Troop 12 Campfire Song Book

4. The master-of-the-campfire organizes songs, stunts, and stories in a good sequence, considering timing, variety, smoothness, and showmanship. A camp fire should starts with a patriotic song after it is lit. Grow from a slow soft feel to and exciting action crest. Then calm back down with a quite story or song(s). The camp fire should end with a scout masters minute, followed by Scout Vespers. A good campfire should be no longer then 1.5 hours.

5. M.C. makes out the campfire program sheet (over).

6. Copies of the program are given to all participants.

Cheer Planner	Spot	Campfire Program Planner
		Group or Individual	Description	Type	Spot









Song Planner	Spot

I Points To Myself "Topnotcher"

I points to myself, vas is das here;
Das is mine top-notch-er, ya mama dear.
Top-notch-er, top-notch-er, ya mama dear.
Dat's wot I learned in der school, boom-boom!

As you sing this action-song, point to the proper body part when you mention it. For example, point to the top of your head when you sing Topnotcher. Continue singing and add another part of your body for each verse and repeat the others going backwards in reverse order. Try as many verses as you want, using the list below. For the boom-boom, clap hands, bang tables, or stamp your feet.

Point To:	Sing:
Top of Head	Topnotcher
Brow	Sweat browser
Eye	Eye Winker
Nose	Horn Blower
Mustache	Soup Strainer
Mouth	Food Chomper
Chin	Chin Chowser
Neck	Rubber Necker
Stomach	Bread Basket
Foot	Foot Stomper

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
MIDI sequencing provided by Melody Lane

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Bill GroganÕs Goat

Leader sings and then everyone repeats at each (*) Lyrics: Bill Grogan's goat,* was feeling fine.*
Ate three red shirts,* right off the line.*

Bill took a stick,* gave him three whacks,*
And tied him to,* the railroad tracks.*

The whistle blew,* the train grew nigh;*
Bill Grogan's goat,* was doomed to die.*

He gave three moans,* of mortal pain,*
Barfed up those shirts,* and flagged that train.*

The Engineer,* got out to see,*
What in the world,* this thing could be.*

And when he saw,* It was a goat,*
Pulled out his knife,* and cut it's throat.*

Now Billy Goat* is really dead,*
He went to heaven,* without a head.*

And when he got there,* St. Peter said,*
'Dear Billy Goat,* where is your head?'*

I do not know,* I can not tell,*
For all I know,* It just may be ...*

Way down yonder in the paw paw patch.*

Bug Juice

At camp with the Boy Scouts,
they gave us a drink.
We thought it was kool-aid
because it was pink.

But the thing that they gave us
would gross out a moose,
for that great-tasting pink drink
was really bug juice.

It looked fresh and fruity
like tasty kool-aid
but the bugs that were in it
were murdered with raid.

We drank it by gallons.
We drank it by tons.
But, then the next morning
we all had the runs.

So if you drink bug juice
and a fly drives you mad
he's just getting even
because you swallowed his dad.

My Bonnie

Midi by Barry Taylor

My Bonnie lies over the ocean, my Bonnie lies over the sea,
My Bonnie lies over the ocean, O bring back my Bonnie to me.

Chorus:
Bring back, bring back, O bring back my Bonnie to me, to me:
Bring back, bring back, O bring back my Bonnie to me.

O blow ye winds over the ocean,
O blow ye winds over the sea.
O blow ye winds over the ocean,
And bring back my Bonnie to me.

Repeat chorus

Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
Last night as I lay on my pillow,
I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead.

Repeat chorus

The winds have blown over the ocean,
The winds have blown over the sea,
The winds have blown over the ocean,
And brought back my Bonnie to me.

Repeat chorus

My Bonnie leaned over the gas tank,
The height of its contents to see,
I lit a small match to assist her,
O Bring back my Bonnie to me.

Repeat chorus

Last night as I lay on my pillow,
Last night as I lay on my bed,
I stuck my feet out of the window,
In the morning the neighbors were dead.

Repeat chorus

My mother makes beer in the bathtub,
My father makes synthetic gin,
My sister makes fudge for a quarter,
Wouldja believe how the money rolls in?

Repeat chorus

My mother, she drowned in the bathtub,
My father, he died from his gin,
My sister choked on her chocolate,
My stars, what a fix I am in.

Repeat chorus

I tried making beer in the bathtub,
I tried making synthetic gin,
I tried making fudge for a living,
Now look at the shape that I'm in.

National Embalming School
[Tune: (mostly) O, Tannenbaum]
We live for you, we die for you, National Embalming School.
We do our best to give you rest, National Embalming School.
And when you die, weÕll dig a hole, and bury you so deep and cold.
We live for you, we die for you, National Embalming School.
Post mortem, post mortem, post mortem, autopsy we must have.
[Repeat]
Cut! Slash! Gash! Bleed! We must know the reason.
Glory how the body stinks! It must be out of season.
We live for you, we die for you, National Embalming School.

On Top of Spaghetti

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze.

The Paddle Song

3 part round

Our paddles keen and bright,
Flashing like silver;
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip, and swing.

Dip, dip, and swing them back,
Flashing like silver;
Swift as the wild goose flight,
Dip, dip and swing.

Pink Pajamas

Tune: "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Midi by Mark R. Weston

I wear my pink pajamas, in the summer when it's hot.
I wear my flannel nighties iIn the winter when it's not.
And sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall,
I jump right in between the sheets with nothing on at all.

Chorus:
Glory, glory, Hallelujah;
Glory, glory, What's it to you?
Balmy breezes blowing through ya,
With nothing on at all.

Alternate verse submitted by Tina Vo:

I wake up in the morning with the sheet above my head,
and my little footsie-wotisy are a sticken out of bed,
and three times out of four I find myself upon the floor,
And I'll sware I won't be drinking RC cola any more.

The Quartermaster's Song

There are snakes, snakes, snakes
Big as garden rakes,
At the store! At the store!
There are snakes, snakes, snakes,
Big as garden rakes, at the Quartermaster's store.

Chorus
My eyes are dim I can-not see.
I have not got my specs with me.
I have HEY! Not HO! got my specs with me.

There are mice, mice, mice
Running though the rice,
At the store! At the store!
There are mice, mice, mice,
Running through the rice, at the Quartermaster's store.

Chorus

Continue with each of the following:
3. lice - living on the mice.
4. rats - big as alley cats.
5. roaches - big as football coaches
6. watches - big as sasquaches
7. snakes - big as garden rakes
8. bears - but no one really cares
9. beavers - with little meat cleavers
10. foxes - stuffed in little boxes

RattlinÕ Bog

Lyrics: Chorus
Oh, Oh, The rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-O
Oh, Oh, The rattlin' bog,
The bog down in the valley-O

And in that bog there was a tree,
A rare tree, a rattlin' tree.
With the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O.
Chorus

And on that tree there was a limb,
A rare limb, a rattlin' limb.
With the limb on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O.
Chorus

And on that limb there was a branch,
A rare branch, a rattlin' branch.
With the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O.
Chorus

(Continue pattern adding twig, nest, egg, bird, feather, flea, leg, foot, boot, and finally ...)

And on that boot there was a lace,
A rare lace, a rattlin' lace.
With the lace on the boot,
And the boot on the foot,
And the foot on the leg,
And the leg on the flea,
And the flea on the feather,
And the feather on the bird,
And the bird on the egg,
And the egg in the nest,
And the nest on the twig,
And the twig on the branch,
And the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree,
And the tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O.
Chorus

And on that lace, there was an END.

Scout Vesper

Tune: "Tannenbaum"

Softly falls the light of day,
While our campfire fades away.
Silently each scout should ask:
"Have I done my daily task?
Have I kept my honor bright?
Can I guiltless sleep tonight?
Have I done and have I dared
Everything to be prepared.?"

Listen Lord, oh listen Lord,
As I whisper soft and low,
Bless my Mom and bless my Dad,
There is something they should know.
I have kept my honor bright.
The Oath and Law has been my guide.
Mom and Dad, this you should know,
Ddeep in my heart I love you so

Scout Wetspers

Tune: Oh, Christmas Tree Lyrics: Softly falls the rain today
As our campsite floats away.
Silently, each Scout should ask
Did I bring my SCUBA mask?
Have I tied my tent flaps down,
Learned to swim so I won't drown,
Oh, have I done, and will I try
Everything to keep me dry

Sipping Cider Through A Straw
The prettiest girl [Echo.], I ever saw, [Echo.]
Was sipping cider through a straw.
[Repeat previous two lines.]
I asked her if, [Echo.] sheÕd show me how, [Echo.]
To sip that cider through a straw.
[Repeat previous two lines.]
Then cheek to cheek, and jaw to jaw,
We sipped that cider through a straw.
Every now and then, the straw would slip,
IÕd sip some cider from her lip.
The parson came to her backyard,
A sipping cider from a straw.
And now I have a mother-in-law,
And fourteen kids to call me Pa.
The moral of this little tale,
Is sip your cider from a pail!
Feminine variation: Substitute ÒThe cutest boyÓ for ÒThe prettiest girl,Ó ÒhimÓ for Òher,Ó ÒheÓ for Òshe,Ó and ÒMaÓ for ÒPa.Ó

I've Got Sixpence

I've got sixpence
Jolly. jolly sixpence
I've got sixpence to last me all my life
I've got twopence to spend
And twopence to lend
And twopence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

Chorus:
No cares have I to grieve me
No pretty little girls to deceive me
I'm happy as a lark believe me
As we go rolling, rolling home
Rolling home (rolling home)
Rolling home (rolling home)
By the light of the silvery moo-oo-on
Happy is the day when we line up for our pay
As we go rolling, rolling home.

I've got fourpence
Jolly, jolly fourpence
I've got fourpence to last me all my life
I've got twopence to spend
And twopence to lend
And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

I've got twopence
Jolly, jolly twopence
I've got twopence to last me all my life
I've got twopence to spend
And no pence to lend
And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

I've got no pence
Jolly. jolly no pence
I've got no pence to last me all my life
I've got no pence to spend
And no pence to lend
And no pence to send home to my wife-poor wife.

The Star Spangled Banner

Composed by Francis Scott Key, "In Defense of Fort McHenry", September 20, 1814.
Congress proclaimed it the U.S. National Anthem in 1931.
Midi by Lesley Nelson

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Take Me Out to the Scout Camp

Tune: "Take Me Out to the Ballpark"

Take me out to the scout camp,
Take me out with my Troop,
Buy me some goodies and leathercrafts,
I don't care if I ever get back,
For it's swim, shoot, climb with the camp staff
If they're not trained it's a shame
For it's 1, 2, 3 miles you hike at the old scout camp

Three Sharp Tooth Buzzards

3 (hold up 3 fingers) sharp tooth (fingers curled up by mouth as teeth) buzzards (hunch shoulders, look mean)
Sitting on a dead tree (arms out as branches, head lolled to one side)
Oh, LOOK (shade eyes with hand), One has flown A-way (point to the distance)
What A Shame (one hand at forehead in a dramatic gesture)
WhayÉ (like a baby)
2 sharp tooth buzzards (same actions as above, but hold up 2 fingers)...
1 sharp tooth buzzard (same actions as above but hold up 1 finger)...
No sharp tooth buzzards (same actions, but shake finger "no" at "No")...

Oh, Look (shade eyes with hand), One has RE-turned (beckoning motion)
Let us RE-Joice (arms up in joy)!
Yeah!!!
Repeat until are have returned...

Top of Page

Charlie on the MBTA

Let me tell you the story
Of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

Charlie handed in his dime
At the Kendall Square Station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there the conductor told him,
'One more nickel.'
Charlie could not get off that train.

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.

Now all night long
Charlie rides through the tunnels
Saying, 'What will become of me?
How can I afford to see
My sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?'

