The Congleton Bear

by John Tams

The Wakes coming on and the bear he took ill We tried him with potion, with brandy and pill He died in his sleep at the eve of the Wakes The cause, it was said, was strong ale and sweet cakes

Chorus: The cheeses of Cheshire are famed, but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear Congleton Bear, Congleton Bear They sold the Church Bible to buy a new bear

He'd served the town well and he's served town true To lie him in state was the least they could do The old bear was dead, a successor they'd need A new bear was wanted, and that at great speed

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Now a parson is useful in times of great need And imbibed with strong porter he quickly agreed The parson, his Bible he gave then and there We sold it in Nantwich to buy a new bear.

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The new bear, a she-bear, was toast of the town To music and laughter she danced up and down So loudly the cheering would waken the dead It caused the old bear for to rise from his bed

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Pills, potion and brandy induced a deep trance And refreshed by the music he began for to dance He danced down the road causing many a gaze Word quickly spread that the old bear was raised

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He rolled his dark eye as he spied the she-bear And with an embrace they danced jigs pair-and-pair The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear.

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