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14 Aug 97 - 01:32 AM (#10359) Subject: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Jon W. brought up a question in the "live music" thread . He wondered if anyone has suggestions on how to coax Boy Scouts into singing. I've got the same question. I was a Cubmaster for some 10 years, working with boys 6-11 years old. I did a lot of singing with them, and thye seemed to enjoy it. I have to admit that I found the most of the songs in books published by the Boy Scouts didn't go over very well. I seemed to have a lot of success with songs that dealt with booze and violence. "Mountain Dew" was popular, and so was "The Deacon Went Down." they liked Shel Silverstein's "Welcome to Our House," and the one about Anne Boleyn called "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm." They also loved "MTA," and "The Hole in the Bottom of the Sea." When the kids hit Boy Scout age, 12, they weren't so interested in the songs I sang, and I kind of lost heart. then I took them to camp, and the counselors sang. Since the counselors were close to their own age, the boys decided it was OK to sing. Some of the songs they liked at camp were "Titanic," "The Rooster" (in the database - the song about the rooster helping out the chicken that wouldn't lay eggs), "The Cat Came Back," and even the "Hokey-Pokey." So, Jon, there's one hint - get them to a place where they have kids doing the song leading. Any other hints or song suggestions for Jon, anyone? -Joe Offer- |
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14 Aug 97 - 01:55 AM (#10363) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca I suggest My Uncle Walter Waltzes With Bears. Personally, although an ex-scout and cub myself I have never had experience singing to such groups as such groups. I have however sung songs to kids that age and found that they seem to like amusing songs, and/or songs with choruses that are easy to sing along with. Sea shanties often go over fairly well -- South Australia, or that one about Lord Nelson had a remedy to cure your mal de mer {sic} (which they seem to think is Mouldy Mare) They can roar along with the choruses. However, we live in the age of Bevis and Butthead and suchlike so I agree that it is hard to get kids when amongst other kids to sing along. they are more prone to try when they are a few kids amongst adults. I find it is still easy to frighten them with ghost stories over the embers on the seashore in the dark so you might buy a few books of tradtional ghost stories. |
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14 Aug 97 - 08:54 AM (#10383) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: hartley I was in scout for many years and perhaps too many years old to remember well. And my daughter was in girl scouts for a couple of years and worked with her group. In neither case was group singing emphasized, so that aspect of group activity may vary. However, I do remember that was singing we did do were songs like Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Down in the Valley. A lot the songs were made up songs to popular folk tunes, song that hyped the value of being a scout or a good scout. So, I probably got a lot of tunes in my head now but not the right lyrics. Scouts weren't suppose to sing about themes such as in Bank of the Ohio, etc. My daughter had even less singing in her troup even at camp outs. I guess the advent of taped music killed the incentive to be live. Also, there were canned lyrics about scouting to old folk tunes. A think scout lyrics are not memorable and the sophistication level of the kids today have outstripped the aims of the leaders. I tried to play and get sing-a-longs going and it was tough. Also, I would suggest that parents of scouts, in their 20's and 30's for the most part, don't do a lot of singing. So may be kids are reflecting what they find a home. My personal experience, however, has been that singing or playing music can be a real group cementing expereince and equalizer (most of the time). I think that group singing/playing should be more pushed in schools; one of the real team building expereinces around. |
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14 Aug 97 - 08:58 AM (#10384) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bert Hansell Try "Woad" & "Ricketi-tin". |
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14 Aug 97 - 09:21 AM (#10387) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Wolfgang Hell There is a German Songbook for Scouts on the web, which has quite a large section with English songs, about 10% of them folk. It gives a good impression what one particular group of German scouts are singing. All notes and link descriptions are in German. But if this does not deter you follow me to the English section of that songbook. Note that not all of their English songs, even not all folksongs, are found in this section. If you want to find all English songs you have to follow their other links. Good luck. Wolfgang |