Charlie's wife goes down
To the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window
She hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.
- Chorus

As his train rolled on
Through Greater Boston
Charlie looked around and sighed,
'Well, I'm sore and disgusted
And I'm absolutely busted;
I guess this is my last long ride.'

Now you citizens of Boston,
Don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for Walter A. O'Brien
And fight the fare increase
Get poor Charlie off the MTA.
- Chorus
Let me tell you of a story of a Scout named [name] ,
On that tragic and fateful day;
Put his Scout knife in his pocket;
Kissed his dog and family;
When to hike in the woods far away.

Well, did he ever return?
No, he never returned.
And his fate is still unlearned:
He may roam forever in the woods and mountains,
He's the Scout who never returned.

Now you citizens of [town name],
Don't you think it's a scandal
How ol' [name] got lost that day?
Take the right equipment; TAKE ALONG A BUDDY,
When you hike in the hills that way.

Or else you'll never return,
No, you'll never return.
And your fate will be unlearned, just like [name]
You may roam forever in the woods and mountains,
Like the Scout who never returned.

Crazy Moose

Lyrics: (audience repeats after leader)

There was a crazy moose (there was a crazy moose)
Who liked to drink a lot of juice (who liked to drink a lot of juice)
There was a crazy moose (there was a crazy moose)
Who liked to drink a lot of juice (who liked to drink a lot of juice)

Chorus
Singing way-oh, way oh (singing way-oh, way-oh)
Way-up, way-up, way-up way-up (way-up, way-up, way-up, way-up)
Way oh, way oh (way oh, way oh)
Way-up, way-up, way-up, way-up (way-up, way-up, way-up way-up)

The moose's name was Fred.
He liked to drink his juice in bed.

He drank his juice with care,
But he spilled some in his hair.

Now heÕs a sticky moose.
A moose covered in juice.

All his hair went stiff.
So he combed it in a quiff.

His friends began to laugh.
So he had to take a bath.

As the water went down,
Fred the moose began to drown.
Singing glug-glug-glug-glug

Now let's all count to five.
Fred the moose is back alive.

Do Your Ears Hang Low

Do Your Ears Hang Low?
Do They Wobble to and Fro?
Can You Tie Them in a Knot?
Can You Tie Them in a Bow?
Can You Throw Them Over Your Shoulder Like a Continental Soldier?

Do Your Ears Hang Low?
Do Your Ears Hang High?
Do They Reach Up to the Sky?
Do The Droop When They're Wet?
Do They Stiffen When They're Dry?
Can You Semaphore Your Neighbor with a Mimimum of Labor?

Do Your Ears Hang High?
Do Your Ears Hang Wide?
Do They Flap From Side to Side?
Do They Wave in the Breeze?
From the Slightest Little Sneeze?
Can You Soar Above the Nation with a Feeling of Elation?

Do Your Ears Hang Wide?
Do Your Ears Fall Off?
When You Give a Great Big Cough?
Do They Lie There on the Ground?
Or Bounce Up at Every Sound?
Can You Stick Them in Your Pocket Just Like Little Davy Crockett?

Do Your Ears Fall Off?

The Grand Old Duke of York

Tune: "A-Hunting We Will Go"

The Grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up the hill,
Everyone stands up
And marched them down again.
Everyone sits down
And when you're up, you're up;
Everyone stands up
And when you're down, you're down.
Everyone sits down
And when you're only halfway up,
Everyone half-way up
You're neither up nor down!

Alternate Lyrics:

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of
The hill and he marched
Them down again.

And when they were up they were up.
And when they were down they were down.
And when they were only half way up,
They were neither up nor down.
(repeat)

Kum Ba Yah

Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah.
O Lord, Kum ba yah

Someone's crying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's crying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
O Lord, Kum ba yah

Someone's singing, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's singing, Lord, Kum ba yah!
O Lord, Kum ba yah

Someone's praying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's praying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Someone's praying, Lord, Kum ba yah!
O Lord, Kum ba yah

Hog Tie in Nebraska

Just a super silly song with no reason. Lyrics: When it's hog calling time in Nebraska,
When it's hog calling time in Nebraska,
When it's hog calling time in Nebraska,
Then it's hog calling time in Nebraska!

