Camping My Way
Camp Songs
In my book I mention that I worked for a long time with the Boy Scouts of America. I earned my Wood Badge Beads, and did a lot of "training the trainers". While I worked at the Boy Scout Council one of the things I did was create a book full of songs, run-on's, skits and fun things for the Scouts and Leaders at Scout camp. I would like to share some of those great fun things with you here!
CHICKEN LIPS
(Tune: Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious)
Chorus: Chicken lips and lizard lips and alligator eyesMonkey legs and buzzard eggs and salamander thighs. Rabbit ears and camel rears and tasty toe-nail pies. Stir them all together, it is Mama’s soup surprise.
Oh! When I was just a little kid, I never liked to eat. Mama put things on my plate, I dumped them on her feet. Then one day she made a soup, I ate it all in bed. I asked her what she put in it and this is what she said:
Chorus
I went into the bathroom and I stood beside the sink. I said, I’m feeling slightly ill, I think I’d like a drink. Mama said, "I’ve just the thing, I’ll get it in a wink. It’s full of lots of protein and vitamins I think."
Chorus
GROUND ROUND
(Tune: Downtown)
When you eat meat but hate the meat that you’re eating. Then ou’ve surely got GROUND ROUND. It’s so unnerving when they’re constantly serving. It in eating spots - GROUND ROUND.
It may be called a salisbury, cube steak or a beef patty, No matter hat it’s called, it’s always overcooked and fatty. What can you do? Sound off to your waiter there, Loudly pound on the table, Stand up on your chair, and shout GROUND ROUND!
Always they’re conning me, GROUND ROUND! They’re always giving me, GROUND ROUND! Piled on my plate, I see Ground Round.
HOW PECULIAR
(Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
When one sly snake slides up the slide,
The other sly snake slides down.
(Repeat 4 more times)
Chorus Glory, glory, how peculiar.
Glory, glory, how peculiar.
Glory, glory, how peculiar.
(Repeat verse phrase one more time)
When one drunk duck dropped into the ditch,
The other drunk duck dropped dead.
(Repeat 4 more times)
Chorus
When one black bug bled blue-black blood,
The other black bug bled blue.
(Repeat 4 more times)
Chorus
As one fresh fish flipped into the fire
The other fresh fish flipped out
(Repeat 4 more times)
Chorus
As one busy beaver brushed by the bush
The other busy beaver brushed back
(Repeat 4 more times)
Chorus
IF YOU’RE HAPPY
If you’re happy and you know it clap you hands (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it clap you hands (clap, clap) If you’re happy and you know it Then you really ought to show it If you’re happy and you know it clap you hands (clap, clap) If you’re happy and you know it stomp your feet (stomp, stomp) (repeat as above) If you’re happy and you know it shout hooray (hooray!) (repeat as above) If you’re happy and you know it do all three (do all three actions) (repeat as above) JOHN BROWN’S BABY (Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)John Brown’s baby had a cold upon his chest.) John Brown’s baby had a cold upon his chest. John Brown’s baby had a cold upon his chest. And they rubbed it with camphorated oil.(Sing all the verse first time through. Second time, omit singing baby but substitute the motion. Subsequent times through omit cold, chest, and oil substituting the appropriate motions.) baby: rock baby in arms cold: sneeze chest: slap chest camphorated oil: hold nose and make a face KING OF THE CAMP (Tune: King of the Road) Flies, bugs, and bumble bees Chigger bites on my knees; Band-aids from head to toes, Gotta sunburn on my nose; I’ve got sand in the food I eat, I’ve got blisters on both my feet; I’m in pain but can’t complain, I’M KING OF THE CAMP! The parents bring their kids to stay Here until Labor Day! When they become a drag, I give them a plastic bag; I’ve got cuts, bruises, and some bumps, Chicken pox and the mumps; I’ve got ulcers just because, I’M KING OF THE CAMP! Chorus I know all the moms and dads And all of their brats; All of their doggies and all of their cats; If the kids are as great as the parents all say, Then how come every summer they send them away? Meanwhile, back at the pool, Water is nice and cool; Kids splashing all around While I teach ‘em how to drown. I lose more little brats that way, I lose some in the woods each day; I’m a bitter babysitter, I’M KING OF THE CAMP! KUM BA YAH Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Oh Lord, Kum ba yah! Someone’s crying, Lord, Kum ba yah! (repeat as above) Someone’s praying, Lord, Kum ba yah! (repeat as above) Someone’s singing, Lord, Kum ba yah! (repeat as above) MY BONNIE My Bonnie lies over the ocean.