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14 Aug 97 - 09:43 AM (#10391) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Peter T. Dear Jon, My experience as a participant and occasional leader of singalongs has been that it is very hard to get early teens to join in for pure singing. However, if you can get a guitar into their hands, and give them about two lessons they will put up with anything. They are desperate to learn how to play the guitar! If you round up as many guitars as you can find, and have someone give a crash course in the basics of chording and progressions on the guitar with as many of the kids in your troop as possible, using the songs you want to have them sing as the repertoire, then you will be away. What you need for the singsong is one adult player, and as many kid players as possible: the rest will (in my experience) sing along just to be part of the group because every teenager wants to be where there are massed guitars. To keep them interested in what you want them to sing, you (or whoever is doing this) will probably have to find one or two of their latest hits and work out the progressions, which are probably the usual three chords anyway. Yours, Peter |
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14 Aug 97 - 10:03 AM (#10393) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Peter T. A brief addendum. If you try this, you will be amazed at how stunned most kids are that their favorite songs are playable, and that there are about 5 chord sequences to learn, and maybe 4 keys. They have no idea that it is as simple as it is. They tend to think that most songs belong to some unbelievably complex distant universe - I assume this is because no one teaches music anymore in schools. And they taught it badly before. I once explained the 50's "Duke of Earl" progression (the old I-VI-II-IV-V-I) for a group of 13-14 year old kids, and they fell all over the floor laughing hysterically. They didn't believe that it was really just like that, and that you could do that so easily, and write other songs using the same sequence. They made me do it over and over again for hours. We sat around making up new do-wop songs for about half a day. They love -- LOVE! -- this stuff. Yours, Peter |
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14 Aug 97 - 10:59 AM (#10395) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: PattyG Gosh, what delightful memories come flooding back as I have read your recollections of scout and camping! I guess I would put "camp" songs into two groups - those sung on the bus on the way there and those sung at dusk around the campfire. (bus songs) Let's All Go Down To Washington D.C. They Built The Ship Titanic The Hot dog Man It's A Ford (got a little old pile of tin) Rise And Shine And Give God Your Glory Down By The Riverside Old Millstream (Down By The Old Latrine:) (mellow fireside songs) Tell Me Why White Choral Bells (upon a tender stalk) You Are My Sunshine Come By Here (Kumbiya sp?) Many, many more, but I'm drawing a blank. Such good times and such good songs! Anyone else?
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14 Aug 97 - 11:17 AM (#10399) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Whippoorwill Some of our camp favorites were:
I've Got Sixpence
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14 Aug 97 - 12:20 PM (#10408) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Alice Yellowstone National Park is celebrating it's 125th year, and this summer the NPR "Prairie Home Companion" visited complete with Garrison and others singing camp songs. Kids like the most irreverent and bizarre lyrics that they can get away with. You can probably get a copy of the program from NPR. There were some witty and heartwarming songs I had never heard, as well as the classics..."Great Big Gobs of Greasy, Grimy, Gopher Guts", et.al. For the teens, taking pop or rock songs and letting them ad lib, make up their own lyrics might work. Alice |
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14 Aug 97 - 12:42 PM (#10415) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jon W. Thanks for the suggestions, and thanks to Joe for starting this thread separate. I believe I'll do what Peter T. suggests and get guitars in their hands. I'll just add my 2 cents - some of the things I've tried that have worked. 1 - I used a sea shanty called "Strike the Bell" to give a lesson on teamwork. I played a recording of it done by a talented local group for the lesson. The scouts showed so much interest I taught it to them and we sang it at a court of honor, and got started on the Music merit badge that way. Conclusion: Let them hear a rollicking good recording of it so they'll know it's not just something "dumb old Jon" made up, and they'll be more inclined to learn it. 2 - I got them to build flutes (recorders or whistles, really) out of plastic pipe (another Music MB requirement fulfilled). Side note: there is a good recipe for these in the book _Making Wood Folk Instruments_ by Dennis Waring. Please keep the suggestions coming & thanks again. |
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14 Aug 97 - 12:57 PM (#10416) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: rechal@earthlink.net I haven't sung with kids in years, but in my experience, anything gross seems to go over well. In particular, I still hold close to my heart a series of songs set to a common military-type melody. I have no idea what this tune is called, but it's the one that the kids whistle in "The Breakfast Club." Some lyrics are:
Comet Will make your teeth turn green Comet It tastes like gasoline Comet Will make you vomit So get some Comet, and vomit, today!
