[Disclaimer: this song is from a time when racial terms and caricatures were used for entertainment. Sheet Music Singer does not condone hatred. The song is presented in original form as part of music history.]
words and music by George Fairman, 1904
purchased by Joe Arzonia
piano arrangement by Arthur Longbrake
This comic song has been used as a country song and fiddle tune. The setting of a preacher on Sunday was added after the song was written for extra laughs.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. A preacher went out a-hunting, ’twas on one Sunday morn
Of course it was against his religion, but he took his gun along
He shot himself some very fine quail, and one big measly hare
And on his way returning home, he met a great big grizzly bear
The bear marched out in the middle of the road
And he waltzed to the coon you see
The coon got so excited that he climbed a persimmon tree
The bear sat down upon the ground
And the coon climbed out on a limb
He cast his eyes to the God in the Skies
And these words he said to him
Chorus
Oh Lord, didn’t you deliver Daniel from the Lion’s den?
Also deliver Jonah from the belly of the whale and then
Three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
So the good books do declare
Now Lord if you can’t help me
For goodness sake don’t you help that bear
2. This coon stayed up in that tree, I think it was all night
He says, “Oh Lord” if you don’t help that bear
Then you’ll see one awful fight
Just about then the limb let go
And the coon came tumbling down
You should have seen him get his razor out
Before he struck the ground
He hit the ground cutting right and left
‘Tis true he put up a very game fight
Just then the bear hugged this coon
He squeezed him a little too tight
The coon he then lost his razor, but the bear held on with a vim
He cast his eyes to the God in the skies
And once more he said to him
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Sung here by Fred Feild: