<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.
The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.
The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.
Preacher & The Bear
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was against his religion, but he took a shotgun along
He got himself a mess o' 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 oughta 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 turned about
He looked to the sky and began to shout
"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den
You delivered Jonah 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"
Yea, 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 an' 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
"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den
You delivered Jonah 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"
The Gospel song "Preacher and the Bear" tells the story of a preacher who goes against his religion and decides to go hunting on a Sunday morning. On his way back home, he encounters a great big grizzly bear who looks ready to charge. The preacher runs for his life and climbs up a tree where he realizes that he has no way to defend himself against the bear who is waiting for him at the bottom of the tree. The preacher then calls upon the Lord to save him and reminds Him of all the other times He has saved people in the Bible. The preacher then jumps down from the tree and engages in a fierce fight with the bear using his razor. After a long fight, the preacher is able to flee back up the tree and again calls upon the Lord for help. The song ends with the preacher asking the Lord for one more chance and to never help the bear.
The story that the song tells is a humorous tale that is used to convey a religious message. The story of the preacher and the bear can be interpreted as a metaphor for our own lives. The preacher represents us, and the bear represents various challenges and obstacles that we face in life. The song is a reminder that when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we should turn to God for help and deliverance, just as the preacher did.
Line by Line Meaning
The preacher went out a huntin', it was on one Sunday morn'
The preacher went hunting on a Sunday morning, which goes against his religious beliefs.
It was against his religion, but he took a shotgun along
He knew that is was against his religious beliefs, but still took his shotgun with him.
He got himself a mess o' mighty fine quail and one old scraggly hare
The preacher caught some quail and a hare while he was out hunting.
And on the way home he crossed the path of a great big grizzly bear
While the preacher was on his way home, he encountered a huge grizzly bear.
Well the bear got down lookin' ready to charge
The bear got into a position indicating that it was going to charge.
The preacher never seen nothin' quite that large
The preacher had never seen anything that large before.
They looked each other right smack in the eye
The bear and the preacher made direct eye contact.
Didn't take that preacher long to say bye
The preacher was scared and left the scene quickly.
The preacher, he run till he spotted a tree
The preacher ran until he saw a tree he could climb.
He said, "Up in that tree's where I oughta be"
He thought being up the tree was the best idea he had.
By the time that bear made a grab for him
The bear had enough time to try and grab him while he was climbing the tree.
The preacher was a sittin' on top a that limb
The preacher managed to climb up the tree and sit on a limb.
Scared to death, he turned about
The preacher was terrified and turning around.
He looked to the sky and began to shout
He looked up to the sky and shouted for help from the Lord.
"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den
The preacher was asking the Lord for help, citing examples of previous deliverances in the Bible like Daniel from the lion's den.
You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then
He also mentioned Jonah being saved from the whale.
The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
He referenced the story of the Hebrew children saved from the fiery furnace.
So the good books do declare
He stated this in affirmation that the stories from the Bible relieving people in times of need are truth.
Hey lord, if you can't help me,
The preacher requested help if it was within reason.
For goodness sake don't help that bear"
He requested the Lord not to help the bear, if he was unable to help him.
Yea, look out preacher!
This phrase tells the preacher to beware of the dangers around him.
Well, about that time the limb broke off
At that moment, the limb the preacher was sitting on broke.
And the preacher came tumblin' down
The preacher fell down from the tree.
Had a straight razor out of his pocket
The preacher had a straight razor with him inside his pocket.
By the time he lit on the ground
The preacher landed on the ground.
He landed on his feet right in front a that bear
He landed on his feet right in front of the bear.
And Lord, what an awful fight
The preacher and the bear started fighting, which was a terrible situation.
The preacher and the bear and the razor and the hair
Both the bear and preacher were fighting with their hair and the preacher's razor.
Flyin' from left to right
They were both exchanging blows, with hair and razor flying around everywhere.
Well first they was up and then they was down
The fight between the preacher and the bear seemed to be hanging in the balance - there were moments when they were both up, and moments when they were both down.
The preacher and the bear runnin' round an' round
The bear and the preacher were running around each other in circles.
The bear he roared, and the the preacher he groaned
The bear roared, while the preacher made a groaning sound.
He was havin' a tough time holdin' his own!
The preacher was struggling to keep up with the bear.
He said, "Lord if I get out a here alive
The preacher, realizing the danger of the situation prayed to the Lord to save him.
To the good book I'll abide
No more huntin' on the Sabbath day
He promised that he would follow the word of God from the Bible, including not hunting on holy days.
Come Sunday I'm headin' to the church to pray"
He planned to go to church to pray to God as soon as Sunday arrived.
Up to the heavens the preacher glanced
The preacher looked up to the heavens.
He said, "Lord won't you give me just one more chance"
The preacher is requesting for God to give him another chance.
So the preacher got away, he looked around
The preacher finally escaped the bear and looked around.
Seen a tree where he'd be safe and sound
The preacher saw a tree where he knew he would be safe.
Jumped on a limb, turned about
He jumped on a limb and turned around.
Looked to the sky and began to shout
The preacher looked up to the sky and continued to shout for help from the Lord.
"Hey lord, you delivered Daniel from the bottom of the lion's den
The preacher repeated his prayer asking God for deliverance.
You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then
He once again made reference to the story of Jonah being saved from the whale.
The Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
He once again referenced the story of the Hebrew children saved from the fiery furnace.
So the good books do declare
He stated once again because it is written in the holy book, it must be true.
Hey lord, if you can't help me,
The preacher solicited God's help once again.
For goodness sake don't help that bear"
He again pleaded with God not to help the bear, if he was unable to help him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RUFUS THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AltoonaYourPiano
It's amazing how many modern genres of music have roots in religious music, the first rap song is a gospel song and so are some of the oldest rock and roll songs.
@HerrinSchadenfreude
The lyrics have nothing to do with Rapper's Delight but the cadence is almost identical. Wow. I LOVE this song and the harmonizing and cadence in the chorus is awesome
@datnyugga
Kascha K The melody is the same but some of Rapper's Delight lyrics come from Grandmaster Caz.
@oreally8605
Looks like Crappers delight STOLE from Ggq
@sassyears9573
And this was not unusual - this was a recognized style back in the day.
@DannyJustiniano
This is amazing, not only is it literally a rap from 1937, but since pop music today includes rapping, it's also like today's pop.
@tabascocat5102
Heard this on Angel radio. Thought I'd come and search for it to see if others thought the same about it being proto-rap. You did!
@nigelsaunders3573
Beautiful song; great harmonies and the lyrics are smashingly rhythmic...definitely very rap-like. Didn't Moby sample this for one of his songs?
@RobertoGinsburg
IS RAP...Only that not on the Hip Hop context.
@2nvsolo451
This is so DOPE. This is for the culture