Teddy Bear

Album: Teddy Bear (1976)
Charted: 4 40
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Country singer Red Sovine wrote this spoken-word tearjerker with Billy Joe Burnette, Tommy Hill and Dale Royal. The title "Teddy Bear" refers to a wheelchair-bound boy who uses a CB (Citizens band) radio to make friends with truckers after his own truck-driving father is killed. The maudlin tale made for a crossover hit, topping the country charts and peaking at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • This was one of many truck-themed songs from Sovine, who earned the title "The King of Trucker Music." And there was no better time to sing about trucking and CBs. Long before the advent of the Internet, people were fascinated with the two-way radio method of communication, and it became a nationwide craze in the '70s.
  • Two sequels to this song continued the story of Teddy Bear. The singer was encouraged to record a follow-up to take advantage of the original's success, but he wasn't interested. It was good enough, however, for Capitol Records' latest asset, Diana Williams. That same year, she released "Teddy Bear's Last Ride," which details the boy's death from the terminal illness that rendered him paralyzed. Sovine was allegedly outraged by this turn of events and released an answer to Williams' song called "Little Joe." This time, Teddy Bear is not only alive, but he can also walk again.
  • Voiced by Mike Judge, Hank Hill (salesman of "propane and propane accessories") performed this on the animated series King of the Hillin the episode "Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane" in 2003.
  • Some CB enthusiasts used this song to challenge the FCC regulation that a person must be over 18 to obtain a license for a CB radio or else operate under a license of an older member of the family. Would they deny "Teddy Bear" his one comfort in life just because he was underage? Kids were so enthusiastic about the device that some reportedly mounted the transceiver between the handlebars of their bikes to mimic the drivers of the big rigs. "All the other kids at school are jealous," one innovative teen, who swiped his CB handle from a character in a beer commercial, told The Indiana Gazette.

Comments: 3

  • Mumarader from PaBass – Billy Linneman, Joe Zinkan
    Drums – D.J. Fontana
    Engineer – Mort Thomasson
    Engineer, Mixed By – Scotty Moore
    Executive-Producer – Moe Lytle
    Fiddle – Buddy Spiker*, Tommy Williams (5)
    Guitar – Dale Sellers, Vic Jordan
    Piano – Bunky Keels, Hargus 'Pig' Robbins*
    Producer – Tommy Hill
    Sleeve Notes – Mike Hanes (2)
    Voice – Sound 70's*
  • Marie from Irelandcan anyone tell me w
    the name of the music track in the background please?
  • Daniel W. Garner from Batesville, Arkansas Who played the piano in the song Teddybear sung by Red Sovine ? Was it Floyd Kramer ??
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.