Top Ten Campfire songs

Subject: Top Ten Campfire Singpalongs
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 02:54 PM

I've been asked to provide music for a Sunday School cook-out next week. The group is 40-50 years old, so I thought I'd do "sing-alongs from high school days." What I'm looking for are songs we sang in the late 60s early 70s at church campouts, etc. I'd like suggestions for top 10 Christian and top 10 folk/general (Some fit in both categories). The ones to came to my mind immediately are:

"Blowing In the Wind"
"Do Lord"
"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"
"If I Had a Hammer"
"Kum-ba-yah"
"Michael Row the Boat Ashore"
"Nah-Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey Good-bye" (I know it's not folk, but the non-musicians enjoy playing along on their coke cans)
"Pass It On"
"The Last Thing on My Mind"

I'm sure there are dozens of others that when you post them I'll say "Of course, how could I have forgotten that one?." So, please offer suggestions.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: ballpienhammer
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 06:08 PM

Wim-o-we, the lion sleeps tonight
B-I-N-G-O
Goodnight Irene
On top of old smokey
Michael, row the boat ashore
Puff the magic dragon
Hey, lilee lilee lo[sp](about a hundred impromptu lyrics added in a go      around)
Froggy went a courtin'
Row, row, row your boat (as a round)
Annie Laurie
Old black joe
...I guess I kind of told ya my age, didn't I?

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Midchuck
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 07:45 PM

I Ain't Gonna Grieve My Lord No More

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (Yeah, I realize that wouldn't work well for a Sunday School function, but...)

Jacob's Ladder

Most of the others that come to mind immediately are even worse for a Sunday School function...far worse.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: open mike
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:29 PM

if you really are going to have a campfire-
(something we rarely do in california due to fire danger)
you could sing Rise up Oh Flame
songs with hand action/motion are always fun--
like Ragtime Cowboy Joe
another round is White Coral Bells.
Gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the river side,
aint a gonna study war no more...
We Shall not Be moved,,,
and then there is this countin song
where, like the 12 days of christmas, each verse is repeated.
Green Grown the Rushes, ho.
good luck and let us know which ones you choose!!
Laurel

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Roy H
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:32 PM

Have you seen Jesus My Lord

Come to the Water

Takes a worried Man

Tom Dooly

In The Gardin

Amazing Grace

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Night Owl
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:37 PM

a couple more.....

Sloop John B.

The Ash Grove

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Night Owl
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:39 PM

and "The Water Is Wide"....and......and...

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: wilco
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:12 AM

My suggestion is to get a bunch of old church hymnals, that were popular back then. Hopefully, they will have many of the old songs that they remember. If you have an e-mail list of the attendees, get them to e-mail you their requests beforehand, giving you time to get
copies of the lyrics together.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Steve-o
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:59 PM

Add "Jamaica Farewell" and "MTA" and "Country Roads"....3 songs that area absolute staples of campfire singouts. Everyone loves 'em.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 06:32 PM

Thanks for the suggestions; you're doing great.
Keep them coming.
What I want is songs that are so familiar (to the general public, not just folkies)that lyric sheets aren't needed. Also familier enough (and easy enough to play) that I can play and sing them in the dark. Many of the above fit into this category, but I'd like to have a few more to choose from. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Tinker
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:06 PM

Okay this is fun, I got to take out the old camp lists... vs the new ones where these would have to be seriously modified....

Rise and Shine
Give Me Oil in My Lamp
Lonesome Valley
Up Above My Head ( ANy echo songs are great)
Jesus Met the Woman
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Down by the River side
Standing in the Need of Prayer
Amen
This Little Light of Mine
Pharaoh, Pharaoh


Leaving on a Jet Plane
Today
Hot Time in the Ol Town
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Flea
500 Miles
This Train
Bamboo
Pick a Bale of Cotton
We Shall Over Come
Sippin Cider
Shenandoah


I think these all fit the play in the dark, anyone can sing catagory.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:18 PM

Tinker,
I like your lists, but have to admit there are two I'm not familiar with: "Flea", and "Up Above My Head." (Or maybe I just don't know them by your titles?). Pharoah Pharoah - That's the one to the tune of "Louie Louie," right? I didn't know anyone else knew it!

