Owasippe - Troop 149, McHenry, IL

Owasippe 

legends, 

Ballads & 

Vignettes 

Stories, Songs & Skits For 

Campfires & Dining Halls 

Compiled by Willie Vannerson, 2006

Prayers & Graces ---------------------------------- 1 

Johnny Appleseed Grace........................................... 1 

Owasippe Grace ........................................................ 1 

Philmont Grace .......................................................... 1 

Sioux Table Prayer..................................................... 1 

Sommers Wilderness Grace ..................................... 1 

Tales & Stories ------------------------------------2 

The Owasippe Legend: Version I ............................... 2 

How Burying Ground Point Got It’s Name .................. 2 

Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends -------------- 4 

Forward ..................................................................... 4 

Introduction................................................................ 4 

The Owasippe Legend: Version II .............................. 4 

The Old Trading Post................................................. 5 

The Salt Marsh .......................................................... 6 

The Legend of White River ........................................ 6 

Lumbering On Cleveland Creek ................................ 7 

Dalton’s Mill ............................................................... 8 

The White River Roll-Aways ...................................... 8 

Snow’s rollaway and Its Interesting Surroundings ...... 8 

Dead Man’s Rollaway & the Grave of the Unknown... 9 

Wheat Settlement ...................................................... 9 

An Interesting Yarn .................................................. 10 

Cushman’s Settlement ............................................ 11 

Brown’s Pond, A Cache of Watches ........................ 11 

Carleton Dreams of a County Seat .......................... 11 

Forest City Post office ............................................. 12 

Slab Lake – Square Lake – Marl Bed – Wood Lake – 

Nine Acre Lot Lake –Virgin Norway Pine ........... 12 

Hinchman’s Halfway Camp ...................................... 12 

Skeel’s Creek .......................................................... 12 

The Brass Pistol ...................................................... 13 

Snow’s Trail and Mounds ......................................... 13 

The Oceana Lumbering Boat ................................... 14 

A Log Drive .............................................................. 14 

Historical Facts & Information ------------- 16 

Beginnings ............................................................... 16 

Chekagou ................................................................ 16 

Order of the Arrow & Owasippe ............................... 16 

Owasippe Post Office .............................................. 16 

Wildcat Trails ........................................................... 16 

Camp Cheers ---------------------------------------- 17 

Camp Blackhawk ..................................................... 17 

Camp Carlin ............................................................ 17 

Camp Dan Beard ..................................................... 17 

Family Camp ........................................................... 17 

Camp James E. West.............................................. 17 

Camp Reneker ........................................................ 17 

Camp Robert Crown ................................................ 17 

Camp Sauger Lake ................................................. 17 

Contents 

Camp Stuart - I ........................................................ 17 

Camp Stuart - II ....................................................... 17 

Camp Wolverine ...................................................... 17 

Camp Wolverine North ............................................ 17 

Camp Wolverine South............................................ 17 

Camp Loyalty Songs------------------------------ 18 

Blackhawk Fight Song ............................................. 18 

Blackhawk Song ...................................................... 18 

Camp Blackhawk - I ................................................ 18 

Camp Blackhawk Song-II ........................................ 18 

Camp Blackhawk Song-III ....................................... 18 

Camp Wilderness Song ........................................... 18 

Camp James E. West.............................................. 19 

Camp West Rally Song ........................................... 19 

Famous Crystal Lake............................................... 19 

Stuart Camp Song - I ............................................... 19 

Stuart Camp Song –II .............................................. 19 

Stuart Camp Song - III ............................................. 19 

Camp Beard Victory March ...................................... 19 

Camp Dan Beard Song ........................................... 20 

Owasippe Hymn ...................................................... 20 

The Owasippe Chant ............................................... 20 

It Must Be Owasippe ............................................... 20 

Sauger Lake Song ................................................... 21 

Sauger Lake Camp Song ........................................ 21 

Camp Chicaugau Song ........................................... 21 

Robert T. Crown Song ............................................. 21 

Wolverine South Song ............................................. 21 

Wolverine North Song ............................................. 22 

Camp Wolverine ...................................................... 22 

Camp Carlin Song ................................................... 22 

Reneker Family Camp ............................................. 22 

Lower Lake Medley .................................................. 22 

The Crest of the Wave ............................................. 22 

Sea Songs ------------------------------------------- 23 

Blow the Man Down ................................................. 23 

Drunkin Sailor .......................................................... 23 

Mermaid Song ......................................................... 23 

Queen’s Navy .......................................................... 23 

Roll Me Over the Billows .......................................... 23 

The Three Fishermen .............................................. 24 

There’s A Hole In The Bottom of the Sea ................. 24 

Titanic ...................................................................... 24 

Action Songs -------------------------------------- 25 

An Old Austrian........................................................ 25 

Apples and Bananas ............................................... 25 

Damper Song .......................................................... 25 

Down by the Old Millstream ..................................... 25 

Goin On a Lion Hunt ................................................ 25 

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes .............................. 26 

Hocky Tocky Umba .................................................. 26 

Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes Page i

I Points to Mineself .................................................. 26 

If You’re Happy ........................................................ 26 

I’m In The King’s Nivy .............................................. 26 

John Brown’s Baby .................................................. 27 

Musikanter ............................................................... 27 

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean .............................. 27 

One Finger, One Thumb .......................................... 27 

Purple Stew ............................................................. 27 

She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain ...................... 27 

The Grand Old Captain Kirk .................................... 28 

The Grand Old Duke of York ................................... 28 

Three Chartreuse Buzzards..................................... 28 

Under The Chestnut Tree ........................................ 28 

Wad-A-Lee-Aches ................................................... 29 

History (Americana) Folk Songs ----------- 30 

Battle of New Orleans .............................................. 30 

Blue Tail Fly ............................................................. 30 

Blue Water Line ....................................................... 30 

Chicago Fire Song ................................................... 30 

De Camptown Racetrack......................................... 31 

Ebeneezer Fry ......................................................... 31 

Erie Canal ................................................................ 31 

Erie-Erie-Erie-Oh! .................................................... 31 

Lover’s Lament ........................................................ 32 

Railroad Bill ............................................................. 32 

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down .................... 32 

The Voyageur’s Song .............................................. 32 

This is America ........................................................ 33 

Waterloo .................................................................. 33 

Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ----------------------- 34 

A Boy and a Girl ....................................................... 34 

Announcements ...................................................... 34 

Be Kind to Your Web Footed Friends....................... 35 

Big Fat Hen ............................................................. 35 

Bingo ....................................................................... 35 

Boom Boom Ain’t It Great to be Crazy ..................... 35 

Boy Scout Camp...................................................... 36 

Bug Juice ................................................................. 36 

Camp Grenada ........................................................ 36 

Camp Kookamonga ................................................. 36 

Chopped Liver ......................................................... 37 

Ding Dong ............................................................... 37 

Do Your Ears Hang Low .......................................... 37 

Drool Song .............................................................. 38 

Dummy Line ............................................................ 38 

Garbage Barge ........................................................ 38 

Ghost Chickens in the Sky....................................... 39 

Ghost Riders in the Sky ........................................... 39 

Glory How Peculiar .................................................. 39 

God Bless My Underwear ........................................ 40 

Grannies in the Cellar .............................................. 40 

Ham and Eggs......................................................... 40 

Page ii 

Hey Lotty, Lotty Lo ................................................... 40 

How Do You Do? ..................................................... 40 

I Had But Fifty Cents ................................................ 40 

I Love You ................................................................ 41 

Johnny Verbeck ....................................................... 41 

Junior Birdman ........................................................ 41 

Little Rabbit Fru Fru ................................................. 42 

Mountain Dew .......................................................... 42 

My Favorite Senior Things ....................................... 43 

Old MacDonald Had a Farm .................................... 43 

Old Scouter ............................................................. 43 

On Top of Spaghetti ................................................. 43 

Ooey-Gooey ............................................................ 44 

Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track ............................... 44 

Pink Pajamas .......................................................... 44 

Ravioli ...................................................................... 44 

Russel Road ............................................................ 44 

Second Story Window ............................................. 44 

She Waded in the Water ......................................... 45 

Sippin Cider ............................................................. 45 

Skeeters ‘n’ the Bedbugs ......................................... 46 

Supercaligragilisticexpialidocious ............................ 46 

The Billboard Song .................................................. 46 

The Green Grass Grows All Around ........................ 46 

The Grub (Daddy’s Whiskers) ................................. 47 

The Quartermaster Store ......................................... 47 

The Thing ................................................................ 47 

There ain’t No Flies On Us ...................................... 48 

What’s Your Name ................................................... 48 

While the Organ Peeled Bananas ........................... 48 

Yon Yonson .............................................................. 48 

Zulu Warrior............................................................. 48 

Animal Songs -------------------------------------- 49 

1,000 Legged Worm ................................................ 49 

Beaver Song ............................................................ 49 

Bill Hogan’s Goat ..................................................... 49 

Flea ......................................................................... 49 

