I was all of two years old when the Bears captured their last Super Bowl win–as a result, every Chicago-area kid with the ability to speak was taught the words to “Bear Down, Chicago Bears.” Good teams have been few and far between since that time, and our collective memory of the song’s complete lyrics seems to have fallen by the wayside. Following last night’s Bears victory, the first in the Jay Cutler era, I feel it’s time that we relearn the lyrics and history of our beloved fight song.
The song, sung at Soldier Field (and Wrigley Field before it) following each Bears score, was written in 1941 by Jerry Downs–a pseudonym for Al Hoffman, member of the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
(He also wrote “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked A Cake”)
“Bear Down, Chicago Bears” was written to reference the 1940 NFL Championship Game, where the Bears “thrilled the Nation” with their offense’s “T Formation,” implemented to whomp the Washington Redskins by the score of 73-0; a score which remains the league’s widest shutout margin in any game in its history. The game’s officials asked the Bears coaching staff to run or pass for their last few PATs as they were running out of footballs since the bears kicked so many into the stands following all those touchdowns. The game was also the last that an NFL player (Bears end Dick Plasman) played without a helmet.
Let’s refamiliarize ourselves with the lyrics–you’ll want to sing along with the performances posted below:
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Make every play, clear the way to victory!
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Put up a fight, with a might so fearlessly!
We’ll never forget the way you thrilled the nation
With your T formation.
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
And let them know why you’re wearing the crown.
You’re the pride and joy of Illinois
Chicago Bears, Bear down!
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Sir Georg Solti
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Bryan Griffin
Bear Down!
-Matt DeStefano