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:37 PM

Hmmm. How about
There' a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Grand Old Duke of York (which I've always hated)
The Rooster (well, maybe not for church camp...
My Gal's a Corker (our camp director liked it, I didn't)
The Deacon Went Down (I Ain't Gonna Grieve)

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Tinker
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:37 PM

Pharoah, Pharoah is still a camp favorite out at Church camp here in Jersey. It's in Songs by Yohann Anderson ( Songs and Creations ) which a great source for church/camp songs. Flea is aloso known as Vista in one song book I have.

FLEA (VISTA)
Echo Chant
Establish Rhythm by clapping and slapping legs

Flea! (Echo)
Flea Fly! (echo)
Flea, fly flo. (echo)
Vista (echo)
Gumala, Gumala, Gumala Vista (echo)
On, On, on and on a vista (echo)
Ena-meeny dessa meeny oo-wal-la walla meeny essa meeny solla meeny oo-wal-la wall (echo)
Beat billy oaten boat and boo boo skadeeten doat an shhhh (echo)

This made the rounds of many camps in your time period, but oral tradition has variations on the actual sounds ...



Rise up singing has a varient named Up Over my Head, it's a traditional spiritual. Let me check for it in the DT before I post.
It's wonderful because tune is wonderful, the lyric is repetive so everyone can sing the first time they hear it and finally it doesn't matter what order you do the verses in when you forget you just throw it in later.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Tinker
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 11:49 PM

Joe put in a lyric for Up Above my head here

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2729#13852


Our camp version ( which continues on today) goes through hearing singing, shouting, snapping, whispers...etc... and finally angels...

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: SlickerBill
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:35 AM

Wild Mountain Thyme
Any Day Now (Bobster)
Helpless (Neil Young)
Brown Eyed Girl (Seems everybody knows that 'un)
Just about any Beatles song; Hey Jude works well
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
City Of New Orleans
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
I'll Fly Away
Big Yellow Taxi (?)

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: SlickerBill
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:35 AM

OR for # 10, Donald Where's Yer Trousers

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: open mike
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:54 AM

here is an interesting resource-an on-line song book specifically
for camp fire songs--the flying pig--perhaps it should be linked to mudcat in general somehow?? (anybody have an idea on this??) Laurel
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/flying.pigs/list.html
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/flying.pigs/

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:00 PM

Am I the only camper who sang
"If There Were Witchcraft"?
Abide With Me
Did someone say "The Happy Wanderer (Valderi)"?
We used to sing "It's Cheese that Makes the Mice go Round"
with a chorus of "Rolling over the Billows". It got banned because
we would all link arms and rock on the chorus, and it was too hard
on the dining room chairs and benches.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,Fred Miller
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:46 PM

And Red river valley, great tune, great opening line. Asked a contractor once to hasten to do me a bid.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Just Amy
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:58 PM

Swanee (how I love ya)

I Dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair

Black is the colour of my true love's hair

Did anyone say "Pop goes the weasel."

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Socorro
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 06:50 PM

O Mary Don't you weep
Clementine
Moon, Moon, Great Big Silvery
I See the Moon, & the moon sees me, the moon sees somebody I'd like to see…
Marezy doats & Doesey doats & little lambs eat ivy…
Down in the Valley

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,brabla
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:44 AM

We do an ongoing campfire program for 4th graders and their parents. You can't go wrong with: I've Been Working on the Railroad; How Much is that Doggie in the Window; When the Saints Go Marching In; and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. They always know all the words.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Night Owl
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 11:47 AM

Barbara.....you put the tune "If There Were Witchcraft" in my head.....and ONE line in the middle of the tune:

"and then I'd wish for
a blazing campfire"

if that's the same song.....do you know the rest of the lyrics??
please, puhleeeeeeeeeeeze post them.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 11:57 AM

when doing my teacher training last year I tought the teenagers "Flea" aqnd they loved it......How about " O Whne The Saints Go Marching In!!"

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Tinker
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 12:02 PM

The words to Witchcraft are here

Lyrics to Witchcraft


You can also do a great partner song with Oh When the Saints and Nobody Knows the Trouble I've seen going at the same time. It's great with kids and parents. I like to have the parents be the saints and the kids sing of their troubles...

