Of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll band called 'The Shades', before recording his No. 1 hit single "Running Bear." The song was written in 1958 by J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who had died the previous year in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Preston quickly followed up with a minor hit called "Cradle of Love," and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.
"Cradle of Love" however, was a big hit in Athens, Greece in the early 60s.
Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. He also performed at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri. In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown.
Johnny Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Preston died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
Running Bear
Johnny Preston Lyrics
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On the other side of the river stood his lovely Indian maid
Little white dove was-a her name, such a lovely sight to see
But their tribes fought with each other so their love could never be
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love big as the sky
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love that couldn't die
He couldn't swim the raging river 'cause the river was too wide
He couldn't reach little white dove, waiting on the other side
In the moonlight he could see her blowing kisses 'cross the waves
Her little heart was beating faster, waiting there for her brave
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love big as the sky
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love that couldn't die
Runnin' bear dove in the water, little white dove did the same
And they swam out to each other through the swirling stream they came
As their hands touched and their lips met, the ragin' river pulled them down
Now they'll always be together in that happy hunting ground
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love big as the sky
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love that couldn't die
The lyrics to Johnny Preston's song "Running Bear" tell a poignant tale of love and tragedy between two young Native Americans. Running Bear, a brave, stands on one side of a river while his beloved, a young maiden named Little White Dove, stands on the opposite bank. Despite their love for one another, their respective tribes are at war and they are unable to be together. The lyrics convey the depth of their love for each other, describing Running Bear's love for Little White Dove as "big as the sky" and "a love that couldn't die."
The song continues to describe the couple's desperate attempt to be together. Running Bear tries to swim across the raging river to Little White Dove, but it is too wide. The two lovers can only gaze at each other across the water, blowing kisses and yearning for each other. Finally, in the moonlight, they both dive into the water and swim towards each other. Just as they reach for each other, the swirling water pulls them down, and they drown together. The final line of the song offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that they will be reunited in the "happy hunting ground" of the afterlife.
Overall, "Running Bear" is a tragic and moving story of the power of love and the consequences of tribal conflict. The lyrics are simple yet emotional, effectively conveying the deep love between Running Bear and Little White Dove and the tragedy of their untimely deaths.
Line by Line Meaning
On the banks of the river stood runnin' bear, young Indian brave
Runnin' bear, a young Indian brave, stood on the banks of the river
On the other side of the river stood his lovely Indian maid
His lovely Indian maid stood on the other side of the river
Little white dove was-a her name, such a lovely sight to see
Her name was Little White Dove and she was a beautiful sight to behold
But their tribes fought with each other so their love could never be
However, their tribes were at war with each other, making their love impossible
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love big as the sky
Runnin' bear loved Little White Dove with a love that was immense like the sky
Runnin' bear loved little white dove with a love that couldn't die
The love that Runnin' Bear had for Little White Dove was endless and would never fade away
He couldn't swim the raging river 'cause the river was too wide
Unfortunately, Runnin' Bear couldn't swim across the raging river as it was too wide
He couldn't reach little white dove, waiting on the other side
That prevented him from reaching Little White Dove, who was waiting on the other side
In the moonlight he could see her blowing kisses 'cross the waves
However, he could see her blowing kisses across the waves under the beautiful moonlight
Her little heart was beating faster, waiting there for her brave
Little White Dove's heart was beating faster as she was waiting for her brave Runnin' Bear
Runnin' bear dove in the water, little white dove did the same
Runnin' Bear dove into the water, and Little White Dove followed him into the water too
And they swam out to each other through the swirling stream they came
Finally, they were able to swim towards each other through the swirling stream
As their hands touched and their lips met, the ragin' river pulled them down
As they finally met and touched hands, the river pulled them under
Now they'll always be together in that happy hunting ground
Now they would always be together in a happy afterlife
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J. P. RICHARDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind