"The Preacher and the Bear" is an American popular song, originally a "coon song". The lyrics recount the story of a church pastor who appeals to God after being treed by a grizzly bear while out hunting on the Sabbath.[1] He falls out of the tree and has to fight the bear.[2] Various versions have been recorded.[3]
George Fairman wrote the song.[4] Sheet music was published for it by Capitol Music House of Columbus, Ohio in 1904.[5] Publisher Arthur Longbrake composed the song using the pseudonym Joe Arzonia.[6] Ragtime artist Arthur Francis Collins recorded the song in 1905 and it became a huge hit, selling over a million records.[1] He continued performing and recording the song for various records over several decades. Sheet music for the song was also published in 1905 by Joseph Morris.[7] The song was later recorded by various artists including Phil Harris in 1947,[1] The Jubalaires, and Jerry Reed on his album Georgia Sunshine. It was also recorded by the Golden Gate Quartet.[8]
The University of Arkansas' Ozark Folksong Collection has a 1962 recording from Jasper, Arkansas, of an a capella version with racial slurs included in the lyrics.[9]