A woman from California - who had never been involved with animal issues before - saw a news item on TV about a wrestling bear, and couldn't get his image out of her mind. She began a one person, all consuming campaign to free him, and asked me to write a song. I tried to write it from her point of view. To date, the bear has not been freed, but I and others have been inspired by her dedication and compassion


 

THE BALLAD OF TERRIBLE TED

©1999 JIM HARRIS

 

THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM I WAS WATCHING TV
ONE OF THOSE STORIES I DON'T LIKE TO SEE
'BOUT A WRESTLING BEAR, NAME OF TERRIBLE TED
AND OH WHAT A TERRIBLE LIFE HE HAD LED

SIX YEARS ON THE ROAD WORKING TWO SHOWS A NIGHT
HE MEETS LOTS OF PEOPLE, THEY ALL WANT TO FIGHT
BUT HE'S MUZZLED AND CLAWLESS, IT AIN'T EVEN FAIR
THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IF HE WAS MY BEAR

TERRIBLE TED'S GOT A CAGE FOR A BED
HE'S WEATHERED AN WEARY AND BOWED
BUT HE WRESTLES EACH NIGHT
IN THE HOPE THAT HE MIGHT
FIND A FRIEND AT THE END OF THE ROAD

 HE'S BRIGHT AND AFFECTIONATE SOME PEOPLE SAY
AND HE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT BUT HE CAN'T WALK AWAY
AND IT'S BREAKING HIS SPIRIT, IT AIN'T HARD TO SEE
HE'S NOTHIN' AT ALL LIKE GOD MEANT HIM TO BE

TERRIBLE TED'S GOT A PRICE ON HIS HEAD
AND IT'S HIGH TIME HE GOT WHAT HE'S OWED
LIKE A NATURAL HOME FOR A BLACK BEAR TO ROAM
LIKE A FRIEND AT THE END OF THE ROAD

NOTHIN' SO SAD AS A BIRD WHO CAN'T FLY
NOTHIN' SO SAD AS A MAN WHO CAN'T CRY
A FISH OUT OF WATER, A BEAR WITHOUT WOODS
SOMETIMES LIFE JUST DON'T TURN OUT LIKE IT SHOULD

TEDDY THE BEAR NEVER BREATHED MOUNTAIN AIR
NEVER RAN WHERE THE WHITE WATER FLOWED
BUT HE WRESTLES EACH NIGHT IN THE HOPE THAT HE MIGHT
FIND A FRIEND AT THE END OF THE ROAD
SO, TEDDY THE BEAR, I'LL CONTINUE TO CARE
I'D SURE LIKE TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
AND I'LL KEEP UP THE FIGHT IN THE HOPE THAT I MIGHT
BE YOUR FRIEND AT THE END OF THE ROAD 
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