Ajax Will make your teeth turn blue Ajax It smells like Elmer's Glue Ajax Will make you relax So get some Ajax, and relax, today!
Arrid It keeps your armpits dry Arrid It makes you smell, "Oh, my!" Arrid Helps you get marrid So get Arrid, and marrid, today!
Obviously, the possibilities are endless. |
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14 Aug 97 - 01:01 PM (#10417) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bob Landry Everything worked in my days as a Beaver leader. Those 5 to 7 year olds were willing to sing anything. I found Cub-aged kids to be tougher to please but you could still pick tunes out ot the standard boy scout song books - Start with "Mctavish is Dead" and get progressively gruesome from there. My last three years as a Scout leader wer frustrating from a musical perspective. I, a child of the 50's and 60's, found it difficult to compete with commercial radio. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I started to do rock & roll music. "Paint It Black" caught their attention. So did the Beatles' version of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" played it with a fast Chuck Berry rhythm. |
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14 Aug 97 - 07:39 PM (#10450) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: PattyG Wow! What fun this has been:) How could I have forgotten about "Do Lord!"???? Your lists brought to mind even more tunes. How about, "Stuck My Head In A Little Skunk's HOle", "John Brown's Body" (cold upon his chest), "Them Bones Gonna Rise Again", "Climbing Jacob's Ladder", "He's Got The Whole World In HIs Hands" and yes, I can hear that tune they whistled in "Breakfast Club", but no, I can't think of the title! The lyrics shared work perfectly though! (And do I really remember "Michael Rode The Boat Ashore" or would that just be a pretty one to sing? Oh! And "Where Have All The Flowers Gone"......gee.....can we all get together somewhere and sit around a campfire so we can sing these lovely tunes??! |
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14 Aug 97 - 08:47 PM (#10460) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Alice Was the whistle tune in "Breakfast Club" the "Bridge Over the River Kwai"? I think it fits the comet lyrics above... Alice |
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14 Aug 97 - 10:39 PM (#10469) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: PattyG Yes! That's it, I'm sure! |
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15 Aug 97 - 12:19 PM (#10502) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jon W. The whistle tune is called (Colonel?) (General?) Bogie's March, I believe. I remember the Comet verse from those days, thanks for the other verses! |
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15 Aug 97 - 02:15 PM (#10510) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Peter T. Yes, they are brief works of a kind of awesome genius. Arrid-marrid. Who could think up such things? Such is the wisdom of the unsung folk heroes who create these deathless parodies. May their memory be praised. Yours, Peter |
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15 Aug 97 - 11:49 PM (#10526) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bill Howdy Jon W and All, I've been away from it for several years, but I worked at Scout summer camps for many summers and was a Scoutmaster for about 15 years. I only remember one instance of a scout wanting to listen to recorded music on the trail. I was able to work through that one, and Ididn't mind some of the other music in camp as long as it didn't invade somebody else's (most often mine) space. I was not so kind, and would subject everyone to my singing constantly. And people joined in very often including lots of teenagers. I guess a certain firmness of attitude (we're going to do this whether you like it or not (and eventually you probably will end up liking it)), a really noticeable love of the songs and sharing them, and developing in as many scouts as possible the ability to lead at least one song themselves (always giving support to what was right, not criticism of what was wrong) led them to have enough confidence that I never had problems getting troops or camps full of scouts (and parents) to sing or to lead songs. Most of it at summer camp was done at the dining hall (after the meal or waiting in line for the meal (not sharing the music always seemed like a real drawback to jamboree-style cooking instead of having a central dining hall)) with different staff members recruited to lead the songs (and eventually after enough years at a given camp, would get volunteers from campers and leaders); at ceremonies such as flag raising or lowering; and for the culmination, at campfire programs with (depending on the size of the camp) every patrol being responsible for doing a skit and/or leading a song (both at small camps and just the one they signed up for (as long as it was a balanced program) if it was a large camp. The idea that they were not the only ones having to get up and make fools of themselves made a real difference. Those campfire programs almost always followed the course of the campfire with building songs and activities at the beginning, bright and blazing things in the middle, and a couple of quiet songs and a story or two at the end with the Scoutmaster's (Campmaster's) Minute. The use of carefully chosen cheer master(s) to help recognize all but the final performance(s) (and here, a touch of criticism might find it's way in with dud cheers for dud performances) kept things going and added to the enthusiasm. At the troop level, the same kinds of things would happen at campfires and ceremonies. Since I was able to help the scouts have fun with those, I was able to go the next step to get the PLC or TLC (or whatever initials are presently used for the scouts who lead the