My Bonnie lies over the sea. My Bonnie lies over the ocean, Oh, Bring back my Bonnie to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.(Stand up on the first word with a "B" in it then sit down on the next "b" and so on with each word containing a "b". The whole group should end up sitting down.) MY BONNIE VARIATIONS (Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
Last night as I lay on my pillow, Last night as I lay on my bed. I stuck my feet out of the window, Next morning my neighbors were dead. Chorus Bring back, bring back, bring back My neighbors to me, to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back My neighbors to me. My Bonnie has tuberculosis. My Bonnie has only one lung. My Bonnie can cough up raw oysters And roll them around on her tongue. Chorus Roll them, roll them, roll them Around on her tongue, her tongue. Roll them, roll them, roll them Around on her tongue. My Bonnie leaned over the gas tank, The height of its contents to see. I lighted a match to assist her, Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me. Chorus Bring back, bring back, bring back My Bonnie to me, to me. Bring back, bring back, Oh bring back My Bonnie to me. My breakfast lies over the ocean,
My luncheon lies over the rail. My supper lies in great commotion. Will someone please bring me a pail? Chorus Please bring, please bring, please bring A pail to me, to me. Please bring, please bring, please bring A pail to me. Who knows what I had for breakfast? Who knows what I had for tea? Who knows what I had for supper? Just look out the window and see. Chorus Clams, clams, clams, clams, Clams and ice cream don’t agree with me. Clams, clams, clams, clams Clams and ice cream don’t agree. MY GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK My Grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor. It was taller by half than the old man himself Though it weighed not a pennyweight more. It was bought on the morn on the day that he was born And was always his treasure and pride. But it stopped, short, never to go again, when the old man died. Ninety years without slumbering, tick tock, tick tock. His life seconds numbering, tick tock, tick tock. But it stopped, short, never to go again, when the old man died. MY BOY SCOUT HAT (Tune: Finiculee Finicula) One day I took with me upon the subway My Boy Scout hat, my Boy Scout hat. I laid it down upon the seat beside me My Boy Scout hat, my Boy Scout hat. A big fat lady came and sat upon it. My Boy Scout hat, she squashed it flat! A big fat lady came and sat upon it. My Boy Scout hat, she squashed it flat! Christopher Columbus, now what do ya’ think of that? A big fat lady sat upon my hat. My hat she broke, and that’s no joke! My hat she broke ... Christopher Columbus, now what do ya think of that? (Tune: If You’re Happy/ Clap Your Hands) Oh I wish I was a little mos-qui-to. Oh I wish I was a little mos-qui-to. I’d go pinchy and a bitey under everybody’s nighty. Oh I wish I was a little mos-qui-to. Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap.
Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap. I’d go slippy I’d go slidey over everybody’s hidey Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap. Oh I wish I was a little can of pop. Oh I wish I was a little can of pop. I’d go down slurp, slurp, and come up, burp, burp. Oh I wish I was a little can of pop. Oh I wish I was a little slippery root. Oh I wish I was a little slippery root. I’d lay upon the trail and knock everyone on their tail. Oh I wish I was a little slippery root. Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud. Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud. I’d go ooey I’d go gooey under everybody’s shoey. Oh I wish I was a little hunk of mud. ONWARD SPOTTED BED BUGS (To the tune of: Onward Christian Soldiers) Onward Spotted Bed Bugs, Marching up the sheets, Tickle, Tickle, Tickle, On poor Grandma's feet. Grandma got excited, Grandpa got the gun, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, See the bed bugs run. Chorus Onward Spotted Bed Bugs, Marching off the sheets, Carrying off the wounded, And poor grandmas feet. PINK PAJAMAS (Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic) I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it’s hot I wear my flannel nighties in the winter when it’s not And sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall I jump right in between the sheets with nothing on at all. Glory, Glory Hallelujah, Glory, Glory what’s it to yah Balmy breezes blowin’ through yah with nothing on at all. PRINCESS PAT (Tune: The Bear Song) The princess Pat (audience repeats each line) Lived in a tree She sailed across The seven seas She sailed across The channel too And she brought with her A rig-a-bamboo A rig-a-bamboo Now what is that It's something made By the princess Pat It's red and gold And purple too That's why it's called A rig-a-bamboo Now Captain Jack Had a mighty fine crew They sailed across The channel too Their ship did sink And so will you If you don't take A rig-a-bamboo A rig-a-bamboo Now what is that It's something made By the princess Pat It's red and gold And purple too That's why it's called A rig-a-bamboo QUARTERMASTER’S STORE (Come on Scouts... you know this one!) There are snakes, snakes, snakes, big as garden rakes At the store, at the store. There are snakes, snakes, snakes, big as garden rakes At the Quartermaster’s store. Chorus My eyes are dim, I cannot see I have not got my specks with me. There are mice, mice, mice, running through the rice (repeat verse and then the chorus) There are rats, rats, rats, big as alley cats (repeat verse and then the chorus) RAVIOLI (Tune: Alouette) (all) Ravioli, I like ravioli. Ravioli, it’s the best for me.(ldr) Have I got it on my chin? (points to chin) (all) Yes, you got it on your chin! (points to chin) (ldr) On my chin? (points to chin) (all) On your chin. Oh-h-h-h-h! (points to chin)Chorus Ravioli, I like Ravioli Ravioli, it’s the best for me.(Continue with tie, shirt, nose, eyes, pants, shirt, etc. Point to the items as each new word is added by the song leader. It is repeated by the chorus and all preceding verses are sung in reverse order.) ROVER (Tune: I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover) I’m looking over my dead dog rover That I ran over with my mower. One leg is missing, the other is gone. The third leg is scattered all over the lawn. There’s no need explaining, the head’s remaining. It rolled in my bathroom door. I’m looking over my dead dog rover, That I ran over with my mower. (Tune: Maryland, My Maryland) Softly falls the light of day, as our campfire fades away. Silently each Scout should ask, Have I done my daily task? Have I kept my honor bright? Can I guiltless sleep tonight? Have I done and have I dared, in every thing to be prepared? Listen Lord, O listen Lord, As I whisper soft and low Bless my Mom and bless my Dad, There is something they ought to know. I will keep my honor high, The Oath and Law will be my guide, And Mom and Dad this you should know, Deep in my heart, I love you so. SHE’LL BE COMING ‘ROUND THE MOUNTAIN She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes, toot! toot! (pull whistle)
She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes, toot! toot! (pull whistle) She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain, She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain, She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes, toot! toot! (Motion for pulling whistle cord) She’ll be driving six white horses when she comes, whoa back! (Pulling back on reins) And we’ll all go out to meet her when she comes, Hi Babe! (Sweeping salute motion) She’ll be wearing her red flannels when she comes. Scratch! Scratch! (Scratch, Scratch) And we’ll kill the old red rooster when she comes. Hack! Hack! (Mimic knife across the throat) And we’ll all have chicken & dumplings when she comes. Yum! Yum! (Rub stomach) SIPPIN’ CIDER (Tune: Bear Song) The prettiest girl (group repeats)I ever saw (group repeats)Was sippin’ ci- (group repeats)Der through a straw. (group repeats) (Repeat entire verse in unison.)(Continue each verse in like manner:) I said to her - whatcha doin’ that fer A sippin’ ci - der through a straw? Then cheek to cheek - and jaw to jaw We both sipped ci - der through a straw. And now and then - that straw would slip And we’d sip ci - der lip to lip. That’s how I got - my mother-in-law, And forty-nine kids - who call me pa. The moral of - this story is Don’t sip your ci - der, drink root beer! SKUNK SONG (Tune: Turkey in the Straw) Oh, I stuck my head in a little skunk’s hole And the little skunk said, "Well, bless my soul", Take it out - take it out - remoooooove it!" Wellllll, I didn’t take it out and the little skunk said, "Well, you’d better take it out or you’ll wish you were dead. Take it out, take it out - pssssssh!" (hold nose) I remooooooved it! SKEETER-EATER I woke up Sunday morning, I looked up on the wall.
