Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...

Subject: from the fading ditto sheets...
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:21 PM

I've got a lot of old girl scout songs that I want to have a place to post, and Joe said that it would be better to have a thread, and then put "Lyr Add" on the messages, so I've finally worked up my nerve to do it. And surely there are people besides me who have way too many songs on way too many bits and pieces of paper.

Now if I can just figure out abc notation!

Subject: LYR ADD: Counselor Blues
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:23 PM


COUNSELOR BLUES

Chorus (sung whenever you feel like you need to get everyone else to join in while you desperately think of another verse):
Don't you think that I'm complaining
Don't you think that I am down,
I'll always be all right as long as you're around.

I was standing still and someone came along and tied my shoes together,
And I don't know what to do so I'm going to sing this song to you all night
And all day, and all night!

We are coneheads, we are from France, we travel in pairs,
We consume everything in mass quantities
Stimulate us, stimulate us, stimulate us, affirmative

Watermelon, watermelon, watermelon, pomogranites, grapefruit, avocado…

I still have crust in my eyes from getting up too early…

And the milk on my special K, well it done turned sour…

Ever try to make an announcement hand have all the words come out funny…

Ever been hit with a cherry pit **(spoken) and find the pit in your pocket two weeks later - still wet and gathering mold? Yick!

I have horse dung stuck in the cracks of my soles and I can't find anywhere to scrape them

I ordered 18 chickens from the Ad staff and they're still complaining…

I work with horses all day and I can't get the dirt from underneath my fingernails…

Every time I sterilise I always seem to get Clorox in my eyes…

Next time you see Shorty there, throw her in the horse trough she loves it there, spends extra time there… DO IT TO HER….

I can't get on my horse 'cause I have syrup stuck between my knees from the pancakes I had this morning for breakfast….

My legs are so hairy I can braid them down to my toes, up to my nose, around my shoulders…

Some of the staff have hats that you can shape them anyway you want to…but don't ask them about it…

Someone has to tell the riding staff that they own horses, not turkeys, or greyhounds, or turtles, will they ever learn…

The staff hut is now not used anymore for a recreational facility, it is used as a hospital,
Watchout there are now ten people, fifteen…twenty…oh NO, the whole staff!

You better not raid packout anymore or else Scratch will come and find you and get you,
And you'll be sorry…PUT IT BACK, PUT IT BACK, PUT IT BACK, OR I'LL REMOVE YOUR HEAD

I lost my chapstick and my lips are bleeding down to my chin…

The ad staff is always willing to dress up, just ask Flint about her yellow dress and garter….

Everyone must have three cups of water at every meal or Cedar will find you and say
SALT SALT SALT OR DEHYDRATE….

Every unit has a CB but they don't always work…but that's okay, they are just there for security…

I have sunburn on the creases of my elbows…

I sleep on the floor and I have these funny critters knocking at my door…

(sung at the end of camp when the children had gone away. This version is from around 1977, Flying G Ranch, Colorado)

CD

Subject: LYR ADD: Cuckoo Song
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:26 PM

CUCKOO SONG

From out the battered elm tree,
The owl cries out I'm here
And from the distant forest
The cuckoo answers clear

Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo

Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, you're out too soon,
The sun is still in the sky.
Go back to bed and cover up your head
And wait til the day's gone by.

(I learned it around 1977, Colorado. It's sung as a three part round. And I came across the first part in French, I think, once, but with a different translation.)
CD

Subject: LYR ADD: Cuckoo, Cuckoo
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:28 PM


CUCKOO CUCKOO

Cuckoo, Cuckoo
Calling out clear
Long live the chorus
Happy and joyous
Springtime, Springtime
Soon will be here.

(I learned this in school, Denver, mid to late 60s.)

CD

Subject: LYR ADD: If all the raindrops were gum drops...
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:27 PM


IF ALL OF THE RAINDROPS WERE LEMON DROPS AND GUM DROPS

If all of the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
Oh what a rain it would be
I'd sit outside with my mouth open wide and
Ah ah ah ah ah ah aaaah

(the way I learned it from the five year olds in 1983, Denver)

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
Oh what a rain it would be
I wouldn't mind if the sun never shined
I'd keep on hoping for raindrops all the time.
If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops,
Oh what a rain it would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
If all the rain drops were lemon drops and gum drops
Oh what a rain it would be.

(As given in ditto sheets from girl scout camp, Colorado, 1977. I just don't remember singing it!)

CD

Subject: LYR ADD: Gypsy life
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:29 PM


GYPSY LIFE
(also called FARIA)

A gypsy's life is free and gay, o faria,
No taxes need a gypsy pay, o faria.
What care we for wind and damp,
Deep in the woods where we make our camp.
Faria faria faria faria faria

Thirst, it is a cruel thing, o faria,
But we know a clear, cool spring, o faria,
Where the water tastes like wine,
Bubbling up like champagne fine.
Faria faria faria faria faria

When the sun has sunk down low, o faria
In a circle campfires glow. o faria
Nut brown maiden dance within
While I scrape on the old violin.
Faria faria faria faria faria

(girl scouts, Colorado, mid 1960s "faria" is pronounced like "fairy ah")

CD

Subject: LYR ADD: Neath these tall Green Trees
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:30 PM

NEATH THESE TALL GREEN TREES

Neath these tall green trees we stand,
Asking blessings from thy hand.
Thanks we give to thee above,
For thy everlasting love.