troop) to include a song in the opening and closing at each troop meeting so that they would have more material to draw upon for those campfire times. This also allowed the teaching of more songs. The material came from the scout materials (Songbook, Boys' Life or Scouting, Roundtable helps, Cub Scout materials) or from my own folk-style background. I was usually about the only one who played an instrument, and I would introduce and use whatever I could lay my hands on from recorders to dulcimers to autoharp to guitars and more. There were even times when scouts brought their band or orchestra instruments along for special occasions and we would rehearse together. But the overall key was that most of the songs were done a cappella, with plenty of repetition, started with easy or well-known things and worked into ones that took more ability or concentration, that scouts were given the chance (forced) to lead songs as soon as they seemed ready, encouraged to make a song their own so that they would have something to lead every time they needed to (until they decided to build a greater repertoire), and (I've left this out before) songs with motions were really encouraged so that even those who didn't sing (no confidence, voice changing, or that teacher who had told them that they couldn't sing) could still begin to participate and gradually gain confidence while keeping the new leader from feeling like the total center of attention since everyone else was also doing crazy things (and if the adult leaders refuse to do those crazy things, the scouts will also refuse and most of this will not work). I led and introduced many songs (changing constantly) and used instrumental accompaniment when it seemed appropriate (but didn't rely on it all the time since I knew the scouts wouldn't learn to lead the songs if that was all they heard me do) and every once in a while accompanied somebody else if asked. I knew I'd go on a long time here, but it's certainly too long now. There were some incredibly inspirational moments and great memories from all of that time singing in scouting, but that's another thread if anyone is interested.
Allinkausay, |
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16 Aug 97 - 04:08 AM (#10537) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Well, I'll tell ya, the longest song I ever sang was "The Ants Go Marching." Somebody asked me to lead 1500 Scouts in that song, but some sort of distraction came up just as I was starting the song. Nobody sang along, but there was no gracious way for me to stop singing. So, I sang all the way up to ten. I had sung that song with Scouts many times before and since without any problem; but that one time, the song seemed to last forever. I do think the song is now a little too "young" for kids over 12 or so. -Joe Offer- |
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16 Aug 97 - 04:09 PM (#10549) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: PattyG What?! You never sang "99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall"?! |
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16 Aug 97 - 09:38 PM (#10557) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Barry Finn 15 yrs ago a fellow living a few boats over showed me his scout songbook (1935 or 36), he had been a former sea scout & sailed on a tall ship, way back, with them. The book had alot of very interesting material in it, including something Stan Hugill had been looking to authenticate ( Way Hey For Boston Town O). As a scoutmaster it may still be available to you. Barry |
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17 Aug 97 - 12:55 AM (#10559) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Barry, the old Boy Scout Songbooks have become collectables. People get big bucks for those things now. They were pretty good songbooks Way Back When, but they've edited most of the fun songs out of the newer editions, for fear of being politically incorrect. We renegade scout leaders have preserved the canon of disgusting and obnoxious songs, passing them on by photocopy or word of mouth. As you say, the old songbooks had chanteys and all sorts of good stuff. I'm afraid nobody has tried to continue their use in Scouts. I tried to teach some of the old songs at a leader training session once, and was told to stick to the official songbook after that. -Joe Offer- |
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17 Aug 97 - 10:58 AM (#10574) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Barry Finn Joe, sorry to here that, I'm sure you could pass on stuff that would be well remembered & enjoyed. My 6th grade teacher (a nun), taught us Dylan's A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, right after he recorded it, when the folk boom of the 60's hit I was ready for it. Barry |
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18 Aug 97 - 12:57 PM (#10662) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jon W. Variations of "Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts" I've heard from scouts in my troop, and camp staff: Here we sit like birds in the wilderness...waiting to be fed. Here we sit like flies on a garbage pail...waiting for the rest to come. Here we sit like flies on a kybo seat...waiting... Kybo (pronouced with a long I in first syllable) is what the camp staffs around here call a latrine or porta-potti. It stands for Keep Your Bowels Open. |
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18 Aug 97 - 03:45 PM (#10681) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: rechal Anybody ever sing this one (to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic):
I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it's hot And I wear my flannel nightie in the winter when it's not And sometimes in the blooming spring And sometimes in the fall I jump right in between the sheets with nothing on at all!
Glory, glory, what's it to ya? (3x) If I jump right in between the sheets with nothing on at all!
This was considered quite racy among the nine-year old set. |
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18 Aug 97 - 06:33 PM (#10710) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jerry Friedman, jfriedman@nnm.cc.nm.us I remember singing "Dunderbeck" at summer camp--suitably gruesome. Also, try searching for @teaser in the DT. Until the kids get used to singing, you might want to avoid the serious songs or stick with irresistible ones like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Let's not forget "When it's Hog-Calling Time in Nebraska". I was just now astonished to find that "birds in the wilderness" doesn't hit anything in the DT. In Dorothy Sayers's classic mystery novel and play _Busman's Honeymoon_ (c. 1938), there's to be a choral recital in the village, and the folk part of the program includes "Shenandoah" (a worthwhile suggestion for older campers, by the way--start soft and get loud) and "Down in Demerara". The characters see the latter song listed on an advance program and all start singing it, even Lord and Lady Peter Wimsey: Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, [etc.] Down in Demerara. Now this old man he took and died-a-lum, [etc.] Down in Demerara. Is this the original of which the kybo seats and their like are parodies? Does anyone know any more about it? Boys old enough for changed voices might enjoy "Deep River" and "The Mariners' Hymn" ("Eternal Father, strong to save..."). On a car trip a few months ago, I sang "Four Wet Pigs" to a ten-year-old girl and was "rewarded" by incessant requests during the next few days. And now as a contribution to the DT, here's one my brother and sister learned at Red Raider Camp in Russell Twp., Ohio, in the late '60s. Corn What did we do when we needed corn? Plowed and we sowed in the early morn. (repeat verse) Chorus: Our hands are strong, our hearts are young, Our dreams are the dreaming of all ages long. What did we do when we needed a town? Hammered and we nailed till the sun went down. (repeat verse) Chorus What do we do when there's peace to be won? More than one man has to do all alone. We gather friends from the ends of the earth To lend us a hand in the hour of birth. We'll plow, we'll sow, we'll hammer and we'll nail, We'll work all day till peace is will.* Chorus *"till peace prevail", maybe? Does anyone know where this song is from? |
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18 Aug 97 - 07:12 PM (#10712) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jon W Rechal, I was taught the pink pajamas song as a scout in California. We had another verse that went like this (referring to the BSA region we were in):
That's the way they do in Utah, Arizona and Nevada |
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18 Aug 97 - 08:11 PM (#10716) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Alice The book "Wee Sing Silly Songs" is a treasure of camp and kids songs. Included is this one... I can't at the moment remember the original title of the tune.
Go Get The Ax
Peepin' through the knothole of Grandpa's wooden leg
I fell from the window, a second story window,
A horsey stood around with his feet upon the ground, |
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19 Aug 97 - 10:57 AM (#10751) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Laoise, Belfast Wolfgang, Is this what young German kids are singing these days? Mother Mary, there's songs about transvestites (Walk on the Wild Side & Lola) drug related songs (Cocaine & Needle and the damage done) and songs with explicit sexual lyrics (Honkytonk Woman). I wonder if they understand English? I'm always a sucker for a camp fire and always have my guitar ready just in case. My favourites when I was younger were the Monkeys- here we come, that song from the Jungle book, you know the one sung by the Orangatan - I'm the king of the Jungle... My Dad taught me a song once but I've long since forgotten it - it went something like "Aba daba daba daba daba daba dab, said the Monkey to the Chimp" Anyone know it? It was sung in a film by Debbie Reynolds (I think). When we were very young (6 - 12) my sisters, my cousins and I used to put on shows for my parents, Grandparents and relatives. We used to do themes like orphan Annie, making up our own songs or singing any song we knew vaguely. One time my Dad overheard us rehersing and came into the room in fits of hysterics. He told us, between giggles, that the song we were doing wouldn't be suitable for our Grandparents. It was a song we had learnt off the TV comedy programme "Not the Nine O'Clock News" and the chorus went "I like trucking, I like trucking, I like trucking and I like to truck". We were totally innocent of the implications of the lyrics. So I guess German kids aren't the only ones being subjected to raunchy lyrics. Putting on our own shows when we were kids was excellent fun. We would all get our own bit to do as well as singing in harmony. We acted a bit, we even did our own made-up adverts in the interval! We would dress up and set up a stage with spotlights on us so that it really was like producing our own show. As far as our parents were concerned, it kept us quiet and occupied, although there were always arguments as to who got the lead role etc. ah - those were the days! Laoise. |
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19 Aug 97 - 12:23 PM (#10766) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: rechal@earthlink.net "I Had A Dog And His Name Was Blue" is a personal favorite of mine. Kids (all right, my friends and I) seem to enjoy really stretching out the "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere, Ole Blue" part.
Have you tried a simple blues riff that kids can make up lyrics to? That can keep both grownups and kids happily occupied for hours. Last summer, I spent an evening with about eight adults and four kids making up lyrics about the evening, each other, and the kids' large dog, who was named Buck. My contribution was: (to the tune of (I had me a cat...the cat says fiddle-i-fee.)
I had me a dog, and his name was Buck Wish I could think of something That rhymed with Buck....
Years ago, one of my girlfriends had a boyfriend named Bud, whom we called Buddha. Buddha owned a small landscaping company, and we spent many happy hours extolling his praises to the tune that drill sergeants sing when marching their recruits around the base. (I'm sure the tune has a name, but I can't think of it.)
Buddha's gang works real hard They put the voodoo on your yard.
Buddha's got a pickup truck Your friends will say your yard don't suck.
Buddha there and Buddha here Buddha wanna have a beer
(Nobody ever said these verses had to make sense.)
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20 Aug 97 - 04:56 AM (#10824) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Wolfgang Laoise, I do not know whether they are actually singing all of these songs, but this mixture of English, German, Pop, and Folk, old and young gives you in general a good idea of their singing. We are exposed (radio) to about 50% English music, 40 % German, and 10% French, Italian, and Spanish. So English is eagerly accepted as a language for singing, whether you understand the words or not. When I was a boy scout, we nearly exclusively sang songs in German language though several of them were translated from other languages. Little we cared about folk or pop origin. But when we first went abroad (Scotland) our scoutmaster insisted we learned songs in English as well (in case we were asked to sing; we were, of course, but people prefered us singing in German). So I learned "Should old acquaintance..." and "Loch Lomond" without understanding the words then. Later on we enjoyed singing everything which could be considered raunchy, or in any respect objectionable. So we thought it fun to sing "God shave the queen" or "We make Ian Paisley join the IRA" in the streets of Belfast. In my experience, the love of singing just anything comes first, and the real understanding of the lyrics and the developing of a taste for the music comes later. But of course a parent or educator can influence that taste. And I'm doing the best I can with my baby daughter. Wolfgang |
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20 Aug 97 - 07:56 AM (#10832) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Sharon One of my favorites, we sang from tent to tent? Did you ever see a deer fly, a deer fly, a deer fly? Did you ever see a deer fly, now you tell us one. Cake walk, Cookie stand, etc... What other lines could we use? |
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20 Aug 97 - 10:25 AM (#10843) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Whip Square dance, bed spring, shaving mug.... Now you tell us one. |
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20 Aug 97 - 12:03 PM (#10856) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Laoise, Belfast Wolfgang, I would have much more trouble understanding German songs since the only German I know comes from Yiddish. Geshundheit! I found the repertoire of the boy scouts very amusing and I doubt many English speakers on listening to those songs would have a clue to what they were referring to. I was once lucky enough to be friends with a German girl who was living in London, who belonged to a very exclusive folk club in Germany. She gave me a wee book that the group had produced with some lovely folk tunes, lyrics and music from England, Scotland, Ireland and America. The artistry in the book was brilliant. From my experience, German people are much more interested in British Folk music than English people. Cheers for the site, it was fun to go through.
