1985 Bears Postseason Flashback: "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" Revisited

Even though the Bears’ performance on the field has often been lacking in recent years, Bears fans can still take comfort in knowing that they have the greatest fight song in professional sports. (College sports are another matter, and there is little to be gained by arguing about how “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” stacks up against the venerable fight songs of Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Navy, and others.)                                               

    

“Bear Down, Chicago Bears” was written by “Jerry Downs” (a pseudonym for Al Hoffman) soon after the Bears’ incredible 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship game. As anyone who has attended a game at Soldier Field knows, the song is played each and every time the Bears score, in a version recorded by Bill Archer and the Big Bear Band in 1993. 

     The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” conducted by Sir Georg Solti before the 1986 Super Bowl and conducted by Daniel Barenboim before the 2007 Super Bowl. If recordings of those performances don’t give you goosebumps, nothing will.

 

For those who are in the habit of humming through the middle part of the song (you know who you are), the complete lyrics to “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” are as follows:

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!

 

Below, we have adjusted the lyrics to mark the 35th anniversary of the Bears’ unforgettable victory in Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986. (Apologies to the songwriter.)

Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Hand the ball off to Walter constantly.
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
Terrorize quarterbacks so frighteningly.
We’ll never forget the way you chilled the nation
With Refrigeration.
Bear down, Chicago Bears,
And let them know you’re not fooling around.
You’re the best team that we'll ever see.
Eighty-five Bears, bear down!

 

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