully appreciate until recently turning 26

  89. s.... ....

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW 19 and i feel ya LOVE THIS STUFF

  90. T.... ....

    Way funky, brotha.. haha

  91. M.... C....

    This is Funky Country lol!

  92. W.... v....

    Jerry Reed was not only one of the great country "comedy" singers, he was also one of the BEST "pickers" in Nashville who backed up many country stars before he became famous in his own right.

    and that's in addition to his film career esp the three "Smokey and the Bandit" movies with Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason

    W.... v....

    The third of the Smokey and the Bandit movie's sucked