Did you ever see an arm chair, a book mark, a hat stand, a paper clip...Now you tell us one. - I LIKE this game! Laoise. |
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20 Aug 97 - 12:07 PM (#10859) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Laoise, Belfast Sorry, I couldn't resist posting another one before I leave the office. Did you ever see a P C...geddit? Laoise (should have typed anon!) |
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20 Aug 97 - 03:40 PM (#10884) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: rechal Did you ever see a fish fry? cat box? dog bowl? Now you tell us one. |
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21 Aug 97 - 01:00 AM (#10936) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Lora in Pa Hey - we THINK we came up with a good idea. What dya'all think of it? We decided this summer to try to make a tape Of general sing alongs/ patriotic songs/ standard folk & classic songs and finally of "each den make up their own verse " songs. Then at the beginning of the year we're planning to give a copy of the tape & lyrics to each den leader. They'll learn a song or two in dens before each pack meeting. We kinda thought one of the biggest problems was with getting everyone to know the words. If it "dies" while you're trying to get a group thing going because no one remembers the words, it's hard to resurrect it - or even to attempt another. When they know them it - it's much better Here's a few we found to be great - On top of spaghetti - One Bottle of Pop (round) Salvation Army ( change change it a little if you find it objectionable ) This Land is your Land Throw it out the window (Trout fishings version of nursery rhymes) PS We've got a scouting web site started(barely) - so all you scouters visit us & send us some songs - we'll make a site of them at www.directquest.com/Scouting.htm |
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21 Aug 97 - 04:25 AM (#10942) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Wolfgang Laoise, Rechal, I'm slow, sometimes. I pondered about the last line in your Post, Laoise, without success. Rechal's post made me understand it. |
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21 Aug 97 - 08:22 PM (#11014) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Alice Did you ever see a rubber stamp? a tooth pick? a foot powder? Now you tell us one. |
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22 Aug 97 - 04:07 AM (#11033) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Lora in PA, I think "Threw it Out the Window" is much, much older than Trout Fishing in America. I think it was in the Boy Scout or Cub Scout songbook years ago. I learned it in Scouts in the 1950's. I can't remember much of it, but here's a verse for example's sake: Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard To get her poor dog a bone But when she got there The cupboard was So she threw it out the window, the window, the second-story window. And so forth. I wish I could find some of those old Scout songbooks I used to have, Since they're worth a lot of money now But I never really liked them So I threw them out the window..... -Joe Offer- |
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29 Aug 97 - 09:25 AM (#11483) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bill in Alabama There is an Official Scout Songbook at the following: www.usscouts.scouter.com/songs/songbook.html |
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29 Aug 97 - 11:49 AM (#11490) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: yoicks Oh, joy! I love the internet when I find people who are interested in the same stuff I am. I did a lot of singing as a girl scout in the mid-sixties to early seventies, and am currently trying to make myself a sort of a list of the songs I remember. It just keeps getting longer! But in the search for lyrics I stumbled across a book called SONG FEST, edited by Dick and Beth Best with versions from 1948 and 1955 which is worth trying to find through interlibrary loan. Lots of rude, funny songs with appeal to teens (although some of them are really offensive, so pick with care and change words!) as well as some lovely songs that I remember quite fondly. The books were done for the Intercollegiate Outing Club Association. Included are tunes like "Pink Pajamas" "The Hearse Song" and a number of parodies. "Throw it Out the Window" is there too. Short funny and repeating songs seem to work best with kids who are not used to singing, but once they can carry a tune reliably, rounds and canons are popular. Yoicks! and away! |
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29 Aug 97 - 06:47 PM (#11512) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Jerry Friedman To get back to something mentioned earlier, the "theme from The Bridge on the River Kwai" is indeed called "Colonel Bogie" (Bogey?). It was used by Comet in commercials before my time--"Comet, it makes your sink turn green." The other parodies are presumably the work of some inspired madman. |