Froggie .................................................................... 49 

Little Brown Mouse .................................................. 49 

Out in the Woods ..................................................... 49 

The Ants Go Marching ............................................. 50 

The Cat Came Back ................................................ 50 

Nature Songs -------------------------------------- 52 

I Like the Mountains ................................................ 52 

Indian Lake .............................................................. 52 

Pollution Protest ...................................................... 52 

Roll On Columbia .................................................... 52 

The Far Northlands .................................................. 52 

The Happy Wanderer .............................................. 52 

Whooped Up ........................................................... 53 

Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes

Ballads ---------------------------------------------- 54 

A Hundred Miles ...................................................... 54 

Auld Lang Syne ....................................................... 54 

Blowin’ in the Wind .................................................. 54 

By the Waters of Babylon ........................................ 54 

Dang Me .................................................................. 54 

Day is Done ............................................................. 54 

Gone The Rainbow .................................................. 55 

Green Grow the Rushes Grow ................................ 55 

Greenback Dollar .................................................... 55 

Hammer Song ......................................................... 55 

I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing .......................... 56 

Lemon Tree ............................................................. 56 

Linger ...................................................................... 56 

One Tin Solder ........................................................ 56 

Puff the Magic Dragon ............................................. 57 

Stewball ................................................................... 57 

Take me Home, Country Roads .............................. 57 

Today ....................................................................... 58 

Tom Dooley ............................................................. 58 

Where Have all the Flowers Gone? ......................... 58 

Back to Gilwell ......................................................... 59 

Birds in the Wilderness ............................................ 59 

Climbing Up the Ladder ........................................... 59 

Scouting Songs ----------------------------------- 59 

Cry-I-Cry-I-Cus ........................................................ 59 

Follow Me Boys ....................................................... 59 

Good Night Comrades ............................................. 59 

Good Old Open Trail................................................ 60 

Growing Together .................................................... 60 

I Belong ................................................................... 60 

I’m Happy When I’m Hiking ..................................... 60 

Lang, Lang Trail to Camp ........................................ 60 

Let Us Sing Together ............................................... 60 

Philmont Hymn ........................................................ 60 

Scout Company ....................................................... 61 

Scouting Spirit .......................................................... 61 

Scouting We Go ...................................................... 61 

The Boy Scout Day .................................................. 61 

The More We Camp Together ................................. 61 

The More We Get Together ..................................... 61 

Till We Meet Again ................................................... 62 

Troop Number Song ................................................ 62 

Trusty Tommy Was A Scout ..................................... 62 

Vi Va La More .......................................................... 62 

We’re Here for the Fun ............................................ 62 

We’re On the Upward Trail ...................................... 62 

Round Songs --------------------------------------- 63 

A Way Down Yonder ................................................ 63 

America ................................................................... 63 

Be Prepared ............................................................ 63 

Bottle Pop - II ........................................................... 63 

Calliope ................................................................... 63 

Ezekiel Saw A Wheel Turning .................................. 63 

Gee, I’m Glad I’m A Boy Scout ................................ 63 

Hello, Hello .............................................................. 63 

Hi. Ho. Nobody Home .............................................. 63 

Let Us Sing Together ............................................... 63 

Little Tommy Tinker ................................................. 63 

London’s Burning ..................................................... 64 

One Bottle of Pop - I ................................................ 64 

Row, Row, Row Your Boat ....................................... 64 

The Paddle Song ..................................................... 64 

This Old Man ........................................................... 64 

Three Blind Mice...................................................... 64 

Religious Songs----------------------------------- 65 

Amen ....................................................................... 65 

Dem Bones.............................................................. 65 

Happy Sunday School ............................................. 65 

He’s Got the Whole World ....................................... 66 

Kum Ba Yah ............................................................. 66 

Michael Row the Boat .............................................. 67 

Rise and Shine ........................................................ 67 

Rock of My Soul ...................................................... 67 

Scout Vespers ......................................................... 67 

Standing in the Need of Prayer ................................ 67 

Taps ......................................................................... 68 

