Lyrics:

Don't you give up, my young, young friends
Here's a story I think will please
How Sir Rastus Bear
Was in fact redeemed
Redeemed from the cell
To which he'd been thrown
By men whose love was more
For the ice and cold

(Goblins of surcease, villians of wise)
They pranced his brain on through the long, long night
Sir Rastus Bear who'd ever believe
(You'd be by a song) Redeemed!

Upon the north forty
I'm sure it was Christmas day
When Sir Rastus Bear
Taught children how to play
Games of life and love
And songs, oh, those songs
Oh, those deep, but true
Hill country songs

(Goblins of surcease, villians of wise)
They pranced his brain on through the long, long night
Sir Rastus Bear who'd ever believe
(You'd be by a song) Redeemed!

Redeemed good lord, from the ice and cold
Redeemed from the cell to which I've been thrown
Redeemed by virtue of a country song
And I believe, good Lord, it won't be long (won't be long)
It won't be (won't be) long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long-long