When it's ice fishing time in Minnesota,
When it's ice fishing time in Minnesota,
When it's ice fishing time in Minnesota,
Then it's ice fishing time in Minnesota.

When it's cheese stirring time in Wisconsin,
When it's cheese stirring time in Wisconsin,
When it's cheese stirring time in Wisconsin,
Then it's cheese stirring time in Wisconsin.

When it's spud picking time in Idaho,
When it's spud picking time in Idaho,
When it's spud picking time in Idaho,
Than it's spud picking time in Idaho.

See if you can come up with verses for all states and send them to me.

Pack 142 in the Greater St. Louis Area District sent me these verses that they came up with and sang at their Pack picnic in June:
When it's tide rolling time in AlabamaÉ
When it's Iditarod time in AlaskaÉ
When it's road runner time in ArizonaÉ
When it's opossum shooting time in ArkansasÉ
When it's movie recording time in CaliforniaÉ
When it's snow boarding time in ColoradoÉ
When it's insurance selling time in ConnecticutÉ
When it's incorporating time in DelawareÉ
When it's Disney World time in FloridaÉ
When it's peanut picking time in GeorgiaÉ
When it's surfing time in HawaiiÉ
When it's spud digging time in IdahoÉ
When it's corn husking time in IllinoisÉ
When it's auto racing time in IndianaÉ
When it's test making time in IowaÉ
When it's wheat threshing time in KansasÉ
When it's horse racing time in KentuckyÉ
When it's crab catching time in LouisianaÉ
When it's lobster catching time in MaineÉ
When it's crab cake time in MarylandÉ
When it's Thanksgiving time in MassachusettsÉ
When it's car making time in MichiganÉ
When it's ice fishing time in MinnessotaÉ
When it's cotton picking time in MississippiÉ
When it's sheep herding time in MissouriÉ
When it's portaging time in MontanaÉ
When it's Elvis impersonating time in NevadaÉ
When it's chicken farming time in New HampshireÉ
When it's light bulb inventing time in New JerseyÉ
When it's space port building time in New MexicoÉ
When it's theater going time in New YorkÉ
When it's Wright flying time in North CarolinaÉ
When it's flax farming time in North DakotaÉ
When it's buckeye throwing time in OhioÉ
When it's oil well drilling time in OklahomaÉ
When it's salmon fishing time in OregonÉ
When it's chocolate time in PennsylvaniaÉ
When it's quahog shucking time in Rhode IslandÉ
When it's peach picking time in South CarolinaÉ
When it's pheasant hunting time in South DakotaÉ
When it's volunteer time in TennesseeÉ
When it's bronco riding time in TexasÉ
When it's Winter Olympics time in UtahÉ
When it's maple syrup time in VermontÉ
When it's ham curing time in VirginiaÉ
When it's coffee drinking time in WashingtonÉ
When it's coal mining time in West VirginiaÉ
When it's cheese stirring time in WisconsinÉ
When it's rodeo time in WyomingÉ

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

And eyes, and ears, and mouth,
And nose.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.

Place both hands on parts of body as they are mentioned. On second time speed up, and get faster with each verse.

Troop 12 Campfire Song Book

Table of Contents

Web Resources

I Points To Myself "Topnotcher"

America the Beautiful

Bill GroganÕs Goat

Bug Juice

My Bonnie

On Top of Spaghetti

The Paddle Song

Pink Pajamas

The Quartermaster's Song

RattlinÕ Bog

Scout Vesper

Scout Wetspers

I've Got Sixpence

The Star Spangled Banner

Take Me Out to the Scout Camp

Three Sharp Tooth Buzzards

Top of Page

Charlie on the MBTA

Do Your Ears Hang Low

The Grand Old Duke of York

Kum Ba Yah

Hog Tie in Nebraska

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes