ME AND THE BEAR
(J. Burnette)
JOHNNY BURNETTE (Freedom 44011, 1959)

Well, I took myself on a hunt
It was on last Saturday morn'
Of course it was outta season
But I took my gun along
I shot myself some very fine quail
And one little measly hare
And on my way returning home
I met a great big grizzly bear
Well, the bear walked out in the middle of the road
Stared a hole through me
I got so excited, I climbed a tall oak tree
The bear sat down upon the ground
And I climbed out on a limb
I cast my eyes to the Lord in the sky
And these words I said to him

Oh Lord, now you delivered Daniel
You brought him from the lion's den
Also delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then
All the children from the fiery furnace
The good book do declare
Now Lord, if you won't help me
For goodness sakes don't you help that bear

Now mister bear...
You ain't gonna go chasin' me down that dirt road
Can't you haul in food and do your stuff
Whenever you pass here tomorrow
If I let you have this one little bitty bite
Will you please go on and let me alone
If you don't I'm gonna stay right here

Well, I stayed up in that tall oak tree
I think it was all night
I know if that bear got his paws on me
We'd have a terrible fight
But that time the limb broke loose
And I came tumblin' down
I faked to the right and he cut to the left
And we went 'round and 'round

Oh Lord, now you delivered Daniel
You brought him from the lion's den
Also delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then
All the children from the fiery furnace
The good book do declare
Now Lord, if you won't help me
For goodness sakes don't you help that bear
For goodness sakes don't you help that bear
For goodness sakes don't you help that bear
For goodness sakes don't you help that bear