Papa Bear (song)

"Papa Bear" is a novelty song written by George Wilson and Charles Grean, and originally performed by Don Howard. It was released in 1958 and became a minor hit, reaching the Billboard charts.

The song utilizes a spoken-word narrative style, where the speaker recounts a humorous and exaggerated tale about a bear hunt. The speaker claims to have been hunting with his father ("Papa Bear") who possesses seemingly superhuman strength and bravery. The narrative involves increasingly improbable encounters with various animals, all defeated by Papa Bear's prowess.

Musically, the song is simple and features a lighthearted arrangement, emphasizing the comedic nature of the lyrics. Sound effects, such as roars and animal noises, are often incorporated to enhance the storytelling.

"Papa Bear" is considered a novelty song due to its focus on humor and its reliance on a nonsensical narrative. Its appeal lies in its lightheartedness and its exaggeration of traditional hunting stories. While not a major hit, it has maintained a degree of recognition as a classic novelty song from the late 1950s. The song's popularity has led to its inclusion in various novelty song compilations and its occasional airplay on oldies radio stations.