(grace, girl scouts, late 1960's Colorado)
CD

Subject: LYR ADD: TINA
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:31 PM

TINA

Tina singu eleiu taia
Watcheou watcheou watchou
(repeat)
Watcheou watcheou watcheou
(repeat)
la la la la la la la la la la la …

(I remember the tune for the first part (and that we usually grunted "tina" after a line of "watcheous") but I don't remember the la la part… Ah well. Colorado, Girl Scouts, 1977)

(That year a girl scout was killed near one of the camps, not in Colorado, so one unit sang this as:

We're from Ranger and we know karate
Watchout watchout watchout…)

CD

---

It was recorded by the Weavers. See this thread (click). -Joe Offer-

Subject: LYR ADD: Hunting morning
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:32 PM


HUNTING MORNING

Tis a southerly wind and cloudy sky proclaiming a hunting morning
Tis over the hills and away we fly, no sleep our downy beds scorning
To horses my men and away, bright phoebus the hills adorning.
The face of all nature is gay, it's a beautiful hunting morning.
Hark hark follow, tally ho, tally ho, tally ho. (x2)

(girl scouts, Colorado, early 1970s, although the ditto sheet is from 1977.)

CD

Subject: LYR ADD: Ish
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 08:33 PM


ISH

Ish ka-da-vish ka-da-vish umpah
Umpah umpah umpah-pah
(repeat)
O mack o day, o mack o day
O pah mo shay, o pah mo shay
(repeat)
Ish ka da vish ka da vish umpah
Umpah umpah umpah-pah
Ish!

(girl scouts, Colorado, 1977 the mackoday pomoshay lines were sung back and forth from leader to group.)

CD

Subject: RE: from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST,TigsCat
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 02:47 PM

rabbitrunning, I saw in another thread that your nickname at camp was Scratch! I remember you, you were one of my camp counselors in the 80's. :)

Subject: RE: from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST,Jody
Date: 16 Oct 12 - 09:01 AM

I came on line looking for this song specifically. I remember singing this in the Girl Scouts in the late 60's/early to the mid 70's. I grew up in the Baltimore MD area. This was one of my favorites. Thnx for posting this. This song really takes me back. This is the only place that I could find this version of the lyrics that I remember.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 12:50 AM

A gypsys life is gay and free
no wealth has he
what care we for darkest night
oer our heads the stars are bright
never a worry
and never a hurry
.........

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: open mike
Date: 24 Jan 13 - 07:11 PM

there are over 100 posts on this thread...perhaps they can be combined
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=11100

---

For a number of reasons, I'd prefer these two threads not be combined. Note that they are crosslinked, so people can find them easily. No need to refresh two threads.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST,Claire Addison
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 03:31 PM

Looking for lyric that includes, "...new lamps for old, tarnished ones for gold. Aladdin is selling new lamps for old."

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: Susan of DT
Date: 12 Jun 13 - 09:26 PM

I know that Tina song, above, but had not clue about the spelling or what language it might be. Also no la la's. New York girl scout 1950s.

Subject: ADD: Aladdin's Lamp (New Lamps for Old)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 13 - 02:24 AM

Claire, how's this?

Silver Bay Prize Songs

A song-writing competition was a regular feature of YWCA collegiate women’s conferences at Silver Bay. In 1920, the winner was “Follow the Gleam,” a song which had a long life, sung at the close of the Lutheran Summer Conference for many years. I’ve since found two more Prize Songs; I’m afraid I have only the words at the moment, but you can imagine young women’s voices raised in song:

Smith College Prize Song, 1921

Sunlight is gleaming o’er mountain heights,
Earth's radiant loveliness thrills with her youth.
Moonlight shines over the water
While Silver Bay beckons to follow the Truth.

Join now in brotherhood, spreading the Gospel
That warfare and discord may cease.
Let us in humble devotion march forward
And follow our Christ, Prince of Peace.

“Aladdin’s Lamp” (“New Lamps for Old”) Silver Bay Prize Song, 1923

In the land of dreaming bright with colors gay,
Strolled a care-free singer at the dawn of day.
He was called Aladdin and he sang his wares
In the land of dreaming never touched by cares.

Old lamps for new,
Tarnished ones for true,
Aladdin is selling
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new.

In the land of dreaming bright with colors gay,
Strolled a care-free singer at the dawn of day.
He was called Aladdin and he sang his wares
In the land of dreaming never touched by cares.

Old lamps for new,
False ones for true,
Silver Bay, we are bringing
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new,
Old lamps for new.

In the land of dreaming bright with colors gay,
Strolled a care-free singer at the dawn of day.
He was called Aladdin and he sang his wares
In the land of dreaming never touched by cares.

New lamps for old,
Silver ones for gold,
Silver Bay you have brought us
New lamps for old,
New lamps for old,
New lamps for old,
New lamps for old.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 01:19 AM

The highlight of my Souting career was the Senior Girl Scout Roundup in Idaho in 1965. But I was from the S.F. Bay Area Girl Scout Council. I went to camp every single Summer in the Sierras. We sang on the bus all the way to camp, sang all day & night at camp, and sang on the bus all the way home. I never wrote songs down. But I can be standing in the shower -- and suddenly burst out with "I love the flowers. I love the daffodils. I love the mountains. I love the rolling hills. I love to laugh and love to sing for all these beautiful things. Something like: do be watta, do be watta, do be watta, do be watta. ... Sing it all again.

It was better then. We could sing Hava Nagila. We could sing "oh you can!t get to Heaven on roller skates, 'cause you'll roll right by those pearly gates." We could sing "Ching Chang goo"... and Heaven help us if we sang that now. Political correctness has put a damper on singing anything & everything.

   My brother is r.v.ing around the country. Suddenly "A gypsy's life is free & gay O Faria popped into my head. But I couldn't remember all the words. I tried the Internet expecting nothing. But here it is!!! Bravo, ladies. I remember almost every song you have written here. A girl named Kathy wrote down all our songs -- and wrote a great one called "High Sierra". Maybe I could remember her last name. Also, ladies from S.F Bay Council recorded songs on tapes. You have launched me into preparation for a Roundup reunion in 2015 -- 50 years! OMG.

Donna Marie LONG [e-mail]   Love ya.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST,Donna Marie LONG
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 01:43 AM

I forgot to say there is a record (yes, an l.p.) called "Songs of Roundup" recorded at the 1965 Roundup. Mine was broken in a move about 5 years ago. I was heart-broken. But it is on amazon.com for $25. Don't know why they have, but I must remember to Remind my iPhone I MUST purchase it. Whow is any one who breaks this one!! If I could copy the album, would you like a copy? What medium would you want it on? Where would I send it? I can hear my daughters: put it on uTube. How do I do that??

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 02:06 PM

If you have grand kids, get one of them to upload it to Youtube.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 02:47 PM

Cuckoo Song

From out the battered elm tree,
The owl's cry we hear.
And from the distant forest
The cuckoo answers clear.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, Tu-Whit Tu-Whit Tu-Woo
Cuckoo, cuckoo, Tu-Whit Tu-Whit Tu-Woo

As I recall it.
Of course, for it to be the same tune the earlier version would need 5 cuckoos in each line to meet the same scansion.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: open mike
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 03:54 PM

better hurry on that Songs of Roundup it looks like there is only one!
hope you got it!

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 02:22 PM

The date given on "A Gypsy Life" is incorrect since we sang this in Scouts in the late fifties when I lived in Germany. It was always one of my favorites. Since my two youngest grandchildren are in Scouts, I decided to look through some of the old songs to tell them about them. Thanks for the site.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 07:25 PM

A verse from À Gipsy Life, Faria, is quoted in both English and German in the book, Germany and it`s Gypsies, A Post-Auschwitz View, Gilad Margalit.
No date is given, but the lines suggest prior to WW1.

Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben... Faria, Faria, Ho
Er braucht dem Kaiser
Kein Zins zu geben;
Lustig was es em in grunen Wald, (umlaut u- keyboard acting up)
Wo der Zigeuner Aufenhalt.

Jolly is the Gipsy`s life...Faria, Faria, Ho
He needs to pay
The Kaiser no tribute;
Jolly it is in the green forest
Where the Gipsy lives.

A reference is given, but the Google excerpt does not include the references.

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 09:03 PM

I was a Girl Scout for many years (now (68) and spent some summers at camp. The was another verse to the Aladdin song I am looking to the words for. It went something like this:

In the land of living
Dark with colors gray
Careworn strangers gather
At the break of day
They are called the seekers
Of Aladdin's wares
In the land of living
Never free from cares

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Dec 20 - 09:16 PM

I remember those mimeographed ditto sheets
with the fading blue ink!

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jun 22 - 04:58 PM

If you search the internet, you can find that book called “Germany and Its Gypsies” that claims there is a German folk song with words similar to the ones we know, as mentioned above.
It is fun to find a source of a song that has been part of my personal “folk song” collection and to see others discuss it here. The gypsies may not have been as envied in the original song, but camping and singing with friends made me feel “free and gay.”

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: Joe_F
Date: 29 Jun 22 - 05:49 PM

I don't know if it's actually a Girl Scout song, but once I was in a train car that was otherwise entirely occupied by Girl Scouts (Girl Guides, actually -- this was in Britain), and they were singing "Does your chewing-gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?".

Subject: RE: Girl Scout songs - from the fading ditto sheets...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 30 Jun 22 - 06:55 AM

> Does your chewing-gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

I remember that being sung by Lonnie Donegan, though I've no idea without checking whether that was recorded before or after My Old Man's a Dustman (which so enraged John Peele). It's certainly quite firmly in Donegan 2 territory.