Youth Activity Archive

A classic American folk and campfire song used to encourage curiosity and exploration.

Recordings

• YouTube – Rock ‘N Learn
• YouTube – Super Simple Songs

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.

History

The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a traditional children’s folk song with a melody that dates back more than 300 years. The tune originated in France around 1709 with the song “Malbrough s’en va-t-en guerre” (Marlborough Has Left for the War) and the melody is often known for the song “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

There is no known single author for the lyrics, as they emerged through American folk history. The bear theme may be linked to ancient Germanic weather traditions. In these beliefs, a bear (or other hibernating animals) would emerge from its den to observe the mountain or horizon. If the weather was clear, winter would continue. This is a practice that eventually evolved into modern U.S.A. Groundhog Day.

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