The skeeters and the bedbugs were playing a game of ball. The score was six to nothing, the skeeters were ahead A bedbug hit a homerun and knocked me out of bed. Chorus A singin’ eene meene and a mi ni mo, Chigaboomba Catch a skeeter-eater by the toe And if he hollers, hollers, hollers, don’t let him go A signin’ eene meene and a mi ni mo. I went downstairs to breakfast, I ordered ham and eggs. I ate so many pickles, the juice ran down my legs. Chorus I went back to my bedroom, to see what was the score. A bedbug hit a homerun and knocked me out the door. Chorus My mother is a Russian, my father is a spy. And if you don’t believe me, just ask the FBI. Chorus I went into my closet, to find my favorite suit A bedbug put my shoe on and gave my rear a boot. Chorus My brother is a baby, my sister is a boob. The bedbugs are all heroes, I watch ‘em on the tube. Chorus The Scoutmaster is wonderful, he never tells a lie. He said we’d better say that or he’ll hit us in the eye. Chorus TARZAN OF THE APES
(Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic) I like bananas, coconuts, and grapes. I like bananas, coconuts, and grapes. I like bananas, coconuts, and grapes. That’s why they call me; TARZAN OF THE APES. (Sing the first part a bit softer each time down to a whisper, shouting TARZAN OF THE APES at the end.) THERE ONCE WAS A LADY There once was a lady who swallowed a fly.
Now I don’t know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she’ll die! There once was a lady who swallowed a spider That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly. Now I don’t know why she swallowed that fly. Perhaps she’ll die! There once was lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd. She swallowed a bird! She swallowed a bird to catch the spider ... (repeat balance of song)There once was a lady that swallowed a cat. Imagine that! She swallowed a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird ... (repeat balance of song)There once was a lady that swallowed a dog. What a hog! She swallowed a dog! She swallowed the dog to catch the cat ... (repeat balance of song)There once was a lady that swallowed a goat. Right down her throat! She swallowed a goat! She swallowed the goat to catch the dog ... (repeat balance of song)There once was a lady that swallowed a cow. WOW! She swallowed a cow! She swallowed the cow to catch the goat ... (repeat balance of song)There once was a lady that swallowed a horse. She’s dead of course! TRUSTY TOMMY (Tune: Yankee Doodle) TRUSTY Tommy was a Scout LOYAL to his mother, HELPFUL to the folks about, and FRIENDLY to his brother. COURTEOUS to the girls he knew, KIND unto his rabbit, OBEDIENT to his father too, and CHEERFUL in his habits. THRIFTY saving for a need, BRAVE, but not a faker, CLEAN in thought and word and deed, and REVERENT to his maker. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the first day of Christmas, my Boy Scouts gave to me a Tenderfoot stuck up in a tree. On the ......... Second day..... two lost boys........ Third day..... three tense moments........ Fourth day..... four sheepish grins........ Fifth day..... five moldy things........ Sixth day..... six packs a 'bulging........ Seventh day..... seven boys in quicksand........ Eighth day..... eight tin foil dinners........ Ninth day..... nine counsellors screaming........ Tenth day..... ten irate parents........ Eleventh day..... eleven-year-olds camping........ Twelfth day..... twelve Eagle Scouts........ WADDELEY-ACHEE Waddeley-achee, waddeley-achee Doodeley-do, doodeley-do Waddeley-achee, waddeley-achee Doodeley-do, doodeley-do. Simplest thing, there isn’t much to it. All ya got to do is doodeley-do it. I like the rest, but the part I like best Is the doodeley, doodeley-do. (Repeat the song and actions several times, a bit faster each time.) Actions Slap knees twice, clap hands twice. Pass the right hand over the left hand twice. Pass the left hand over the right hand twice. Touch the nose with the right hand, then touch the left shoulder and leave the hand there. Touch the nose with the left hand, then touch the right shoulder. Put both hands up in the air and pinch the fingers together three times. Monster Version In a deep monster-like voice sing the song. Curve fingers to make claws. Instead of touching nose, cover the face with the entire hand. Mouse Version Sing in a high mouse-like voice (Falsetto). For the actions bring finger tips and the thumb together. Make the actions as small and quiet as possible.
OH I WISH I WAS
SCOUT VESPERS
