Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,GUEST Fozzie Date: 31 Mar 05 - 08:38 PM Hey...the post by (Guest) Jo Frey caught my eye...she and I attended Camp Kilowan for a number of the same years. I am a little older than her...my first summer there was 1973, and I went every year until 1984. I recall the same lyrics, word for word, but the story I remember about the third verse was that it was supposed to have been written by her mother, not a nurse, after the girl's death. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:37 PM Scouts Canada current songbook- "Campfire Song Book," Ca$9.99. Item # 20627. Order through www.scouts.ca/inside.asp?cmPageID=236 Catalogue |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:09 PM "Chansons de Notre Chalet" was put out by the Girl Guides of Canada as well as Cooperative Recreation Service: 3rd printing in 1962, 5th in 1971. Could not find date of first printing. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: masato sakurai Date: 16 Oct 04 - 09:31 PM According to Brunnings' Folk Song Index, "Barges" is in Marion A. Roberts' Chansons de Notre Chalet (Delaware, Ohio; Co-operative Recreation Service, 1968). |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 16 Oct 04 - 02:47 PM The dying, bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound child watching barges story has been told by several generations of camp story-tellers, as posted several times above, but no facts given to lift it above folklore. Jen M (post above), following inquiry to National Girl Scout Hq., found that it was by an "unknown camp counselor." It seems that we can't get beyond that. No date was attached. Joe Offer's sister (post above) admitted to hearing it in 1960; that and a possible 1955 seem to be the earliest dates found. Locale of the story varies from France and The Netherlands to South Africa to the Mississippi to Washington-Oregon. Any others? |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST, Jo Frey Date: 16 Oct 04 - 01:29 AM I made a mistake when posting last (that'll teach me to cut-n-paste instead of writing them from scratch!). The third verse of my version, reputedly written by the nurse of the dying girl, actually goes as follows: How my heart longs to sail away with you--- I would like to sail the ocean blue. But I must stay here by my window drear As I watch you sail away from here. Thanks for your patience... and thanks for having this discussion in the first place! It's neat to hear all the different versions! :D |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Jo Frey Date: 16 Oct 04 - 01:18 AM I grew up a Camp Fire Girl (changed to simply "Camp Fire" while I was growing up), and we sang "Barges" every summer at Camp Kilowan, near Falls City, Oregon (I attended from 1978-1989, missing only the summer of 1987). We were told that this song was written by a little girl dying of leukemia in a hospital room overlooking the Columbia River. Every night, from her bed, she would watch the barges go down the river, and she wrote the first two verses and the chorus. After her death, her nurse wrote the final verse for her. This is how WE sang it, in two-part harmony: Out of my window, looking in the night, I can see the barges flickering light. Silently flow the waters to the sea, And the barges, too, go silently. chorus: Barges, I would like to go with you; I would like to sail the ocean blue. Barges, have you treasures in your hold? Do you fight with pirates brave and bold? Out of my window, looking in the night, I can see the barges' flickering light. Starboard shines green, and port is glowing red--- I can see your signals far ahead. chorus How I would love to sail away with you--- I would like to sail the ocean blue. But I must stay beside my window drear As I watch you sail away from here. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Oct 04 - 03:41 AM Hi, Jillian - it's a song that's widely known, and yet we haven't been able to find any trace of its origin. A number of us here really enjoy tracing the roots of a song. So far, we've been unsuccessful on this one. But we're not likely to give up. It's a fascinating puzzle. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,why? Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:54 AM I was looking for the origins of the song for a project when I came across your site. Why are other people interested? Is it just because it's a lovely song? Did anyone find the answers they were looking for elsewhere? I'm desperate to know! tee hee! Jillian |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Oct 04 - 11:30 AM Your last verse concludes it very nicely, Jillian. The usual two verses don't seem to be quite enough. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Jillian Date: 06 Oct 04 - 10:38 AM Hi! I'm from Canada and we sang this lovely song at our summer camp. Our version goes like this: Out of my window looking in the night I can see the barges' flickering light. Silently flows the river to the sea and the barges do go silently. Chorus: Barges I would like to go with you I would like to sail the ocean blue. Barges have you treasures in your hold Do you fight with pirates brave and bold. Out of my window looking in the night I can see the barges' flickering light. Starboard shines green and port is glowing red I can see the barges from my bed. Out of my window looking in the night I can see the barges' flickering light. steadily bound for a far away shore I wonder what they're searching for. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Carol Lee Date: 09 Aug 04 - 11:23 PM I now live in a house in Memphis overlooking the Mississippi River and sang "Barges" as a Girl Scout some 35 years ago. Interestingly enough, not one of my acquaintances knows of this beautiful song. As I watch the barges at night (yes, out of my window) with their starboard and port lights making the crescent bend through Memphis, I sing the song with many fond memories of innocence, wanderlust and friendship. Do today's Girl Scouts still sing "Barges?" |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Jen M Date: 16 Jul 04 - 06:13 PM It seems that there was a legend about this song that it was written by the Girl Scout who was very ill in a hospital that overlooked a river. She wrote the song about barges she watched for many hours. Here;s the response from National Girl Scout Headquarters. In response to that legend, there is a letter from Mrs. John Rivoire, Assistant to Director, National Equipment Services, from May 4, 1977 that says, "According to our records, the words and music were by an unknown camp counselor. The song is in the public domain and…appears in Sing Together on p. 96….I'm sorry we can't confirm the charming story…" Hope this answers your question. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Jul 04 - 12:55 PM Hi, Jen - as I said above, the earliest printed version I've seen is the 1973 Sing Together, which is the third edition of the book - no attribution given there. It's not in the first edition (1949). I don't have the second edition. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Jen M Date: 15 Jul 04 - 11:00 PM the Our Chalet Songbook 1974 has Barges with no credit. The Sangam Songbook 1997 credits "From "Sing Together: A Girl Scout Songbook", 1973 while "Jubilee Songbook" 1993, Girl Guides of Canada, says it is public domain. Unfortunately, I allowed someone to borrow my Sing Together and never got it back so I can't tell if that book lists an author. The "sick girl" stories have been around since the 60's that I know of. I've requested info from the GS-USA, we'll see if they can answer. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Jul 04 - 05:29 PM All this, and still no information on the origins of this song? O Great Girl Guide Guru in the sky, enlighten us!! -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Kim Date: 26 Jun 04 - 11:11 PM Out of my tent flap looking in the night I can see the counselors having a fight Suddenly there's a pillow in the air And the stuffing and feathers go everywhere Counsellors I would like to go with you I would like to throw a pillow or two Counsellors have you candy in your tent Do you fight with boy scouts brave and bent Out of my tent flap looking in the night I can see the counselors having a fight Suddenly there's a suitcase in the air And the bras and undies go everywhere Counsellors I would like to go with you I would like to throw a suitcase or two Counsellors have you candy in your tent Do you fight with boy scouts brave and bent Out of my tent flap looking in the night I can see the counselors having a fight Suddenly there's a body in the air And the blood and guts go everywhere Counsellors I would like to go with you I would like to throw a body or two Counsellors have you candy in your tent Do you fight with boy scouts brave and bent |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,English GG Date: 11 Apr 04 - 12:31 AM Same again, as an English Girl Guide in the late 70's we were told by our Guider about a sick girl lyng in bed watching the barges etc but we didn't hum the last verse - I'm glad as it was always very poignant and sad enough and never failed to have all those late evening, glorious outdoors, ebbing campfire, tired kid emotions overwhelm me to tears as it was! |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Emily (An ex-girl scout) Date: 20 Mar 04 - 11:55 PM I heard it was a girl, confined to her bed, in a hospital a long time ago. I believe I head that she had cancer, or another long-term disease. She used to lie in her bed at night and look out the window to the river, near the part where it emptied into the ocean. She could see the barges and hear their horns blow. She wrote the song, but died before she could finish. The story says that a girl scout finished the song, thus making it a Girl Scout tradition. But that was just at my camp, in the Bay Area in 1998. We didn't make up new, humurous versions because it was always kind of a sad, serious, and beautiful song for us. I cannot guarantee the authenticity of my version of the origin, but this is what I heard it was. -Emily |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Jen M Date: 26 Feb 04 - 06:02 PM Pearl, interesting- at Camp Trefoil (Near Butler PA) I was taught the sick girl in South Africa story. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Pearl GSBLC PA Date: 26 Feb 04 - 10:05 AM I was told of the sick girl in a wheelchair watching the OHIO river go by out her window. (Maybe being from Western Pa a small change) My own girls in the troop has used this tune to write many versions of thier favorite song but they allways sing the original first (both verses memorised) We have a FLUSHIEs version for backpacking, a cookie sale version, a counselor version for camp and a horseback version. They may have made up more by now. counselors version Out of my tentflap looking in the night I can see the counselors flickering light Curlers in her hair and cold cream on her face She can scare a turtle to a very fast pace counselors I would like to go with you I would like to see the Boy Scouts too Counselors have you candy in your hold do you fight with campers brave and bold Latrine version out of my tentflap looking in the night I can see the latrines flickering light Sides are painted brown and hands around the side I can smell someone left the lid open wide (Chorus) Flushies, I would like to take you back to my camsite yes I do Flushies there is room in my tent and I would't make you pay any rent. Squating dowm low and peeing in a hole right next to me is a toilet paper roll It's the worse I've ever smelled and the worse I've ever been right now I could really use a latrine. (chorus) See what versions your girls can come up with. Enjoy a couple of ours. YIGGS Pearl |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Heidi Date: 23 Jan 04 - 01:20 PM I don't remember all of it, but one year when I went to Camp Laurel (CT) my leader, learning that Barges was my favorite song, sang me a version meant for leaders. Here's the part that I remember and I would love if someone could tell me how the rest of it goes: Out of my tent flap, Looking in the night, I can see the campers getting in a fight. (forgot....) Campers, I would like to go to bed, I would like to rest my weary head. Campers, You know you must obey the rules. Oh why couldn't you go to summer school? I remember there was a verse about "cots are flying right" but I forget if it was the first or last verse. In hindsight, I wish I remembered it, as I could have put it to very good use when I finally became a GS camp counselor myself... |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 07 Nov 03 - 09:39 PM Nice version, guest. Any information about it? Seems to me that someone should come up with an author. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST Date: 07 Nov 03 - 09:35 PM BARGES Out of my window looking in the night I can see the barges flickering light Silently flows the river to the sea And the barges too go silently chorus: Barges, I would like to go with you I would like to sail the ocean blue Barges, have you treasures in your hold? Do you fight with pirates brave and bold? Out of my window looking in the night I can see the barges flickering light Starboard shines green and port is glowing red I can see the barges far ahead chorus How I would love to sail away with you As you sail across the ocean blue but I must stay beside my window drear As I watch you sail away from here. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 23 Oct 03 - 02:55 PM Story probably fakelore. But one to add a note of sadness to the singing by the girls. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Kendra Date: 23 Oct 03 - 02:08 PM Oh and we do still hum the third verse |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Kendra Date: 23 Oct 03 - 02:07 PM I'm a girl guide from Canada and we learned that the song was writen by a little girl who was dying and could only see the barges from her hospital window too. Although I dont know if it was a view of the river. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: LadyJean Date: 21 Oct 03 - 01:09 AM From Camp Riamo, Farmington PA Out of my tent flap looking in the night I can see the flashlights' flickering light. Noisily go the campers to the john, and the counsellors too go yelling on. Campers I would like to go with you, I would like to torture counsellors too. Campers are there pitchforks in your tent? Do you fight with counsellors old and bent? |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST,Brynna Date: 20 Oct 03 - 07:51 PM the story I have been told by many is that it's about a girl guide that was dying. She was in her hospital bed which had a view of the river, from there she watched the barges. She started writing the song but before she finished it she passed away, therefor that is why you humm the third verse. though I dont' know if many people do that anymore. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: LadyJean Date: 26 Aug 03 - 12:36 AM I don't remember all of it, but I do remember part of the song we sang at Camp Riamo:
I would like to torture counselors too. Campers, are there pitchforks in your tent? Do you fight with counselors old and bent?" |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: bet Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:50 PM I learned this song around 1955 I think. When I moved to the school I am now teaching in they had a really old out-dated series of books that they were teaching out of. I was delight to find this song in the 3rd or 4th grade book (I'm getting OLD) and can't remember the series name or with grade level but I'll look in the morning and get back to you. I don't really know the origin but it was an old song when I learned it in Scouts. bet