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Willie-O
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 07:58 PM

It Ain't Necessarily So.
Hey it's got all the Bible stories in one neat package.

But it's really gospel for agnostics.

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Tinker
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 08:22 PM

Well, in this Episcopal circle it might stretch to the Theology of a Dancing God..... or perhaps scripture surprised by joy??? BG

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Just Amy
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 08:45 PM

Dona, Dona, Dona (on a wagon, bound for market, there's a calf with a mornful eye....)

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Night Owl
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 12:19 AM

Thanks for the link Tinker.
(always remember to search both the DT AND the forum,......always remember to search BOTH the DT and the Forum,.....always.....)bg

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: sed
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 03:52 PM

At the Episcopal Church Camp (MacDowell) near Nauvoo, AL in the very early 1960's Cookie Smith used to sing: Seven Golden Daffodils. Will I ever forget that campfire, the dark of night, the circle of boys and girls, the clear rushing creek as Cookie played the bass strings of her big guitar: (bum bum) seven golden daffodils (bum bum) shining in the sun.....
meanwhile the night is all around us and the campfire is lighting the exciting faces of the beautiful shy girls and boys (shining still in my memory)
We also sang: "Ah Woe Ah Me (shame and scandle on the family," Tom Dooley, Where Have All The Flowers Gone, Dona Dona Dona, If I Had A Hammer and others........

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 04:17 PM

does anyone know the words to Pharoah, Pharoah?
or where I can find them?
its kind of late notice, but i need them tonite.
i have cubbies in 3 hrs.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 04:43 PM

Sarah, do a forum search on "pharaoh" (a before o). There are lyrics to two versions (at least) in the forum archives...

OK, here are some links: "pharaoh" and "pharaoh pharaoh"

Claire

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 05:16 PM

From many years as a Scout leader, I think the following should be considered almost de rigeur:
Campfire's Burning (a round)
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (an action song to get everyone joining in and feeling that nothing will then make them look any sillier)
Grand Old Duke of York (all stand on "Up", sit on "Down" and half crouch on "Halfway up". "Neither up nor down" gets two positions in quick succession......Then do the reverse actions, people will easily get the hang of changing position from up to down etc., but tend to revert to the standard movements immediately after "Half way up" .... Then split the group in two, one half being up for "up" the other half being down for"up")
You Can't Put Your Muck In Our Dustbin
Land Of The Silver Birch


Nigel

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 05:41 PM

I still remember three from a camping trip to Yosemite when I was a kid:



Abdul Bull Bull Ameer v Ivan Skavinski Skavar
There's A Long, Long Trail Awinding
It's A Long Way To Tipparary

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: alison
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 06:29 PM

Here you go... this is an old thread but its appropriate

Fifty songs everyone should know

loved Flea... always taught it to my brownie pack

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Cluin
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 04:39 PM

"If You're Happy and You Know It, Please Keep It to Yourself"

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,KentuckyPat
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 05:45 PM

My favorite is the "Peace Round" by Jean Ritchie. It can be found in "Rise Up Singing." God knows we need world peace!

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 06:00 PM

Grieve My Lord No More
I've Got Sixpence
Peace of the River
Taps
I've Been Working on the Railroad

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: PapaWhiskey
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 08:44 PM

1. Hey Ho, Nobody Home (great as an endless round while sitting in the dark watching as the scoutmaster tries to light a sodden campfire.)
2. I Saw the Light
3. Any Christmas carol
4. This Land is Your Land (at least everyone knows the chorus)
5. Michael
6. Amazing Grace
7. Home on the Range
8. Kum by ya
9. Allouette (If you can't remember the parts of a dove, use your imagination: jete plume waxy ears, je te plume runny nose, etc., works with kids)
10. Will the Circle be Unbroken

Or for kids that age –
1. Love Me Tender
2. Country Roads
3. Me and Bobby Magee
4. Please Mister Postman
5. Jingle Bell Rock
6. Under the Boardwalk
7. All I Have to do is Dream
8. Kansas City
9. Rock Around the Clock
10. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Nov 03 - 09:02 PM

