Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear . The wakes coming on, the bear he took ill They tried him with brandy, with potion and pill He died in his sleep at the eve of the wakes The cause, it was said, was strong ale and sweet cakes The cheeses of Cheshire are famed, but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear He served the town well and he served town true So to lie him in state was the least they could do Now the old bear was dead, a successor they'd need A new bear was wanted, and that at great speed . The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear Now a parson is useful at times of great need And imbibed with strong port, he quickly agreed The parson, his bible he gave then and there They sold it in Nantwich to buy a new bear. The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear The new bear, a she-bear, was toast of the town To music and laughter she danced up and down So loudly the cheering would waken the dead It caused the old bear for to rise from his bed The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear Pills, potion and brandy induced a deep trance Refreshed by the music he began for to dance He danced down the road causing many a gaze and word quickly spread that the old bear was raised The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear He rolled his dark eye as he spied the she-bear And with an embrace they danced jigs pair-and-pair The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. The cheeses of Cheshire are famed but beware Of stories they tell of the Congleton Bear. Congleton rare, Congleton rare, They sold the church bible to buy a new bear.