Tell Me Why ............................................................. 68 

These Bones Shall Rise Again ................................ 68 

Vespers, Taps & Scout Oath .................................... 68 

You Can Dig My Grave ............................................ 69 

You Can’t Get To Heaven ........................................ 69 

Foreign Songs ------------------------------------- 70 

Baba Eka Bo ........................................................... 70 

Cuma Zimba ............................................................ 70 

Ding Gang Goo........................................................ 70 

Dutch Song.............................................................. 70 

Framat Vi Ga Sjungande ......................................... 70 

Han Skal Leve ......................................................... 70 

Holly Poddle Doodle ................................................ 70 

Hong Kong Blues ..................................................... 70 

Ko-Ko, Ko-Ko .......................................................... 71 

Kung, Kling, Kung .................................................... 71 

O Mo Ni Go ............................................................. 71 

O, Vad Livet Ar H Arlight .......................................... 71 

Sarasponda ............................................................. 71 

Six Pence ................................................................ 71 

Walking at Night ...................................................... 72 

Waltzing Matilda ...................................................... 72 

We Are Jolly Boys.................................................... 72 

Wild Rover ............................................................... 72 

Wir Zogen Indas Feld .............................................. 72 

Zum Gali Gali .......................................................... 72 

Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes Page iii

Cheers ----------------------------------------------- 73 

2,000 Lb.Canary Cheer ........................................... 73 

Abe Lincoln Cheer ................................................... 73 

Alka Seltzer Cheer ................................................... 73 

Angry Cantaloupe Cheer ......................................... 73 

Archery Cheer ......................................................... 73 

Archery Cheer ......................................................... 73 

Artillery Cheer .......................................................... 73 

Avon Lady Cheer ..................................................... 73 

Baden-Powell Cheer ................................................ 73 

Barbershop Cheer ................................................... 73 

Bear Cheer .............................................................. 73 

Beaver Cheer .......................................................... 73 

Bee Cheer ............................................................... 73 

Ben Franklin Cheer .................................................. 73 

Big Hand Cheer ....................................................... 73 

Big Rainstorm Cheer ............................................... 73 

Big Rock Candy Mountain Cheer ............................. 73 

Big Sneeze Cheer ................................................... 73 

Big Thumb Cheer .................................................... 73 

Bing-A-Lacka Cheer ................................................ 73 

Black Powder Rifle Cheer ........................................ 73 

British Rank Yell ....................................................... 73 

Broken Arm Cheer ................................................... 73 

Bull Cheer ................................................................ 73 

Bull Fighter Cheer.................................................... 74 

Calamine Lotion Cheer ............................................ 74 

Call the Hogs Cheer ................................................ 74 

Can of Applause Cheer ........................................... 74 

Cantaloupe Cheer ................................................... 74 

Carpenter Cheer ...................................................... 74 

Cat’s Meow Cheer ................................................... 74 

Cheerio Cheer ......................................................... 74 

Cherry Cheer ........................................................... 74 

Chinese Cheer ........................................................ 74 

Chip Chop Cheer ..................................................... 74 

Christmas Bells Cheer ............................................. 74 

Clam Cheer ............................................................. 74 

Class “A” Cheer ....................................................... 74 

Class “B” Cheer ....................................................... 74 

Class “C” Cheer ....................................................... 74 

Class “Z” Cheer ....................................................... 74 

Columbus Cheer ..................................................... 74 

Coo Coo Cheer........................................................ 74 

Cookie Cheer .......................................................... 75 

Cork Cheer .............................................................. 75 

Crab Cheer .............................................................. 75 

Desert Cheer ........................................................... 75 

Dip Stick Cheer ........................................................ 75 

English Cheer .......................................................... 75 

Eskimo Cheer .......................................................... 75 

Ferris Wheel Cheer ................................................. 75 

Fire Engine Cheer ................................................... 75 

Fishy Cheer - I ......................................................... 75 

Page iv 

Fishy Cheer - II ........................................................ 75 

Flat Tire Cheer......................................................... 75 

Flea Cheer ............................................................... 75 

Flea Flip Cheer ........................................................ 75 

Flintstone Cheer ...................................................... 75 

Foil Dinner Cheer .................................................... 75 

George Washington Cheer - I .................................. 75 

George Washington Cheer - II ................................. 75 

Ghost Cheer - I ........................................................ 75 

Ghost Cheer - II ....................................................... 75 

Guillotine Cheer ....................................................... 75 

Golf Cheer ............................................................... 75 

Golf Cheer ............................................................... 75 

Gondolier Cheer ...................................................... 75 

Good Turn Cheer ..................................................... 76 

Grape Cheer ............................................................ 76 

Hangman Cheer ...................................................... 76 

Handkerchief/Neckerchief Cheer ............................. 76 

Hay-Straw ................................................................ 76 

Howdy Cheer ........................................................... 76 

Howdy Pard Cheer .................................................. 76 

Indiana Jones Cheer ............................................... 76 

Jolly Green Giant Cheer .......................................... 76 

Kiowa Indian Yell...................................................... 76 

Kybo Cheer.............................................................. 76 

Livewire Cheer......................................................... 76 

Locomotive Cheer ................................................... 76 

Lumberjack Cheer ................................................... 76 

Mad Doctor Cheer ................................................... 76 

Marilyn Monroe Cheer ............................................. 76 

Mexican Hat Dance Cheer....................................... 76 

Model “T” Cheer ...................................................... 76 

Moose Cheer ........................................................... 76 

Mosquito Cheer ....................................................... 76 

Motorcycle Cheer .................................................... 76 

Mount Rushmore Cheer .......................................... 76 

Mountain Climbers Cheer ........................................ 76 

Paper Bag Cheer ..................................................... 77 

Party Cheer ............................................................. 77 

Pat on the Back ....................................................... 77 

Pennsylvania University Cheer ................................ 77 

Pinky Cheer ............................................................. 77 

President Cheer ....................................................... 77 

Rainstorm Cheer ..................................................... 77 

Razzle Dazzle Cheer ............................................... 77 

Relay Cheer............................................................. 77 

Reverse Applause ................................................... 77 

Rip-Rip-Rap Cheer .................................................. 77 

Road Runner Cheer ................................................ 77 

Robot Cheer ............................................................ 77 

Rooster Cheer ......................................................... 77 

Round of Applause .................................................. 77 

Santa Claus Cheer .................................................. 77 

Seal of Approval ...................................................... 77 


Silent Yell ................................................................. 77 

Sky Rocket Cheer.................................................... 77 

Southern Cantaloupe Cheer .................................... 77 

Space Shuttle Cheer ................................................ 77 

Stamp of Approval ................................................... 77 

The Fonz Cheer ....................................................... 77 

The Great “B” Cheer ................................................ 78 

The Mask Cheer ...................................................... 78 

Throw Up Cheer ...................................................... 78 

Toucan Yell .............................................................. 78 

Trumpet Cheer ........................................................ 78 

Turkey Yell ............................................................... 78 

Turtle Cheer............................................................. 78 

Watermelon Cheer .................................................. 78 

What A Ten Chew Cheer ......................................... 78 

Witch Cheer ............................................................ 78 

Yodelers Cheer ........................................................ 78 

Skits ------------------------------------------------- 79 

Bell Ringer #1 .......................................................... 79 

Bell Ringer # 2 ......................................................... 79 

Bell Ringer # 3 ......................................................... 79 

Bicycle Shop ............................................................ 79 

Brains For Sale ........................................................ 80 

Candy Store ............................................................. 80 

Gathering of Nuts .................................................... 80 

Is it Time Yet? .......................................................... 80 

J.C. Penny ............................................................... 80 

New Underwear ....................................................... 81 

Throwing Up ............................................................ 87 

Puppy in the Box ..................................................... 81 

Raisin Skit ............................................................... 81 

Reggie and the Colonel ........................................... 81 

Submarine Captain .................................................. 82 

The Dead Body........................................................ 82 

The Important Papers .............................................. 82 

The Lawnmower ...................................................... 82 

The Little Green Ball ................................................ 83 

The Lost Lollipop ..................................................... 83 

The Medicrin ............................................................ 83 

Walk Ons ------------------------------------------- 84 

Case I: Taking My Case to Court ............................. 84 

Case II: Case Thrown Out of Court.......................... 84 

Case III: Taking My Case to a Higher Court ............. 84 

Case IV: Open and Shut Case ................................. 84 

Case V: Case Got Overturned ................................. 84 

Case VI: Lost My Case ............................................ 84 

Case VII: Rest My Case .......................................... 84 

Fire Drill ................................................................... 84 

It’s All Around Me ..................................................... 84 

It’s All Over Me ........................................................ 84 

Just Sticking Around ................................................ 84 

Leaving .................................................................... 84 

Pulling String ............................................................ 84 

Raisin Cane ............................................................. 84 

Squirrels .................................................................. 85 

Throwing Up ............................................................ 85 

Index ------------------------------------------------- 86 

Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes Page v

Johnny Appleseed Grace 

Oh the Lord’s been good to me, 

And so I thank the Lord. 

For giving me the things I need 

The sun and the rain and the appleseed 

The Lord’s been good to me. 

Amen. 

Owasippe Grace 

For the food we have 

For the friends we make 

For the knowledge we receive 

And for all… the good times 

We give to you, Lord 

Our warmest thanks. 

Philmont Grace 

Philmont Scout Ranch BSA High Adventure Base 

For food, for raiment, 

For life, for opportunity, 

For friendship and fellowship, 

We thank thee Oh Lord. 

Prayers & Graces 

Sioux Table Prayer 

Almighty Father, 

Whose voice we hear in the wind, 

Whose breath gives life to all the world, 

And whose hand we see in all creation, 

Grant that we may say, 

As Blackhawk said, 

That we never take a drink of water 

Nor a bite to eat 

Without being mindful of, 

And grateful for, 

Your goodness. 

Sommers Wilderness Grace 

Northern Tier BSA High Adventure Base 

For food, for raiment 

for life and opportunity 

for sun and rain, for water and portage trails 

for friendship and fellowship 

we thank thee, Oh Lord 

Owasippe legends, Ballads & Vignettes Page 1

The Owasippe Legend: Version I 

“The largest Indian mound in this vicinity was built on a 

high hill above Silver Creek. Because of its size, 

someone of importance must have been buried there. 

An Indian named John Stone frequently visited a Mr. 

Paul Norman. Both had served in The Civil War, and 

once he did John a favor, which is something an Indian 

never forgets. One day he asked John who was buried 

in the great mound, and John answered that his people 

had told him it was Chief Owasippe. 

The village over which the Chief presided, he said, was 

on the flat at the foot of the hill. The creek, Bishe-gaindang 

(Beautiful), furnished them with fresh water and a 

safe landing for canoes. Both fishing and hunting were 

good and the wooded hills that surrounded them kept 

out the cold winter winds. They were also comparatively 

safe here from attacks by hostile bands. 

Owasippe had two teenage sons in whom he took great 

pride. They liked to hunt and fish and sometimes went 

far down the river to search for game. When, after a 

reasonable length of time, they failed to return from one 

of these expeditions, the Chief became anxious. Every 

day he climbed the high hill and sat for hours beneath a 

great pine tree scanning the long marsh and watching 

for their reappearance on one of the many streams that 

wound through the tall grass to be the blue of the 

distant hill. But no sign of them did he see. No news of 

their whereabouts could he learn. They might have 

drowned in the treacherous river or met enemies who 

had tortured and killed them, which was a common 

occurrence before 1812. Whatever happened, the two 

boys were never seen again. Eventually, their father 

succumbed to uncertainty and disappointment. His 

people found him dead beneath the great pine and built 

his mound where he had kept vigil so long. 

In the early 1890’s, three boys were following the trail 

along the foot of the rollaway at the mouth of Silver 

Creek when they noticed something that resembled the 

end of a canoe protruding from the bank. Hurrying back 

to town they notified the village marshal, who returned 

with the boys, bringing men and shovels. They 

unearthed two dugouts, each containing the skeleton of 

a teenage Indian. There were also the metal parts of a 

flintlock gun, bits of decayed blankets, a copper kettle 

and a silver ornament. The boys thought they had found 

an Indian burying ground hence the name, Burying 

Ground Point, but from the information given by John 

Stone, it was evident that these youths were the missing 

sons of Owasippe. The two boys had apparently pulled 

their canoes up to the bank ,for the night, and the river, 

constantly cutting into the earth, had caused it to cave 

in, burying them while they slept.” 

Page 2 

Tales & Stories 

“Some effort has been made to learn the correct name 

of the Chief, and its meaning. The Indian language 

being strict oral, makes the matter difficult. The late K. 

G. Smith of Lansing and Birch Brook consulted the late 

rather Gagnieur of Sault St. Marie who thought the 

name was Awassisibi, meaning “Beyond the River”,hence 

Owasippe”. 

“When John Stone told this story, the great pine was still 

standing. In 1914 only a rotted log remained. Now, even 

that has disappeared. The mounds have settled beyond 

recognition and would be lost but for the marker placed 

there by the Chicago Boy Scouts.” 

*from The Montague Area, 100 years: 1867-1967, 

published by Montague Area Centennial Inc., 

Montague, MI., 1967 

How Burying Ground Point Got It’s Name 

This story essentially mimics the above version but 

predates the above reference by seventeen years and 

was likely used as a reverence for that work writing. It’s 

more factual than prose and also contains some 

additional items of interest, such as the existence of 

artifacts from Owasippe’s son’s canoe and that 

Owasippe’s wife may be buried next to him. 

The largest Indian mound in this vicinity was built on a 

high hill above Silver Creek. Because of its size, Mr. 

Norman, who was much interested in Indians, figured 

someone of importance must have been buried there. 

An Indian named John Stone frequently came to his 

shop to visit with him as he worked. Both had served in 

the Civil War, and once he did John a favor, which is 

something an Indian never forgets. One day he asked 

John who was buried in the great mound and John 

answered that his people had told him it was Chief 

Owasippe. 

