Song Video
Lyrics
The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see.
And all that he could see, and all that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain, was all that he could see.
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.
Which nobody can deny, which nobody can deny
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.
The bear went over the river, the bear went over the river
The bear went over the river, to see what he could see.
And all that he could see, and all that he could see
Was the other side of the river, the other side of the river
The other side of the river, was all that he could see.
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.
Which nobody can deny, which nobody can deny
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.
Information About The Bear Went Over the Mountain
Unfortunately, the origins of "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" are unknown, but it is most often sung to the tune of "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow". Dan Yoder, who studies folk lore, suggests that the origins of this song may relate to a holiday in Germanic cultures similar to American's Groundhog Day. In some German-speaking areas, they look to the bear leaving his lair to predict the end of winter. (source: wikipedia).
There is another theory as per The Conquers: The Pageant of England wherein it has that the music was a marching song from the Third Crusade.
Whatever the origins of the song, it has a wonderful tune and is the perfect rhythm to sing with young children while out hiking and exploring. March and sing together.
Scholastic offers a number of great games or activities to engage children with this song. One suggestion is to push two chairs together and cover with a brown sheet or blanket, creating a mountain. Use a stuffed bear or bear puppet to go up and down the mountain while singing the song. There are a few more ideas listed, as well as a free mini-book you can cut out and color with your child.
Gather your favorite teddy bears, and find more songs about bears here on BusSongs.com.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
A shorter version that just uses the same first 2 stanzas:
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see,
And all that he could see,.
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see.
Here's quite a different version that uses 'valley' instead of mountain
He saw a valley,
He saw a valley,
He saw a valley
And guess what he then saw.
Then in that format the following:
River in the valley,
Raft on the River
Man on the Raft
Clothes on the Man
Pockets on the Clothes
Nickel in the pocket
Buffalo on the nickel
Hair on the buffalo
Flea in the hair
Wings on the flea
Veins in the wings
Blood in the veins
Bacteria in the blood.
Do you know what he saw?
A DEAD FLEA!
Another Cute Bear Went Over The Mountain Version that kids might like to sing about a bear eating brownies then getting indigestion
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see.
He saw some brownies (as in girl scouts) hiking
And this is what he did.
He ate up all the brownies
And this is what they did.
They gave him indigestion
And this is what he did.
He threw up all the brownies
And this is what they did.
They ran and told his mother
And this is what she did.
She gave the bear a spanking
And this is what he did.
He never went over the mountain
To see what he could EAT.
Here's an additional version that uses a plate of brownies
He saw a plate of brownies
He saw a plate of brownies
He saw a plate of brownies.
and what do you think he did.
He ate up all the brownies
He ate up all the brownies
He ate up all the brownies.
and what do you think he did.
He got a tummy ache
He got a tummy ache
He got a tummy ache.
and what do you think he did.
He went and told his mommy
He went and told his mommy
He went and told his mommy.
and what do you think she did.
She sent him to his room
She sent him to his room
She sent him to his room.
Here's another version where a bunch of campers got eaten
He saw a bunch of campers
He saw a bunch of campers
He saw a bunch of campers
And what do you think he did.
He ate up all the campers
He ate up all the campers
He ate up all the campers
And what do you think he did.
He got indigestion
He got indigestion
He got indigestion
And what do you think he did.
He barfed up all the campers
He barfed up all the campers
He barfed up all the campers
And what do you think he did.
Here is another version that you might know.
The bear walked over the mountain,
The bear walked over the mountain,
The bear walked over the mountain,
To see what he could see
(Chorus)
But all that he could see,
But all that he could see,
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see
Chorus
So he stamped to another mountain
So he stamped to another mountain
So he stamped to another mountain
To see what he could see
Chorus
So he crept to another mountain
So he crept to another mountain
So he crept to another mountain
To see what he could see