From the 'Wee Sing Bible Songs':

Jesus Loves the Little Children; Jesus Love Me; Jesus Loves Even Me; Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam; This Little Light of Mine; Deep and Wide; The B-I-B-L-E; Who Built the Ark?; His Banner Over Me Is Love; Give Me Oil in My Lamp; He's Got the Whole World; Heavenly Sunshine; Peace Like a River; I'm in the Lord's Army; Oh, How I Love Jesus; Hallelu, Hallelu; And I add: Onward Christian Soldiers

From the 'Wee Sing America':

America, America; America the Beautiful; Old Abe Lincoln; Dixie; Battle Hymn of the Republic; When Johnny Comes Marching Home; Goober Peas; The Caissons; Marine's Hymn; Anchors Aweigh; Sweet Betsy from Pike; I've Been Workin' on the Railroad; John Henry; Drill, Ye Tarriers; Paddy Works on the Railway; The Old Chisholm Trail; Good-Bye, Old Paint; I Ride an Old Paint; Git Along, Little Dogies; My Home's in Montana; Old Texas; The Boll Weevil; Pick a Bale o' Cotton; Cotton Needs Pickin'; Shuckin' of the Corn; Old Settler's Song; Blow the Man Down; Erie Canal

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,rachel
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 08:16 PM

i noticed you were all talking about that phoaroh pharoh song and i just thought it was funy, because my dad wrote it lol about 25 years ago at a pastors retrete with some friends. his name is jeff jones. just so yah know. of course, he only wrote the lyrics, the music is the same as "louie, louie"

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,Crowhugger (on another computer)
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 08:50 PM

Another round from my summer camp days in the early 1970s:

Fire's burning, fire's burning;
Draw nearer, draw nearer.
In the gloaming, in the gloaming
Come sing and be merry!

I recall singing & easy strumming with:
King of the Road.
Teach Your Children.
Vive la canadienne.
J'entends le moulin.
Yellow Bird.
Side By Side (we ain't got a barrel of money)
Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Cindy.
Erie Canal.
Grandfather's Clock. (it stopped short...)
Way Down Upon the Swanee River.
Scarborough Fair. (with or without Simon & Garfunkel's canticle)
Blow the Man Down.
Camptown Races.
Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot?
On Top of Old Smoky. pick a version, any version, or make a new one.
Arkansas Traveller.
Blue-tail Fly.
The Keeper.
Home on the Range.
Waltzing Matilda.
Sit Down, Sister.
A-rock-a My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,Utah Transplant
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 10:32 PM

The Girl Scout song we sang after every campout, meeting "High up, upon a mountain they founded our chalet...is all I can remember. I loved the Make new friends round and can still remember that.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 12:03 AM

Another great source is Rise Up Singing. I agree with those who think echo songs and rounds work well at campfires. Work songs are good, too, including sea chanteys (no surprise from me). I also like peace songs and songs from the Civil Rights movement. I've gone through this thread twice and hope I'm not repeating specific songs.

Give Peace a Chance
And Every Man 'Neath His Vine and Fig Tree
John jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
Morningtown Ride
There's a Hole in My Bucket, Dear Liza.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,burritoninjaS
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 09:54 PM

Honestly, I've never heard of any of these songs. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: Genie
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 06:56 PM

You've never heard (or heard of) Take Me Home, Country Roads? Me And Bobby McGee? Amazing Grace? Home On The Range? Under The Boardwalk? When The Saints Go Marching In?   Puff, The Magic Dragon?

Subject: RE: Top Ten Campfire songs
From: GUEST,Keith Walker
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 03:45 PM

Like your list. My top ten (the clean ones):
1. Clemintine
2. Sam Hall
3. Frozen Logger
4. Sweet Betsy From Pike
5. The Blue Tail Fly
6. Tom Dula ( Dooly )
7. La Cucheracha (probably the spelling is wrong)
8. Mountain Dew                           
9. Tavern In The Town       One of the lyrics to the Cocroach song:
                                              A man that loves a woman
10. The Lady In Red                   Who dosen' love him.
                                           Is like a bald man finding
                                                    A comb in the street