Running Bear
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| “Running Bear” | ||
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Running Bear by Johnny Preston
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| Single by Johnny Preston | ||
| Length | 2:39 | |
| Label | Mercury Records | |
| Producer | Bill Hall | |
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"Running Bear" is a song written by J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by Richardson and George Jones, and it was #1 on January 18 to February 1, 1960.
Richardson was a friend of Preston's and offered "Running Bear" to him after hearing him perform in a club. Preston recorded the song at the Gold Star Studios in Houston, Texas in 1958. The session's producer was Bill Hall with Preston on vocals, Link Davis on saxophone. Richardson, Hall, and Jones performed the song's Indian chants.
Preston was signed to Mercury Records, and "Running Bear" was released in August 1959, seven months after Richardson's death in the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly. The song also reached #1 in the UK in 1960.
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[edit] Plot
"Running Bear" tells the story of Running Bear, a "young Indian brave", and Little White Dove, an "Indian maid", who fall in love with each other on first sight. The two are separated by two factors:
- Their tribes' hatred of each other. Each hailed from one of the two tribes, which were at war with each other ("Their tribes fought with each other / So their love could never be.")
- A raging river, which also serves as a metaphor for their other separation.
The two, desiring to be together despite their obstacles and the risks for navigating the river, dive into the raging river to unite. After sharing a passionate kiss, they are pulled down by the swift current and drown. The lyrics tell the rest: "Now they'll always be together / In their happy hunting ground."
[edit] Artists
- Johnny Preston had success with "Running Bear" in the 1960s.
- Sonny James also had a country hit with his recording of the song in 1969, reaching No. 1.
- The Guess Who included a cover of the song on their 1972 album Rockin'.
- A live version by punk band Stiff Little Fingers appeared as a B-side on their 1980 single "At The Edge". The track was recorded in Aberdeen in October 1979.
[edit] Succession
[edit] Johnny Preston version
| Preceded by "El Paso" by Marty Robbins |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single January 18, 1960 |
Succeeded by "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning |
| Preceded by "Poor Me " by Adam Faith |
UK number one single 17 March 1960 for (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "My Old Man's a Dustman" by Lonnie Donegan |
[edit] Sonny James version
| Preceded by "Singing My Song" by Tammy Wynette |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single by Sonny James June 14-June 28, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Statue of a Fool" by Jack Greene |
[edit] References
- Dixon, Barry. Johnny Preston. The Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-04-13.