The village over which the chief presided, he said, was 

on the flat at the foot of the hill. The Creek, Bishe-gaindang 

(Beautiful), furnished them with fresh water and a 

safe landing for canoes. Both fishing and hunting were 

good, and the wooded hills that surrounded them kept 

out the cold winter winds. They were also 

comparatively safe here from attacks by hostile bands. 

Owasippe had two teenage sons in whom he took great 

pride. They liked to hunt and fish and sometimes went 

far down the River in search of game. When, after a 

reasonable length of time, they failed to return from one 

of these expeditions, the chief became anxious. Every 

day he climbed the high hill and sat for hours beneath a 

great pine tree scanning the long marsh and watching 

for their reappearance on one of the many streams that 

wound through the tall grass to the head of White Lake 


which looked like a silver thread against the blue of the 

distant hill. But no sign of them did he see; no news of 

their whereabouts could he learn. They might have 

drowned in the treacherous river, or met enemies who 

had tortured and killed them, a common occurrence 

before 1812. Whatever happened, the two boys were 

never seen again. Eventually, their father succumbed 

to uncertainty and disappointment. His people found 

him dead beneath the great pine and built his mound 

where he had kept vigil so long. 

Soon after telling this story, John Stone was struck by a 

train and killed, and no further information about the 

chief was available. 

In the early 1890’s, three boys – Glenn Stewart, Erastus 

Monroe, and Patrick Riley – were following the trail 

along the foot of the rollway at the mouth of Silver 

Creek when they noticed something that resembled the 

end of a canoe protruding from the bank. Hurrying 

back to town, they notified the Village Marshall, Charles 

McKenzie, who returned with the boys, bringing men 

and shovels. They unearthed two dugouts, each 

containing the skeleton of a teenage Indian. There 

were also the metal parts of a flintlock gun, bits of 

decayed blankets, a copper kettle and a silver 

ornament. 

They boys thought they had found an Indian burying 

ground – hence the name, Burying Ground Point – but 

from the information given by John Stone, it was evident 

that these youths were the missing sons of Owasippe. 

The two boys had apparently pulled their canoes up to 

the bank for the night and the river, constantly cutting 

into the earth, had caused it to cave in, burying them 

while they slept. 

From Patrick Riley, Mr. Norman acquired the silver 

ornament for his collection of Indian artifacts. 

This ornament and the flintlock gun are evidence that 

the French fur traders had already invaded this territory. 

The smaller mound beside the Chief’s contained the 

skeleton of a woman, doubtless that of the Chief’s wife. 

When John Stone told this story, the great pine was still 

standing; in 1914 only a rotted log remained. Now, 

even that has disappeared. The mounds have settled 

beyond recognition and would doubtless be lost but for 

the marker placed there by the Chicago Scouts. 

Some effort has been made to learn the correct name 

of the Chief, and its meaning. The Indian language 

being strictly oral, makes the matter difficult. The late 

K. G. Smith of Lansing and Birch Brook consulted the 

late Father Gagnieur of Sault Ste. Marie who thought 

the name was Awassisibi, meaning “Beyond the River”, 

hence Owasippe 

From The Early History of White Lake and White Lake 

Indians, Compiled by Bernice Norman, 1950 


Page 4 

Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends 

This version of the legend and the tales that follow 

where taken from a pamphlet edited by George A. 

Mozealous and sold at Owasippe in the seventies. I’ve 

decided to separate these stories from the preceding 

section so they can be read in context with the time 

period from which they were originall published as well 

as to appreciate the unique prose of the editor. The text 

has been copied as originally printed with no effort to 

correct grammer or alter the text in any way. For 

example, the derogatory term “Old Squaw,” which is no 

longer socially acceptable, appear as written by Mr. 

Mozealous at that time. 

Although I am unsure of its original priting date. My best 

guess is that he scribed these tales in the mid-1930’s. I 

arrived at this estimate based upon two passages. In 

one the date 1930 is referenced and in another a 

mentions an Army deserter from the “Great War.” I take 

that to mean World War I so the author predates the 

beginning of World War II in 1939. If my guess is 

acurate, then these stories are drafted from a narator 

who attended Owasippe a mear two dozen years after it 

opened in 1911. Many of the places described in these 

stories are long gone, eroded by the ever encroching 

modern development. Some of the references to camps 

and trails are also dated as much of the land has been 

sold off for private development. Still, these tales 

provide a rare glimpse into the legacy of the native 

americans, the early pioneers and the industrious 

lumberjacks that once roamed the hills and dales and 

labored to carve a life out of a wilderness. Enjoy 

Forward 

Data for the stories presented here have been collected 

over a period of years by leaders of the Owasippe 

Scout Camps who knew intimately the descendants of 

the men who lives these tales. In some instances, they 

were fortunate in knowing the pioneers themselves. 

Some stories have been lifted bodily from the accounts 

of Ted Shearer, Walter Gunn and C. A. Edson, whose 

large contributions of information we wish to 

acknowledge at this time. Credit is also due to Alex, 

Roz, Earl Walz, and Roy Bredal for the time and effort 

they spent in gathering additional information. We trust 

that during the course of the summer you will make an 

effort to correct any misinformation, and that you will 

turn over to the chief Camp Director any additional 

legends you know of hear. 

Introduction 

Around the campfire, - Scouts are clamoring for “A 

Story.” What are you going to tell them? About the Far 

West? — The Canadian Wilds, — about mysterious 

places in Europe? 

No! Tell them about Owasippe, — brave men have lived 

here and died here too! They’ll enjoy your stories 

because they’ll be close to the spot on which it 

happened. And more than that, they’ll leave with a 

deeper love and respect for Owasippe and it’s “Hills and 

Dales.” 

No attempt has been made to write these stories 

exactly as they should be told around the campfire – 

rather than that we give you only the historical data we 

have available, and leave to your story telling ability the 

task of building these stories as you see fit. Why not 

weave into these stories, the life of Willie Workhard, of 

Silent Sammy, the Woodsman, or any of the host of 

fictitious characters you can bring to mind. This will add 

that necessary “human interest” to round out the 

worthwhile historical data. 

The Owasippe Legend: Version II 

Location — The Spillway on Silver Creek, the Trout 

Stream, Owasippe’s Grave, and the Burying Ground 

Point on White River 

In days when the White Lake Region was first settled by 

White men (1840 - 1850), a tribe of Pottawatomie 

Indians lived in the vicinity and had its village on Silver 

Creek (the Trout Stream) at a point where the spillway 

now is. The Chief of this tribe, who was a friend to the 

White men, was an old Indian by the name of 

Owasippe. Owasippe had married late in life and had 

two sons about fifteen and, seventeen years of age. 

It was a custom among the Indian tribes that when a lad 

felt that he was old enough and was ready to be 

admitted as a brave in the tribe, he was required to 

pass what was known as a manhood test, in order to 

prove his courage, self-reliance and woodcraft ability. 

This test, which varies in details from tribe to tribe, 

consisted essentially of the boy’s going for a 

considerable period of time away from the tribe, 

frequently going into hostile territory, killing and 

preparing his own food, and otherwise entirely 

depending upon his own resources. In the tribe of 

Owasippe, this test consisted of taping a canoe and 

scouting trip of a month’s duration. 

Owasippe’s two sons felt that they were ready to pass 

their manhood tests, and to be admitted to the tribe as 

braves, and arrangements were accordingly made. 

They packed their canoes with their few utensils and 

supplies, and started out, sailing down Silver Creek to 

the White River on to White Lake, out to Lake Michigan, 

and up toward the country of the Algonguins in Canada. 

As the time for their return drew near, Owasippe, whose 

whole life was wrapped up in these two boys, was 


keyed up to a high point of anxiety and anticipation. 

Early in morning on the day when they were due to 

return, he climbed the hill back of his tepee and sitting 

there on an old pine log at a point where he could 

command, a view of Silver Creek to its junction with the 

White River, he waited and watched for their return. All 

day long he waited for the canoe. At night, exceedingly 

anxious and worn, he returned to his village, only to 

renew his watch at day break. Day after day he waited 

thus, and as he waited his anxiety grew. Finally, he 

refused to desert his post and sat there day and night. 

His faithful wife brought his food to him, but he ate: less 

and less, and finally, after many days, sank into a coma 

and died. 

The canoe of the lads never appeared, and Owasippe 

was buried on the crest of the hill where he died, His 

grave is marked only by a sunken hole, mute evidence 

of a raid made by vandals several years ago .when they 

stole the old Chief’s skull 

Scouts are asked to bring rocks whenever they visit the 

grave a, and place them on the earth so that in time this 

hole will be filled up and a mound will mark the spot 

where the old chief is buried. 

The mystery of the death of Owasippe’s sons was not 

for many years. About thirty years after Owasippe’s 

death, a boy fishing along the White River came to a 

point known as “Burying Ground Point,” where there is a 

high bank. There had been a heavy rainstorm the night 

before and the boy discovered that a landslide had 

occurred here. He began exploring about and found the 

upturned prow of birch bark canoe. He got a few of his 

friends and dug into the bank where they found the 

entire canoe, under which there were two skeletons of 

young Indian lads. 

It was apparent then what had happened. Those two 

sons of Owasippe had successfully completed their trip 

and where returning home. Arriving at Burying Ground 

point, less than a mile from their father’s village and 

practically within sight, they were overtaken by one of 

those sudden fierce storms which occasionally visit this 

region. While there, a bigger and earlier landslide 

suddenly overwhelmed them, burying and crushing then 

and the canoe, and thus their remains stayed buried 

until uncovered years later. 

The Old Trading Post 

Location: See details in first paragraph 

Nowadays we hear only of the trading posts of the “Wild 

West.” But here at Owasippe we have a post antedating 

a great many of those in the land of Buffalo Bill. It’s the 

“Old Trading Post” four miles up White River from 

Montague, near the mouth of Carleton Creek. 

The name of the original white founder (Indians had 

used this place for many years as a meeting ground) is 

in doubt, as also is the time of its founding, but recent 

investigations by Mr. H. L. Spooner, a former resident of 

Whitehall, have brought to light the possibility of its 

having been founded about 1810 by a Frenchman 

names Etienne Lamaranandier. His own post was 

located on Muskegon Lake. Many highly interesting 

legends are built around this place. One of the earliest 

known settlers was Capt. James Dalton, Jr., who came 

to White Lake in 1844 while enroute to what is now 

Manistee. Indians told him of Silver Creek and he 

decided to settle there. While seeking a location for a 

saw mill he discovered this old cabin – then decayed 

beyond possibility of repair. 

Dalton erected his mill close to this post, at the mouth 

of Silver Creek, (see story “Dalton’s Mill). At this same 

time Charles Johnson selected this spot and built 

combined eating house, saloon and store. Soon other 

mills, among them Carleton’s and Brown’s were erected 

close by and this place enjoyed a large patronage. 

Indians paddled to it in their canoes, and lumberjacks 

from the surrounding camps frequented the place. 

Johnson grew wealthy and sold out to Johannes 

Gustaves, whose son John was born there. When his 

son grew up, both managed the place. Nick Rossiter of 

Hisperia, an old time river driver, remembers seeing as 

many as 300 Indians camped about the post, having a 

hilarious time as long as their money lasted. To river 

men it gradually became known as the “Snubbing Post.” 

How many of the “true” stories told about this place are 

true is now unknown, but here are a few surrounding 

this treasure chest of legend. 

There was supposed to be a notorious resort known as 

“The Hole In The Wall” located a short distance from 

the post. Tradition says that many a man went to this 

place and was taken into a tunnel to some unknown 

spot – and these men never were seen again! 

A Norwegian family lived near the post. The entire 

family, - father, mother, boy and girl were stricken with 

smallpox. In an effort to get medical aid the family 

embarked for Whitehall. The girl died and was buried in 

the basement of a house built where the Foster place 

now stands. When this was excavated the bones were 

found and reinterred in the cemetery. Soon after this the 

father and mother died, and the boy fell into the hands 

of a man named Hanson. Hanson in turn gave the boy 

to the Indians. One night during a drunken pow-wow 

one of their number threw the lad into a huge fire. On 

old squaw rescued him and gave him to a white man. 

He then passed through several hands and finally he 

went west. He died a few years ago in New Mexico, 


carrying to his grave the marks of burns received from 

the Indians. 

Did you ever hear of a person being delighted at the 

opportunity of serving as a pallbearer at a relative’s 

funeral? Well, Old Chris and his wife (no one 

remembers their last name) lived near the post. His wife 

was getting old and he wanted to get rid of her and get 

a young woman. She became ill, so Chris got a young 

woman to take care of her and do the housework. 

Thinking that his wife was going to die, he began 

wooing the younger woman, but he was too bold about 

it and his wife soon noticed it. She determined to get 

well, and did. Chris did not like it and abused her, but 

fate laid a heavy hand on him and soon who wished to 

see his wife dead, himself died. His wife insisted on 

being one of the pallbearers and rejoiced that she could 

help to carry his body from the house. 

The Trading Post school was built on the banks of a 

small creek close to the river, but was later sold. A new 

one was built near the present A. N Dahl place. About 

sixteen years ago an Indian walking along the path that 

leads to the school’s spring stubbed his toe and found 

the obstruction to be $700.00 in gold that had been laid 

bare by a recent hard rain. Close to this same spot and 

the old supply road there were three large mounds. 

While building this road remains of a dam and a 

miniature water wheel built by school children are 

among the few remaining ruins to be found on this spot. 

Because a bridge leading to the post was recently 

needlessly destroyed, the post is rather difficult to 

reach. It is not visible from any road. Within a few years 

this oldest landmark of the Lower White River region 

will be entirely obliterated and will become only a 

memory. 

The Salt Marsh 

Location: Silver Creek 

Legends surrounding the Salt Marsh vary as to the 

exact time men attempted to drill in to the earth for this 

white condiment. Some claim this was done the same 

year that Captain Dalton built his mill at Silver Creek 

(1844), others say this was the first attempted during 

the Civil War when salt became scarce. Nevertheless, 

long before white man started operations the Indians 

knew of the salt marsh. Animals too frequented this 

place to lick the brackish tasting water. 

Preparation of the salt necessitated the use of large iron 

kettles. These the Indians borrowed from the settlers, 

and in return for this favor, would bring them back full of 

salt, but refused to divulge the place where they 

obtained it. 

Page 6 

Upon hearing that the White Lake region was underlaid 

with salt water, a man named Hulbert came from Grand 

Rapids with his two sons and attempted to set up a salt 

well at the marsh. However, after boring into the earth 

for eighty feet their drill became jammed and they were 

forced to abandon the project. Some say the 

succeeded in sinking the well, but found it was 

unprofitable. They had installed a an iron pipe which 

was surrounded by a jack pipe, made from maples 

drilled lengthwise (early water pipes in Chicago were 

made by drilling logs in this manner). Later the grass in 

the surrounding marsh was cut for hay, and Obe 

Nichols, who lived close by, said that the workmen used 

to set their jug of fresh water on this pipe to keep it cool. 

For many years the pipe stood about three feet above 

the ground, but gradually both the pipe and derrick 

rotted away. The land is now owned by the Fruitvale 

company, and the well has been plugged up so it no 

longer runs, but the natural springs still seep up with an 

abundance of the saline liquid. Hulbert and his two sons 

later built a mill on Carleton’s Creek which they sold to 

the man whose name the creek now bears. 

The Legend of White River 

When one travels along the lower part of the White 

River and notes the solitude and desolation, he can 

hardly realize that at one time this section teamed with 

life. Long before the advent of the white man, this was a 

favorite camping place for the Indians, and when the 

first French trader came into the country, he selected a 

spot for a trading post about four miles up the river from 

its mouth as the most favorable site and built a log 

cabin there. (See story headed “Old Trading Post”). 

There the Indians resorted in large numbers to trade 

pelts for such supplies as they needed, the most 

necessary of which seems to have been the inevitable 

whiskey. The exact time this log cabin was built is not 

known, but it was already in a state of bad decay when 

Charles and Albert Mears, the first permanent white 

settlers came in 1837. Two miles below the Trading 

Post was Burying Ground Point, an old time Indian 

Burial place. 

This old burial ground was used by the Indians for many 

years. During the last of the lumbering period, the river 

changed its course and washed out many bodies. 

Today, although there are probably many still left, none 

can be detected. Several cottages of resorters are near 

the old burial ground. It was near the site of the Trading 

Post that Charles Mears, later prominent in the history 

of Muskegon and Oceana counties, chose a spot on 

Silver Creek near its mouth for the erection of a saw 

mill. He and his brother Albert, then a boy of fifteen 

years, and two other men named Herrick and True 


started from Paw Paw and floated down the river to St. 

Joseph in a clinker built skiff bound for White Lake. The 

trip was a rough one and it took them nearly two weeks 

to make it, capsizing several times and running out of 

provisions long before they reached their destination. 

On the north of the channel they found two men holding 

a claim for Hiram Pearsons of Chicago. On the flat 

where the lighthouse was later built, was a band of a 

half dozen Ottawa Indian families with their chief, 

Wabanigo. They had cleared a small piece of ground 

and were raising corn. 

Mears party camped the first night at the mouth. By 

noon the next day they reached Burying Ground Point. 

Here they found a band of Indians eating dinner. Mears 

and his party received a cordial invitation to share the 

meal, but did not accept. Although used to eating 

almost anything which the country afforded, the 

pioneers did not relish the Indian menu of ducks’ eggs, 

some sound, some questionable, some in the poultry 

stage of existence, with a large roasted blacksnake for 

dessert. That night they made the vicinity of the Trading 

Post and camped at the mouth of Silver Creek. They 

continued up the river for three days to the rapids above 

the J. D. Stebbins farm. They then returned to the 

mouth of Silver Creek and decided to locate there. 

Albert Mears felled the first tree and within two weeks a 

cabin 16 by 20 had been built of split logs. Charles then 

started on foot to Paw Paw to get castings for the mill. 

