Honky Tonk Bear

[Spoken Intro – short version] “Now I’ve seen some strange travelers in my day… but nothin’ prepared me for a bear strollin’ into town with a guitar bigger than his head… and playin’ like he meant to fix the whole world.” [Verse 1 – His arrival] He came down Main Street slow and wide, Swingin’ his shoulders with a drummer’s pride. Folks froze mid-sentence, kids dropped their toys, Even old Mr. Kellar lost his big-bar voice. That bear didn’t roar, didn’t snarl, didn’t scare— Just tipped his hat like “Howdy, I’m here,” Then set up shop by the rusted old pump, Guitar on his knee, tail thump-thump-thump. [Pre-Chorus] And before we knew what he was fixin’ to do, He let out a note soft and true. [Chorus] He sang, “Pick ’em up, k**k ’em up, dance if you dare, Loosen them bones with the Honky Tonk Bear.” His voice cracked once, like he’d flown through despair— That ramblin’, rootin’, Honky Tonk Bear. [Verse 2 – His reputation] Now some swear he came from the northwide pines, Where the barrooms close with the changing times. Others say he learned from an old raccoon, Trading fish for lessons in a backwoods saloon. But wherever he roamed, he left behind A light in the windows of troubled minds— A laugh, a stomp, a tune hung tight In the rafters of towns that lost their night. [Pre-Chorus] Folks say they ain’t danced in years, Yet there they were, wipin’ tears. [Chorus] While he sang, “Pick ’em up, k**k ’em up, dance if you dare, Shake off the dust with the Honky Tonk Bear.” His grin was wide, but there’s pain in there— That wanderin’, wonderin’ Honky Tonk Bear. [Verse 3 – The melancholy creeping in] He never stayed long—just a night or two, Though the kids begged, “Bear, we’ll miss you!” He’d pack up at dawn with a quiet sigh, Guitar on his back like a long goodbye. And if you watched close, you’d see him slow When he passed the old hall with the broken window. He’d stand a moment, eyes low to the ground, Like he heard a song that used to be around. [Verse 4 – His humor returns] Still, he’d crack a joke with a goofy grin, Balancin’ on barstools clearly too thin. Once tried waltzin’ with a plastic deer, Asked it kindly, “Mind leadin’ here?” Folks doubled over, slappin’ the floor, But the laughter held somethin’ we couldn’t ignore— A wish for the days when the world felt loud, Before quiet settled heavy on a small-town crowd. [Chorus – final, bigger, sadder, funnier all at once] He’d sing, “Pick ’em up, k**k ’em up, dance if you dare, Don’t let the night go silent out there.” And we’d sway along, knowin’ life ain’t fair— With that big ol’, bring-it-back Honky Tonk Bear. [Outro – slow, thoughtful] And when you hear a guitar hummin’ through thin night air, Step outside gentle… It might just be him— our Honky Tonk Bear.