Thanks. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: running.hare Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:55 PM The "ledgend" I heard was of a dieing boy who was room bound but had a veiw out over the river & sea behond. but with these varius 'versions' It seems more like urban-myths than origins! As to parrodies the local version (which I no-longer pass down the generations, being a guider myself now ;)) goes like this: "Out of my tent flap looking in the night I can see the Guiders Cigerette light, Siently flows the whiskey to the glass, As the guiders have their fun at last, Guiders I would like to be with you, I would like to share your whiskey too, Guiders have you scouters in your beds? Are You planning for nine months ahead???" I have aso heard it sung with the whiskey flowing to the lips, as the guiders show off bums and t....omatoes!!! I will be adding the other versions as exta verses :D Thanks all. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:22 AM The version I learnt was the same as that above but the story I was told was that it was written by a jewish girl/boy confined in one of the safe houses in Holland. The treasure was other Jews escaping from Holland and the Pirates were the Germans who all too often caught them. I was taught it at the same time as Donna Donna another song about the persecution of the Jews but I have no idea if it is true or not. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: GUEST Date: 24 Aug 03 - 08:19 PM I learned the song at Sarah Heinz House Camp in the 1960's (it was considered an old song then!). It is not just a "girl scout song." The story I heard was that it was written by a little boy (sick? dying? crippled?) in Paris, about the barges he could see from his window on the River Seine. |
Subject: ADD Version: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:55 PM I found these lyrics in a couple of U.S. Girl Scout songbooks. The lyrics are just slightly different from what's in the Digital Tradition. Note that the Girl Scout version does not have the second chorus that's shown in the DT, and I really like that second chorus: Barges, I would like to go with youYou'll find a link to the tune at the top of this page. I'm still looking for source information on this song. The Girl Scouts say "source unknown." -Joe Offer- BARGES (Source Unknown) Out of my window, looking in the night I can see the barges' flickering light; Silently flows the river to the sea And the barges too go silently CHORUSOut of my window, looking in the night I can see the barges' flickering light; Starboard shines green and port is glowing red You can see them flickering far ahead. CHORUS Source: Sing Together: A Girl Scout Songbook, Third Edition, 1973, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Exact same lyrics are in Chansons de Notre Chalet, Fifth Edition (1971), published by Cooperative Recreation Service, Inc., Delaware, Ohio. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: sed Date: 07 Nov 02 - 03:16 PM It is a charming song and rather contagious. I learned it back in the seventies when I was performing in lots of schools in Alabama. |
Subject: RE: Origin of: BARGES (Girl Scout song) From: Joe Offer Date: 07 Nov 02 - 02:56 PM The tune is here (click) at Guiding UK and soon will be added to Mudcat MIDIs. As far as I can determine, the Girl Scouts of the U.S. added it to the 1973 edition of their Sing Together songbook, and had not published it before. They list it as "Source Unknown." My sister, who sometimes forgets to admit she is nearly as old as I am, sang "Barges" at Camp Singing Hills in Southeast Wisconsin in 1960, but she thinks she may have learned it at Brownie Day Camp the year before. -Joe Offer- The UK Girl Guide parody is a bit tamer than the one posted above. Out of my tent flap, looking through the night, Guiders, I would like to stay with you, Out of my tent flap, looking through the night, Guiders, I don't want to stay with you, |
Subject: RE: Origin of BARGES From: Marion Date: 18 Nov 99 - 11:26 AM I learned this song in Girl Guides too. And the rumour at the time was that it was written by a Guide on her sickbed. I can't attest for the historicity of this, of course. More popular among us was this version, presumably written by another little girl:
Out of my tent flap, glowing in the night Do we need a new thread on songs for brats? Marion |
Subject: RE: Origin of From: Debbie Vespo Date: 17 Nov 99 - 05:07 PM I heard the story goes like this. There was a little girl who was confined to a wheelchair. All she could do was sit by her window and watch the barges go down the mighty Mississippi. She would imagine where these barges were going and wish she could go with them. I know there's more to the story, but that's all I remember. |
Subject: RE: Origin of Barges From: Joe Offer Date: 04 Dec 98 - 04:20 AM Any Girl Guides here who can tell us the story? -Joe Offer- |
Subject: Origin of BARGES (Girl Scout Song) From: Theresa Date: 01 Dec 98 - 12:02 AM Can anyone help me find the origin of "Barges"? It's been sung by American Girl Scouts and English Girl Guides for decades, and the lyrics are here in Digitrad. Several legends exist, but I'd like to find some factual information about its background. Thanks Theresa ThDanks@aol.com |
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