Lyrics Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens

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 a' 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 auta 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 tuned about

He looked to the sky and began to shout,

Chorus;

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

You delivered Joana, 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

Ya, 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 n' 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