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30 Aug 97 - 01:40 AM (#11549) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer I almost forgot - there's a wonderful book called "Creative Campfires," by Douglas R. Bowen. I think it's still available from Thorne Printing Company, Inc., 623 - 12th Avenue Road, Nampa, Idaho 83651. This book saved me any number of times when I was in the creativity doldrums. It has skits, jokes, stories, stunts, and SONGS. Good stuff. Oh, and then there's a little lifesaver book published by the Boy Scouts called "Group Meeting Sparklers," which I think is the absolute best book the Scouts ever published (the Cub Scout Activity Book runs a close second). I hope it's still in print. -Joe Offer- |
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11 Apr 98 - 11:31 AM (#25618) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Here's a link to A Prairie Home Companion Camp-Song Songbook. I proudly point out that there were songs submitted by Offers on both sides of the continent. My sister and I are both former camp counselors - or maybe it's more correct to say we've been camp counselors all our lives.... -Joe Offer, back from a week at camp- |
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11 Apr 98 - 12:12 PM (#25619) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Ralph Butts Also try:
Campfire Sing-Along Index
Campfire Song Book - indexed by title
ScoutBase UK - Campfire Songs ....Tiger |
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09 Jul 98 - 02:23 PM (#32157) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bo When this thread came around the first time, there was no way that I was going to be singing for cubs\scouts. Things have changed! It was great to remember this thread as a resource, thank you folks. Bo A special thanks to Joe. |
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09 Jul 98 - 07:03 PM (#32183) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Congratulations, Bo!!! Pretty soon, you'll start feeling the effects of the biggest lie ever told in Scouting, "It's only an hour a week!" I finally escaped, after about 25 years, but I enjoyed every hour of it. -Joe Offer- |
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19 Sep 98 - 02:56 PM (#38627) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Say, kids, if you're in the mood for obnoxious songs and such, Click here. I think this is the most extensive collection of camp songs I've encountered. There are some mistakes in spelling and content, I suppose, but I guess we can chalk that up to the "folk process" or the "oral tradition." Whatever the case, it sure is a great collection. -Joe Offer- |
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14 Oct 98 - 07:39 PM (#41704) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Allan S. Joe offer you only have how many years in Scouting I have 47 Help Years ago At camp Sequassen Chief Bogan would sing the following song at the final banquet A scoutmasters life is a blessing a Blessing I never could see For the only thing that the campers do is just to pester me. Have you got change for a quarter will you show me a hickory tree My hat fell down in the La La La wilyou fish it out for me
What time does the trading post open do they give away meal tickets free? |
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15 Oct 98 - 12:27 AM (#41737) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe DeAngelo I've had moderate success with "There was an old woman who swallowed a fly" , "What do you do with a drunken sailer", and "The sloop John B." |
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15 Oct 98 - 12:47 AM (#41741) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe Offer Allan, you've got me beat by a long shot. At most, I did 30 years in Scouting, and now I'm retired - my Cub Scout pack folded. I sure like your song. Brings back memories, I'll tell ya. -Joe Offer- |
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15 Oct 98 - 12:58 AM (#41742) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Bo THE SONG at Everton Camp this year: Simple tune with silly actions. There was a great big moose! He liked to drink a lot of Juice. This Great big moose, He liked to drink a lot of juice. The moose's name was fred! He liked to drink his juice in bed The moose's name was fred. He liked to drink his juice in bed. (Action chorus of silly words) He drank his juice with care! But he spilled it on his hair He drank his juice with Care! But he spilled it on his hair. Action chorus as silly as you can lead them
Then late by the fire! You know the moose became a squire
Hello Sir Moose! How'd you like a little Juice Hello Sir Moose! How'd you like a little Juice!
Does anyone know where the heart of this song comes from? Or who might have originally written it?
Bo |
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15 Oct 98 - 12:18 PM (#41807) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: Joe DeAngelo I've had moderate success with "There was an old woman who swallowed a fly" , "What do you do with a drunken sailer", and "The sloop John B." |
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28 Nov 10 - 08:16 PM (#3042407) Subject: RE: Songs for Scouts From: GUEST,Frank Savino Jr I spent Friday at Sequassen and enjoyed the day with my siblings and family. Does anyone have the Camp Sequassen song that was sung at camp fires there? Frank |