Grizzly bear song inquiry

Subject: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: Uncle Frank the Singing Insurance Guy
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 12:46 AM

All I know is one verse to this bluesy song a friend used to sing. I'll skip the verse (begins "When I woke up this morning, she's gone") as what's easier to recall is the three-line refrain -

How she loved to dance that old Grizzly Bear I guess she's gone to Frisco, gonna dance it there When I woke up this morning, she's gone.

Singer was Paul Richard, a/k/a Shaky, from Westport CT I think. Knew him in 1950s. Understand he's dead now, a dope casualty in California I was told.

Any contributions?

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: RWilhelm
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 10:49 AM

I posted the lyrics as recorded by Jim Jackson. Click here.

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: o'hanrahan
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 10:58 AM

"Grizzly Bear" by Jerry Corbitt of the Youngbloods

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: Allan S.
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 11:06 AM

Hi. THe song listed in DT is not the one that Shakey sung I must check my old tapes Somehow I may have Shakey singing it. THe way Shakey got the name was that he wore his older brothers army jacket that had a picture on it with the name shakey below the picture. THis was at U-Conn. Thanks for the e-mail today. Allan

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: RWilhelm
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:52 PM

The original is from the 20's. The Youngbloods just streamlined it a bit. I imagine there are many versions floating around.

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: allan S.
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:22 PM

Who did the origional where can I find it. Allan

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: RWilhelm
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 01:30 PM

Jim Jackson recorded it in 1928 under the title "When I Woke Up This Morning She Was Gone." Allegedly, in the early 1900's there actually was a dance called the grizzly bear considered "too naughty for polite company." It is available on a CD called "Wild About My Lovin'" which is a compilation of Memphis music from the 1920s incuding Jim Jackson, The Memphis Jug Band, Cannon's Jug Stompers, and Frank Stokes. Jackson also wrote "I'm Wild About My Lovin'" which was covered quite a bit in the 60s.

Subject: RE: Grizzly bear song inquiry
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 14 - 03:17 AM

I would have to say the Youngbloods improved it tremendously: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0vUn16zwZA. But the song is Jackson's, and he, not Corbitt, deserves the writing credit.