Running Bear - Johnny Preston - Original recording 1959.

[morrowingdude]

I used to this song with my grandpa while we played pool in the basement... Now hes dead and i have that pool table, I listen to this song every once in a while and it reminds me... He always love his "Wacky Favorites" This was considered one of them.

[solarpurplestarlight]

@morrowingdude It seems like quite a lot of us had dads/grampas that liked these kind of songs. They do make awesome memories, for sure. The louder, the better.

[gilllew]

WHEN I HEAR THIS SONG (WHICH WAS FEATURED IN THE FILM "SCANDAL") WAS WHERE CHRISTINE KEELER AND MANDY RICE-DAVIES MET FOR THE FIRST TIME (WORKED AS DANCERS IN THIS LONDON CLUB) WAS ONLY RECENTLY I'D FOUND OUT THAT THE "BIG BOPPER" HAD WRITTEN THE SONG (PITY THAT HE NEVER GOT THE CHANCES TO ENJOY THE "FRUITS OF HIS LABOURS")

[Freyja1133]

two questions: 1) is that The big bopper i hear in the background?

2) running bear a retellign of romeo & Juliet with a Native American theme/twist?

[CaptainDesiderio]

@Freyja1133 It is the Big Bopper. He wrote the song, and did back up vocals. I do not know if it was intended to be a retelling of Romeo And Juliet. Unfortunately, Bop is no longer around to answer our questions.

[DrOlds100]

Terrific song and a nice job on the video!

[carbootman]

@ theserenaLA ...... The song u looking for is called "morning side of the mountain". Donny and marie osmond did a good version.

[GMANIM]

Number One on my bday also...

[musicjunkie696980]

FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS SONG WAS ON 8 TRACK IN MY GRANDPARENTS BASEMENT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO HOW TIME FLY'S

[dibiasit]

My mom & I would dance to this when I was a little girl. Wish I could turn back the hands of time.

[caldwelldave]

I just found out this song was #1 on the day I was born.

[kennyge4u]

I grew up with Sonny James' version of this song and loved it, but knowing its origin is interesting.

[TheSerenaLA]

Love it, thank you, sharing :) Do any of yall know the song with words....He lived on the sunny side of the mountain and she lived on the sunny side of the shore.....Something like this...??? :)

[suzij756]

@TheSerenaLA try googling the lyrics

[FarstaTrollet]

LOOONG time ago since I first heard it! Still as good as then!

[mondenkindqueen]

This song is so good. I'm 19 and I LOVE it. It goes to show that a good song, much like Running Bear and Little White Dove's love, will never die.

[KipperSarnie]

As Kids I always sang the base Umga Ugga Umba Ugga! Love it just love it! Thanks

[glowworm2]

Oh geez, I recall my father wandering around the house singing the chorus to this. Sometimes he would completely wreck it by going "Running Bear, didn't have any clothes on." XD.

[ZillahManiac]

Go listen to The Strain by Blockhead!

The sample from this is beyond good!

[1966mmp]

OMG, this was MY song when I was a lil girl...My dad would play this album and I would dance around the living room with him. I love this song....i totally forgot about this.

[vinegate]

yes, a great one from wayback (and what a great backing vocal!)

[jonathanharwood]

Oh crap, i havnt heard this in years XD

[ian2813]

Now I know what the second verse of "Wig-Wam Bam" is referring to.

[chism26]

its a great song



[MissJasmine101]

lol i like this song... my grandpa showed it to me +)

[markwhite07041971]

I sing this at my local Kareoke

[TheCherokeeSky]

This was, and still is one of my forever endearing favorites! Such a sad story, still brings a lump to my throat... lol ;-)

[MisterMasterShafter1]

If I remember correctly, the Big Bopper wrote this.

[HeyRuka]

Why don't they just build a stupid bridge or walk downstream a few miles until the water thins out...awesome song though :)

[mollymitch1]

The pictures tell of a beautiful song, they are very well done. Thanks for posting. Gary

[jamiegantz96]

bob saget brought me here

[phylliswaterfield]

hehe this is cool.

[xxIlluminatedLovexx]

lol i love this! My nan and pop (grandparents) used to listen to this song a lot! ... still do! :)

[skudaarkaat1]

Absolutely STUNNING video. Where can I get a copy of the picture of the girl with the horse?

[robotechjhuggins]

I love this song. Haven't heard it since I left home, but my parents used to play Johnny Preston, and many other oldies, all the time. I still remember the words and sing it to my grand daughter.

[thelonefurry]

been loving this type for 16 years and i'm 20

[DIVASElizabethTaylor]

good song !!!

[don417]

The dumbass couldn't build a canoe?

[DIVASElizabethTaylor]

@don417

the only dumbass here is YOU !!! ;-P

[don417]

@DIVASElizabethTaylor blow me

[DIVASElizabethTaylor]

@don417

no thanx your not my type ;-P

[Reptiles247]

Johnny went to my church in Port Arthur, Tx. since i was born, and im now 16. Sat in the pew in front of me. He was a very nice guy and always led the songs!Miss you man and im watching over your grandkids! See you again at the golden gates someday.

[voiceofamerica18]

@Reptiles247 I go there too. I miss him a lot. He was like a grandfather to me.

[sharynspears]

In the raw we all sang.

[Didderly]

Great Video, good timings and pics'

[twisha23]

My Dad loved this song...thou he'd never admit it....It was the only record that he never yelled at us to TURN Down...

[michael99900]

great song



[holmanshaw]

Holmanshaw My husband and I did a duet of this many years ago, I sang the song and he did the hoga hega's. He died in 1989 but when I hear it it always brings a tear to my eyes

Marion xx

[killer2611]

@holmanshaw that sucks balls but when life shits on you, you flip it the bird and carry on.

[fitycent93]

@holmanshaw Cherish those memories!!!!!! U sound like a great person!!!!!! Hope life is treating u well now. It is a great song!

[dineen68]

The oldest song on my ipod!

Anyone seen 'Scandal' ?

[windkin45]

@dineen68 Its the oldest song on my iPod as well :) Gotta love the oldies.

[amerykayerobinson]

Love this song:)

[Brooksider100]

It's lasted for 50 years so it aint that bad a song - also great for a crowd to sing at parties.

[PROTEK123]

My dad used to wake me on a sunday mornings playing this song as loud is his "music system" would go... whilst making bacon buttys. happy memorys..thanks for posting but feel its a song thats getting lost in time.. i cant get my kids out of bed on a sunday no matter what i try lol.

[wackster66]

@PROTEK123 were you my brother/sister lol..snap!!

[sleepingspider]

@PROTEK123 I know just how you feel I have three who will full out of bed on Sunday asking whats for dinner.

[AlienVolta]

@PROTEK123 Lost in time? Check out Blockhead's 'The Strain' he uses a sample of the lyrics in it, really really sweet modern hip-hop beat featuring this old ass classic.

[TheKittykate32]

@PROTEK123 LOL Try puttin a hand full of Marbles in the freezer. Just toss 1 r 2 in the bed with 'em. They can't get away from it and they WILL get up! LOL

My Dad was like ur Dad and I miss it! So I MAKE my kids live in MY Happy World. even with the occasional Marble tossed in!

[CaptainCrabeye]

@PROTEK123 haha

[bobfunder]

Hey Moonbeam, Thanks a lot for the song and the video. Excellent job!!

[hopop313]

Is it true that that's the Big Bopper in the background? I read that somewhere. He wrote the song, so i guess its possible.......HELLOOOO BAAAAABYYYY!!!!!!!

[SteveJ2008]

@hopop313 Yes, the background chanting was done by Big Bopper and George Jones.

[mikeboz1992]

All you tonedeaf retards that say this is not music are the ones who dont know what music is. this song is very good. it is very simplistic but has great meaning.

[11hobbes22]

@mikeboz1992 easy tiger. there was only 1 dis-like. and, yes this song is awesome

[mikeboz1992]

@11hobbes22 i wasn't talkin about the dislikes. i was talkin about the comments that said this wasnt music. lol. and i was in a pissy mood that day. haha.

[mkl62]

To all you Charlotte Bobcats fans (like myself), this was the #1 song in the USA when Rod Higgins, the director of basketball operations, came into the world (January 31, 1960).

[kara1962dog]

classic

[zelenious]

@willem567 your knowlege of music is minimal !!!

[heeheesmile]

I love this song!



[iw32]

Did White Dove have a thing with Dances with Wolves?

[willem567]

This is not music... It is shameful

[NickyLess]

@willem567 Post your music and see what you can do. Bet it wont last as long as this has.

[cooltitch101]

love this im intrigued by indians and there values 2 life

[EdgeIFicationHB]

unga dunga unga dunga

[hopop313]

Thats the big bopper in the background

[misswhitewolf]

" love this ".......brings back memories from when i was little listening to it on the record player on a sunday when my dad used to play his favourite songs!! :)

[hymnlover1]

Loved it, one of my all-time faves, just enjoy the music - never mind all that crap about 'insulting the native Indians'. It's just music for crying out loud!!

[windstorm1000]

More stereotypes of native people by white singers/composers

[windstorm1000]

This song must be incredibly insulting to many Indian people--it plays on every Hollywood stereotype--this type of crap is damaging for native youth. I think very little of Johnny Prestion for singing this piece of s---

[kaitoisomine]

@windstorm1000 fuck you, learn to appreciate some good music, now, very plainly I ask you to go jump off a bridge.

[windstorm1000]

@kaitoisomine After you.

[McLm010]

i played this ne on the jukebox in the ladner legion................

[ConkerBFDman]

My grandma always sings this song to me. I hope she gets through her sickness

[LadyeXo]

@ConkerBFDman My grandfather sang this to me, he is also sick. Hopefully they'll pull through with the power of good music.

[OMGcasty]

I LOVE THIS! <3 <3 <3

[MisterMojoSinkin]

You can hear this chant reconfigured in Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys's avant garde opus "Smile" in "Do You Like Worms."

RIP Johnny Preston...

[CaitlintheMiller]

my stepmom sings thi to her kids :D

[McLm010]

when i was a kid i played this one on the jukebox...........it is awesome

[kmgwhelan]

Nice job on the story pictures! Thanks!

[fangbites2010]

i always tear up when i listn to this song so sad but an awsum song :)

[lazur1]

George Jones & the Big Bopper on "Indian" vocals! RIP Johnny Preston, perhaps the most underrated star of the late '50's - early '60s.

[JohnPeter952]

I know that our thoughts go out to Mrs. Fox and the electrolux man, who made this song truly memorable. RIP.

[Sheven718]

great song from my childhood brilliant storyboard thanks for taking the time to put it all together,

[jmen4ever]

Just learned online that he passed away. i have the first pressings of this song, and his other great stuff,in my personal collection. one of the last gasps of greatness from the 50s era.yep, now he can sing with the bopper again.

[notasharecropper]

sad freakin song!!!!!

[ILINGBEAR]

Me too, I'm indian. When I was a kid and this song came out, it was the best. Great pics for this .

[tommynights]

Miss this song, my childhood, and now Johnny.

[MrShakyman]

What a great track! this still is, it still gets me Moving"& puts me in a great mood.

R,I,P, Jonny.

We All Miss You Mam".

[MrShakyman]

What a great track! this still is, it still gets me Moving"& puts me in a great mood.

R,I,P, Jonny.

We All Miss You Mam".

( Mr , Shakyman).

[stonerkid42o]

i found this song by watching cheech and chongs "it came from hollywood." great track!

[red1986dog]

You know its a shame Johnny Preston lived less than 30 miles form me andI had no idea. RIP Johnny

[BobbyDarin100]

RIP Johnny Preston. Roxanne this is for you it's always you and me, always and forever x

[hotplumbs]

Thanks Johnny I have loved this song since hearing it as a child in the 5o's. Rest in Peace

[dash690813]

RIP Johnny Preston AND JR Richardson.

[poollslls]

R.I.P Johnny Preston

[gg11708mi]

RIP Johnny Preston. Thank you for your gift.

[jonah561]

OH MY GOD I JUST CAME!

[chicagoSUGANO]

Thanks Johnny, You've enriched millions of lives by some beautiful

music , lyrics & message, a Dying Art, indeed.

You Rocked it.

[graceland81]

Always been a great song in my opinion. I remember hearing this on the Saturday Club way way back. R.I.P. Johnny

[patthecatman]

yeah, R.I.P.  nice obit in the NY Times today

[tdickensheets]

I found out he died.

[ItalianBrianA]

One of my FAVORITE songs growing up! God Rest Ya' Brutha!

[wraith13]

a wonderful classic about the power of love that 2 people have for each other.....R.I.P

Johnny

[Rivermyst]

RIP my good friend.

[jlogan2664]

I was born in 1964 and grew up listening to this song in my parents' record collection and it was one of my favorites as a child. I haven't heard this song in probably 30 years but I still remembered most of the lyrics. Great song!

[ftsjr]

I've always loved this song. It reminds me of a very innocent time for music. RIP, Johnny.

[bpgurr1]

His Journey has just begun. God Bless him for the gift he left us.

[trop10]

He'll no doubt be missed tremendously by his family and friends... But this iconic song captured a moment in time of Johnnys life and for that he'll remain forever young as will all of us who remember when we used to hear it on our car radios or on our desk radios when we did our homework... Thanks Johnny!!!!

[CadillacL]

I just read that Johnny passed away. R.I.P.

[BY1NO1]

One of my favorite songs. Rest in Peace, Johnny.

[DancingSpiderman]

Rest In Peace Johnny Preston.

Your songs were part of the Soundtrack of my Life. Thank You.

[Raymantico]

first song I went crazy for

[rockintc]

I was proud tomeet Johnny & his lovely wife when he toured here in the U.K. in 2005.

He was the nicest guy you could ever meet.

God Bless his big family.

He will never be forgoten.

[53Topanga]

One of my all time favorite songs!  Thanks for the memories, Johnny Preston! RIP

[BjavaBbotBme]

Rest in Peace Johnny, thanks for the music~.~

[aneiasl]

RIP, keep his family in your prayers, his grandaughter is taking it roughly

[aneiasl]

RIP, keep his family in he prayers, his grandaughter is taking it roughly

[markshere100]

RIP Johnny

[Ggsraggy]

3-4-2011.Thank you Johnny for all the wonderful memories. When you sing with the Big Bopper again tell him we all said hey. We will always miss you. We wil see you and J.P. again.

[torontobear73]

RIP Johnny.

[johnniuq]

RIP Johnny! 

[wjsj1949]

this song from the past is so cool

[Juliaflo]

@wjsj1949 I second that. I grew up hearing it. (Uh-uh, don't figure out my age, but I'm reaching a milestone soon).



[1957sparky]

R.I.P. Johnny

[MelanieCap123]

Rest in peace, Johnny!

[rowdycat]

R.I.P Johnny Preston 1939-2011

[johnmcglinchey]

classic  !!!!!!

[onenebraskaboy]

songs like these reming me so much of my dad, they bring back such good memories!!!

[LGal1971]

Super!

[1967MOD]

wonderful. x

[zuton100]

Great Song

[MrGRILLZZZ]

hey boobeejoo, if you listen properly it doesn't say he couldn't swim, it says he couldn't swim the raging river because the river was too wide

[zelenious]

I love this song !!!!

[boobeejoo]

he could not swim///////////

an indian could not swim//

I love this song

[Grisbi6]

I'm guessing that this song was indeed recorded in 1959, not 1960.

[vandywilliam]

The song was written by J.P. Richardson (otherwise known as Big Bopper), and Richardson and C&W legend George Jones provided the Indian chants in the background.

[NorthPoleBuckeye]

Actually according to Joel Whitburn's book on "Billboard Book of top 40 Hits" shows this song reached #1 on 12/21/59 and stayed there for 3 weeks.

[williedmusic]

This actually was recorded in 1960 not `59 Willie D Hanford CA 

[shooter486]

@williedmusic It was recorded in 59 and released in 1960



[williedmusic]

@shooter486 I thank ya` for correctin` me Shooter 486. When I hear the name Shooter, I think of the late great Waylon Jennings, Jesse Colter & their son Shooter. Thanks Man. Let`s keep the music goin`!. Willie "D", Hanford, Ca.

[djcliff87]

I love this song bcoz this song is my mothers favouite song b4 she passed away

[F6fhellcatace]

i like this song because i have some native american blood in me i half cherokee and chawtaw.

[rainbgone]

this is the best video on u-tube

[rainbgone]

this video is so great, please don't ever take it off. Thanks

[GAVIOLITOM]

Happy memories.!