I very much enjoyed reading about this old folk song that I remember learning as a Brownie in California in the 1950's. I think it was one of the first rounds I learned (along with "Make New Friends"). I found two written sources for the words and they both agreed.

White coral bells upon a slender stalk,
Lilies of the valley deck my garden walk.
Oh, don't you wish that you could hear them ring?
That will happen only when the fairies sing.

One source is a third edition "Sing Together" from 1973 (first edition 1949) that I bought a few years ago. The other source is a very old Camp Manzanita songbook from the late 1950's or early 1960's. This was the Girl Scout camp I attended and was a counselor at in Summer of 1964.

Now, a question - some of you seem to be acquainted with Girl Guides and I'm trying to remember/comfirm the words to a GG marching song I learned about 1963 from a Canadian counselor.

Who are these, swinging along the road
With a pack on their back, a song in their heart to ease the load
It's been 40(?)years or more since they crowded through the door,
But they're coming along as gay and as strong as ever they came before
They are guides all guides and in unexpected places
You'll meet their friendly faces and a willing hand besides,
There's not much danger in finding you're a stranger
For commissioner or ranger they are guides, all guides.

Who are these, living beneath the sky
While the shimmering sun, the pattering rain and the clouds roll by
They will dine beneath the boughs and their leader always vows that they're never afraid of wasps and hardly ever afraid of cows!
They are Guides all guides...etc.

Those are the verses in my head, but how close are these words, does anyone know? Is this a real official Girl guide song? I couldn't find it online.

Thanks, nice to find others who have these songs running through their heads too!

Old camp song leader, Ann Cooper