Soon True proved “untrue” by skipping out one night 

after stealing the stock of bread on hand, leaving Albert 

and Herrick alone. At the end of two months, their 

provisions were exhausted and having heard nothing of 

Charles, they packed their belongings in their skiff and 

started for Paw Paw. At Grand Haven, thinking he had 

had enough of hardships, Albert left Herrick and got a 

schooner for St. Joseph. 

Charles Mears and Herrick returned to White Lake that 

fall with the necessary castings for a waterpower saw 

mill, which they decided to build on the shore of White 

Lake, where the Wilcox mill was later located. Early in 

1838 the mill commenced sawing clap boards eight feet 

long with a circular saw and a few later an upright saw 

was put in. 

Charles Mears also constructed mills at Duck Lake, 

Pointe Saubel and Pentwater. His own fleet of 

schooners transported the lumbar to Chicago. He also 

owned some of the first steamers on Lake Michigan. In 

his diary he refers to the amazing fact that sailors 

wages were raised to $18.00 a month. 

The first store in Whitehall1 proper was built by him, and 

managed by Mr. J. D. Sturtevant. This building was 

located just above the present village park and boat 

landing. 

Lumbering On Cleveland Creek 

Although today Cleveland Creek seems too shallow and 

narrow to be useful in hauling logs, yet it once was an 

important stream in the transportation of lumber to the 

White River and thence to Whitehall. Lumbering 

operations were first started by a man named 

Cleveland, whose name the creek now bears. This was 

in the early ‘70’s. Closely after him came Veston, then a 

man who was to become a most important figure in this 

part of the country, — Covell. 

Just fifty yards to the Northwest of the present Blue 

Lake Town Hall2 , Covell built his lumber camp. Traces 

of it may yet be seen. Dams were necessary, however, 

before this stream could be used for the cartage of logs. 

If scouts will examine the banks of the stream closely, 

traces of these dams may yet be found by following the 

old lumbering trail on the south side of the stream up 

above the mill about five eighth of a mile. Here one will 

find the site of Roger’s Dam. Further upstream Snow 

built a mill, a portion of the bridge, known as Snow’s 

Bridge, leading to this mill is still in place, as is part of 

the mill. 

About three-fourths of a mile upstream from Deuce’s 

Wild (a privately owned hunting cabin) is the sight of the 

Upper Dam, properly called Kingsley’s Dam or Dam #2. 

About one half mile East of this dam was another, 

known as Dam #1, traces of whose sluiceway may still 

be seen. Logs would be cut in the winter and taken on 

1 Whitehall’s recorded history began around 1859 when Charles Mears, a noted lumber baron to the area platted 

the village along with Giles B. Slocum, naming it Mears. In 1862, it was renamed Whitehall. It grew because of its 

strategic location for floating and distributing lumber, incorporating as a village in 1867. It later was incorporated as 

a city in 1942. 

2 The Blue Lake Town Hall was moved from the described location on Cleveland Creek were Owasippe Road 

crosses the creek, to its present location to the east near Silver Creek Road where it’s part of the Owasippe Scout 

Reservation administration center complex. It is now called the E. Urner Goodman Museum, after the founder of 

the Order of the Arrow and former Owasippe Reservation director, and houses a wealth of Owasippe and Chicago 

scouting memorabilia. 


sleighs to the banks of the creek and dumped in above 

the dams. The lumbermen would open the upper dam 

and close the lower, then, when the water was high 

enough around the lower, they would open that and let 

the logs ride down into the White River. 

Along the banks of the stream men would watch to see 

that no logs snagged and to guard the turns so that a 

jam would not form. Then, too, others, — picked 

perhaps for their boldness, — would ride the logs using 

long poles in midstream to prevent snagging and 

jamming. 

Dalton’s Mill 

Location: The Spillway 

Captain James Dalton, Jr., came to the White River 

country about 1844. His original intention was to 

continue up to Manistee, however, after hearing the 

Indians tell of the wonderful lumbering country around 

the White River and Silver Creek, he decided to go 

there, and if the country proved to be as favorable as it 

was painted, to settle. This he did, and, after much 

exploring decided to locate on Silver Creek close to the 

White River. 

He was opposed in this enterprise by Charles Mears 

who claimed that there was not enough timber in that 

part of the country for more than one mill. However, 

Mears was wrong, inasmuch as before many years 

passed there were eleven saw mills and five shingle 

mills on White Lake as well as many smaller ones 

scattered throughout the woods. Every stream big 

enough to float logs naturally or artificially boasted its 

mills. 

In 1845 Dalton, with the aid of his two brothers, erected 

a dam and water power mill. These remained in 

operation thirty-six years, till 1881. The site of Dalton’s 

Mill is now privately owned. The dam is kept in repair in 

order to keep the pond above it, which is used quite 

extensively for fishing. This dam along with a small 

apple orchard and a row of locust trees, are all that 

remain of this industrious mill. 

Near the orchard stood the home of the foreman. After 

the mill was abandoned, this house was used by an old 

woman named Maggie Kelly, a ward of the county. The 

house is now destroyed. In its last years the mill was 

used as a grist mill. 

The White River Roll-Aways 

We hear so much about roll-aways that we’ll take this 

opportunity to describe them and their purpose. First, as 

to the name “Roll-away” - some spell it “rollway” –not 

Page 8 

much difference as I see it, but I prefer the former. You 

can take your choice. 

The White River roll-aways were usually high banks on 

the river’s edge. Logs were gathered during the winter 

and hauled on sleighs to these banks and were piled in 

such a manner as to permit their being pushed off the 

roll-away and into the river whenever the spring flood 

had reached its highest point. 

The entire pile was controlled by one log known as the 

“King” or “Key” log. When the time for the shove-off 

arrived, the key log was pushed from its position and 

started all the others tumbling into the river. A few logs 

usually remained on top and these were pushed to the 

edge and allowed to “roll-away.” 

At the foot of the roll-aways the water is usually deep, 

especially where the river makes a bend as it hits the 

roll-away. At the foot of these roll-aways logs can 

usually be found stuck in the mush of the river. 

Generally these logs were too close grained and 

therefore too heavy to float. Along the river can be 

found other logs which snagged and stuck. 

Several lumbermen say that quite a number of men 

died while working on the river. Causes of death were 

numerous. Some died in fights, others in straightening 

out log jams, still others from sickness, some on the 

roll-aways and in the mills and some, while drunk, 

stumbled and fell to their death. The men who died 

while working on the river were buried in the woods 

bordering the river near the spot where they died. 

These graves are unmarked. 

Here’s an opportunity to start your evening’s story by 

saying, - “You may be sitting on the grave of a 

lumberjack.” That’ll give ‘em a thrill. 

Snow’s rollaway and Its Interesting Surroundings 

Don Snow (see “Lumbering on Cleveland Creek”) did 

not confine himself to lumbering activities on Cleveland 

Creek, but built another mill about a half mile south of 

the upper White River. It is situated in section 29 of 

Greenwood Township, Oceana County. This mill was 

used until 1925, and is still in a fairly good state of 

preservation. 

North of the mill is Snow’s Roll-Away, and a few 

hundred yards east is another rollaway. At this second 

rollaway occurred a death strange even in this strange 

country. On top of this rollaway is a concrete flooring 

upon which there once stood the home of a man who 

lived alone. During an unusually severe winter when the 

straits of Mackinac were frozen, a pack of wolves, 

driven out of Canada by lack of food, and the intense 

cold, went South through the upper peninsula, then 


crossed the straits into the lower peninsula. Coming 

down the White River these wolves came upon the 

home of this old man at the time he was desperately ill 

and in bed. Since he was unable to defend himself in 

any way, the wolves broke into his home, and ate him 

alive in bed. 

At the same time a colored butcher traveled through 

this country going from farm to farm slaughtering hogs 

for the farmers. Early one evening he had occasion to 

go from one farmhouse to another a few miles distant 

and he started off across the fields. The next morning, 

the farmer started out to find him. About midway 

between his place and that of his neighbor, he came 

upon a most gruesome sight, which told the story of a 

man’s heroic struggle against death. Against the tree he 

found the remains of the butcher, picked clean to the 

bone, and about him were nine wolves, each wolf with a 

knife through its body. The butcher, overtaken by the 

wolves, had backed against a tree and used all his 

knives in a vain attempt to escape, but the wolves, 

being desperate in need of food, pressed on, and when 

his weapons were gone, well – so was the butcher. 

Right beside the foundations of the house in which the 

old man was killed, there is a concrete dugout. During 

the World War a deserter from the U.S. Army hid here 

for more than a year and a half. Looking at it one is led 

to believe that he suffered more in his hideout than he 

would have at the hands of the toughest sergeant of the 

mule brigade. Close by there is another cave, though 

used for an entirely different purpose. This cave was 

used for a great many years by an old recluse. What 

finally became of him is unknown to this day. This is 

situated across the branch of Cleveland Creek on an 

old lumber road. 

Dead Man’s Rollaway & the Grave of the Unknown 

For the past sixty years, the bank just north of the 

county line bridge on the White River has been known 

as “Dead Man’s Roll-away.” As with other places around 

this part of the country, the tales about the origin of this 

name vary. Here are two versions most often repeated. 

Many men drifted into lumber camps who never 

divulged their true identity nor gave any indication as to 

their past. And no questions were ever asked. If a fellow 

looked as though he were able to work, he was given a 

job. One such man wandered into a camp not far from 

where county line bridge now crosses the White River. 

This log roller went into Whitehall one night, and during 

the course of the evening got into an argument with 

some other lumberjack over a woman. They fought and 

the former was victor. 

On the way back to camp he elected to walk along the 

bank of the river at what is now the county line bridge. 

Above him, on top of the roll-away stealthily crept the 

man he had conquered. When the approached a pile of 

logs the man above rolled one down, crushing his foe to 

death, and burying him in the muck of the river where 

his body was not found until the following spring. He 

was buried at the spot which is alongside the road 

leading to Bartlett’s place. A crude wooden cross and 

railing were erected to mark the grave. This cross bore 

the lettering 

“TO THE UNKNOWN” 

Eventually they rotted and were replaced by the 

Bartletts with a cross and fence of cedar. The other 

story, too, states that this fellow was a lumberjack but 

that when he returned to camp he was sent out to break 

a small jam and in doing this slipped on a log and was 

killed. 

Wheat Settlement 

Location: About one mile south of G. H. Q. 3 

About 1845 the U.S. Government granted a homestead 

(a plot of 160 acres of land) to any who desired to settle 

at the spot now known as Wheat Settlement. 

Another legend states that this place was called 

“Sweet’s Settlement” after a man purported to be the 

first settler. People gathered here, cleared timber off the 

lands, built homes with a portion of it and sold the 

balance in Whitehall for whatever it would bring. On this 

cleared land the men began planting wheat. Their first 

harvest met with fair success and they were jubilant 

over their prospects for continued prosperous farming. 

Again they sowed their wheat but this time met but little 

of their former good fortune. What they believed would 

prove to be a great faring country turned out to be 

worthless. Year after year they continued to plant, but 

each year saw a much poorer crop than the previous 

season. 

Discouraged, some settlers moved away, seeking new 

and more fertile lands. The growth of the town 

Whitehall, due to lumbering activities and its 

3 G.H.Q. likely stands for General Headquarters. The location of G.H.Q. largely depends upon when these stories 

where originally recorded. My guess is that they were written sometime between WWI and WWII. The 

Administration Center at the corners of Russell Rd. and Silvercreek Rd. did not exist at this time so G.H.Q. is likely 

near the original 40 acres Owasippe Lake. 


advantageous position on White Lake, also had much 

to do with the disbanding of this settlement. But some 

stayed. About 1874 very few of a once populous 

community remained, and the land became practically 

worthless. The story is related that a Mr. Collins, whose 

nephew now resides in Whitehall, traded his 160 acres 

for a patent ox yoke worth but a few dollars. 

Eventually only a few settlers were left, and these have 

since died or moved away. Today we see only the fields 

these hardy people tilled and a few ruins of the homes 

they left behind. Some of these places have since been 

identified. Just a few yards north of what was called 

Sprague’s Corner on the west side of the road are the 

ruins of the settlement blacksmith shop. Camp West 

boasts of having one half of a bellows found in these 

ruins. Scouts get the credit for identifying the Hickey 

homestead. About seven years ago a group of Scouts 

found letters and papers strewn about this place. 

Imagine their surprise and delight when they discovered 

among these papers two documents signed by the 

“Great Emancipator,” — Abraham Lincoln. 

One of these was a citation for bravery dated 1863, the 

other Mr. Hickey’s commission as a captain in the U.S. 

Army. There also was a letter sent by Mr. Hickey to his 

folks, describing the wonderful reception tendered him 

upon the arrival of his command in Chicago. Near Fox 

Lake on the northeast corner of the bend of the gravel 

road one mile south of Three Lakes Tavern stood the 

settlement school. On a little hill just south of Sprague’s 

Corner, was the community cemetery. There are many 

graves, but time and relic hunters have obliterated most 

of the tombstones. What few remain have been set 

upright again and carefully preserved. Stage coaches, 

the principal means of transportation at that time, came 

to Wheat Settlement over the road just due north of the 

cemetery. This road ran diagonally across the clearing 

to Sprague’s Corners. The junction of this road and that 

which corresponded to our present U.S. 31 was called 

Monroe’s Corner after a man who settled there about 

1880. That part of the U.S. 31 running directly northwest 

of the Green Lantern is also part of the old stage coach 

road. 

But here enters a real mystery. A lost cemetery. 

Perhaps you can find it, and blaze a trail to it so that all 

may see that which has been hidden for many years. 

There were possibly only a half dozen graves in this 

cemetery that were prominently marked, the whole 

having a fence around it. But time and the elements 

have destroyed both the stones and fence. Back in 

1921, during a Red and White War this cemetery was 

located by a group of scouts. Afterwards they were 

unable to re-locate it. 

Page 10 

Later, in 1925, a leader, Russel Shuler, found it, but 

again it was lost. Here is the approximate location: 

North of the road which passes the haunted house and 

the other cemetery, and south of the fence line which is 

½ mile north of this road and which is on the edge of 

the woods. The cemetery itself is located in the heart of 

a dense woods and is approximately South of the old 

Hickey house, being about on a line between this house 

and the point where an old wagon trail which runs 

diagonally northwest and southeast from U.S. 31 to the 

sector line road on which Wheat Settlement cemetery is 

situated and strikes the latter road. 

Now! Let’s see who’s going to rediscover this hidden 

cemetery and mark a trail so that Owasippe can have 

another interesting spot to add to its fascinating list. 

An Interesting Yarn 

Mark Covell tells an interesting story of these days. 

They had a camp on Minnie Creek five miles below 

Hesperia. A lot of small pine had been cut but had not 

yet been skidded and the camp was to move to another 

location several miles further up. Mark and a few other 

men were left at the old camp to pick up the remaining 

logs, which would take only one day. The cook got their 

noon lunch ready before leaving and packed it in a box. 

Early in the morning the main gang moved. When non 

came and Mark and his men went to the cook shanty 

for diner, no lunch could be found. Someone had by 

mistake put it on a sleigh and had taken it to the other 

camp. On looking around they found part of a barrel of 

crackers and a jug of black molasses. One of the men 

put the crackers in a trough on a long table and another 

poured the molasses over them. 

This constituted their dinner that day. The finished their 

job and went to the other camp that night. The next 

morning they found the ground covered with four feet of 

snow. 

Soon after while the snow was still very deep, and the 

cold intense, a young German boy named John C. Fox, 

working at the Covell camp, 26 miles from Whitehall, 

was badly cut in the foot with an axe. Seneca Fuller, the 

cook, took clean cloths used for wiping dishes and 

bound up the foot. A sleigh was rigged up and a wagon 

box put on it. Fox was wrapped up in blankets and put 

in the box and Mark Covell and another man started for 

Whitehall about eight o’clock at night. Part of the way 

they had to tramp down the snow in front of the horses. 

It got colder and colder. At Cushman’s mill the bolster 

got caught on a tree and the sleigh nearly tipped over. 

Fox, who was in intense pain, groaned. He then 

complained of being cold. Covell took of his overcoat 


and put it on the wounded boy. He then had to walk 

behind the sleigh to avoid the wind in an effort to keep 

warm. In order to keep moving he had to hang on to the 

sleigh. Covell knew that when he reached the William 

Whitman place he could get a pair of bobs from 

Whitman and thus make traveling easier. But when they 

arrived there, Mrs. Whitman informed them that her 

husband had gone to Muskegon two days before them 

and had not returned. She expected him every minute, 

but Covell knew what these winter storms meant and he 

did not dare wait for such an uncertain thing. They took 

the boy to the Covell boarding house and secured Dr. 

McKinnon to dress the wound. When he had cut off the 

improvised bandages, the foot, which had grown to 

seemingly gigantic proportions and bore an ugly color, 

made Herman Staples, who was a witness, faint at the 

sight. 

Fox remained there for several weeks before he could 

get out. He could not read English at the time and was 

lonesome. A druggist had some German almanacs, and 

each morning one would be taken to the boy. He would 

read it through and the next day he would be given 

another. In this way, he used up the druggist’s supply. 

Fox was later in the livery business at White Cloud and 

is now a farmer near Fremont. 

Cushman’s Settlement 

This place is typical of many others in the White River 

Country where people attempted to settle and soon 

discovered that there was little to live on. 

Cushman’s settlement covered a territory of miles 

around Cushman’s Corners. It is located in the 

northeast portion, Section 21, Greenwood Township, 

Oceana County. It developed into quite a community, at 

one time having a population of 250. However, the land 

proved poor for farming and the people were “starved 

out.” 

A fire burnt down Cushman’s place in May of 19930. 

The cause of the fire is unknown. Lumber occasionally 

is used for the grim purpose of building a gallows, but at 

Cushman’s stands a tree that was used for this 

purpose, without being moved from its home. Near the 

mill site is a large oak called “Suicide Oak.” Here Mrs. 

Cushman hanged herself, using an apron as a noose. 

She was thought to be insane. No other reason could 

be found for her act. 

There seems to be another story of tragedy connected 

with this particular tree, but as yet no one has been 

found who can shed light on the mystery. Perhaps 

during your travels this summer you may be able to find 

some “old timer” who can tell you this story. Of course, 

if you do you’ll let us know so that we can incorporate 

your discovery in this booklet. 

Brown’s Pond, A Cache of Watches 

A man named Brown built a dam on sand Creek where 

Rochdale now stands. Close by he built a water power 

saw mill. 

Having dammed the creek, he thus formed a pond, 

which still remains and bears his name. This pond was 

the scene of the last big lumber drive in the White River 

country. The Covells, who made this last drive, built a 

railroad which ran from Ferry to the pond. 

In 1984 there was a wreck on the line near Ferry, in 

which seven were killed and two injured. This road was 

used till 1895, the year of the last drive, and then torn 

up. Remains of it can yet be seen, though the track 

clearing has since overgrown with bushes. 

About 1910 or 1912, a group of Chicago promoters 

bought the property and subdivided it for lots. A new 

dam was built and the course of the creek changed, but 

one can still see the site of the old dam and creek bed. 

The boarding house of the mill hands was used as the 

nucleus for the large Inn on the spot today. 

Patsy Moran, a local character, while taking out stumps 

for the Fruitvale Company, found a large number of 

watches under a stump, so corroded by exposure they 

were worthless. What local highwayman, or Uncle Ike 

the money lender, put them away for safe keeping, and 

neglected to mark the hiding place? 

Carleton Dreams of a County Seat 

After the Hulberts failed to establish a salt well in the 

marsh (see story headed “Salt Marsh”) they built a saw 

mill on Carlton Creek about three miles from the trading 

post. 

They soon sold it to the Hon. I. E. Carleton who 

operated it until his death in 1871. The machinery was 

then moved to the power’s mill at Ferry. The building 

has since entirely disappeared. 

Capt. Dalton and the Hon. Carleton were great friends 

and frequent parties were held at either of the two mills. 

A crowd of twenty whites and fifty Indians gathered to 

participate in the first Fourth of July celebration in the 

White River Country in 1848. Then, as now, beans 

seemed to be the favorite “fruit” because the menu 

consisted exclusively of huge portions of these 

delectable tidbits savoured with filet of pig. 

Capt. Dalton delivered an oration to the assembled 

throng and to cap the climax, the steamer Mitchell 


hoisted its flag and both Whites and Indians joined in 

wild hurrahing. 

At the time of its settlement this section was part of 

Ottawa county … Carleton and Dalton were both 

opposed to the founding of Muskegon county. Carleton, 

who became quite a figure in politics, wanted to form a 

county to be called Oceana (not the present Oceana) 

and proposed that it comprise the northern townships of 

Muskegon county and the southern townships of the 

present Oceana, with the county seat at his mill. If he 

had secured his wish, he undoubtedly would have 

eventually seen the county seat go to Whitehall or 

Montague, where the population and wealth later 

centered. All that remains of the dream of a county seat 

town are the magnificent maples he planted around his 

residence. The timbers of the old mill are gone and 

traces of the dam can be found only with difficulty. 

A fishing club now has a cabin on the site of Carleton’s 

residence. 

Forest City Post office 

The road from Silver Creek to Big Blue was used for 

transportation of mail long before Owasippe camps 

were established. 

Today our postmaster bounces over this road in his 

rheumatic tin horse – not many years ago a man 

named Clark carried mail on horseback for the Pony 

Express on this same trail. 

He traveled between Whitehall and Forest City (located 

near county line road – Newaygo county on Boland 

Creek). The mail route led west from Forest City on 

County Line road to Big Blue Lake, from there to the 

Spillway and thence to Whitehall. Several people still 

have letters marked “Forest City.” 

Slab Lake – Square Lake – Marl Bed – Wood Lake – 

Nine Acre Lot Lake –Virgin Norway Pine 

A very interesting spot related to the early lumbering 

days is Slab Lake. This is situated in Section 26 of Blue 

Lake Township and is reached by following the main 

road 3 ¾ miles due east from Camp Dan Beard and 

then taking the trail leading Northeast. The lake is in 

plain sight to the right of the road. 

On this lake there was for some years a shingle mill 

which burned and the ruins of which can now be seen. 

Logs were cut into short pieces, the correct size for 

shingles and then sawed into the shingles themselves. 

The operation, of course, collected a large amount of 

sawdust which was piled on the edge of the lake and 

gradually filled out into it. Interdispersed though the 

Page 12 

sawdust are the small blocks of logs which were not 

suitable for shingles and therefore not sawed. 

On the lower end of Wood Lake which is in the 

Northwest corner of Section 35, Blue Lake Township, 

there is a large amount of slabs left by the saw mill 

formerly operated on this lake. In section 21 of Blue 

Lake township, near the headwaters of the west branch 

of Cleveland Creek, there is a marl bed. At one point 

the stream has worn a small waterfall which makes a 

musical tinkle that can be heard a considerable 

distance. In a country which is almost exclusively sand, 

it is both interesting and surprising to find a real 

waterfall. 

In the southwest corner of Section 22 of Blue Lake 

Township is Square Lake, lying just North of the road. A 

trail just East of this lake leads North to Nine-acre Lot 

Lake where a few Primeval Pines may be found. These 

are well worth the trip to see. A faint branch to the right 

of the trail leading to Nine-acre Lot Lake leads to 

Cleveland Creek, one fork of it leading to Dam #1 and 

one to Dam #2. These are both hiking routes. A few 

Virgin Norway Pines may be found in a valley North of 

Canfield Lake in Section 29 of Blue Lake Township. 

Following the road leading North along the East side of 

the lake for about a quarter of a mile, the road leads 

down to a former lake bottom. Diagonally to the 

Northeast across this lake bottom is a beautiful dense 

grove of young white pine scattered through which may 

be found the old Norways referred to. 

Hinchman’s Halfway Camp 

The name of this place describes exactly its purpose. 

When the lumberjacks came down along the river 

during a long drive, they would put up at this place for 

the night. It was located approximately two miles above 

county line bridge to White River. 

It originally was comprised of a group of perhaps half a 

dozen cabins. Close by there is a corduroy road used to 

transport logs to the river, for in addition to being a 

stopover point, logs were also gathered here and 

shoved into the river for their journey to Whitehall. 

Skeel’s Creek 

This creek is named after Colonel Roffer Skeels who 

built a mill on it. Tragedy stalked the Skeel’s mill, and it 

was finally abandoned. 

One day a man, while pushing logs along a runway 

towards the huge rotary saw, slipped and was cut 

diagonally in half. Fellow workers picked up the body 

and placed it on a table, but found that the heart was 

still beating. I suppose now I should sway they sewed 


him together and he lived happily ever after, but no – I 

must disappoint you, he actually died! 

The Brass Pistol 

A sudden, heavy downpour struck the city of Muskegon, 

driving people off the streets, and a considerable 

number took temporary refuge in the Occidental Hotel. 

Amongst these was a traveling salesman who sat down 

in a corner of the lobby and began chattering first about 

the weather, and then reminiscing about other storms 

which they had experienced. From there, the 

conversation drifted by natural degrees to tales of 

adventure and then to tales of mystery. When these had 

been going on for some time, one of the men told of an 

experience which he had as a boy. 

He said, “There is one mystery that has been in our 

family for some thirty years. When I was a lad, I lived in 

the village of Whitehall, and used to go fishing along the 

banks of the White River. While doing so one time, I 

was standing on the very edge of the bank slightly 

above the edge of the river, when it suddenly caved in, 

having been undermined by the water. I got wet all over 

and pretty well muddied up, but on recovering my 

balance and started to climb out on the bank, I was 

surprised to get a metallic gleam of something which 

had been uncovered by my foot as I slid down. I 

stooped to pick it up to see what it was, and was very 

much surprised to find an old brass Derringer pistol of 

very curious design, which, when I later polished it, was 

found to have on it very intricate scroll work, and was 

apparently of German make. On finding this pistol I 

naturally explored around with my fingers to see if I 

could find anything in addition and succeeded in 

uncovering two or three bones which were apparently 

human bones, and an old beaded moccasin. I was, of 

course, very much excited at this discovery and 

immediately ran home and told my father about it. 

He got the sheriff and they came out and dug 

thoroughly around the vicinity and succeeded eventually 

in uncovering nearly a complete skeleton of a man 

together with a mate to the moccasin which I had found. 

They were, however, unable to determine any clue as to 

who the man was or how he had died, so they gave the 

bones a decent burial as they could, and my father 

permitted me to keep the pistol as a souvenir, but we 

have wondered always to whom the pistol and 

moccasins belonged and how he came to meet his 

death. We at first supposed that it must have been an 

Indian on account of the beaded moccasins, but the 

appearance of the bones seemed to indicate that it had 

been a white man.” 

During the telling of this story, one man had been 

listening very intently, leaning further and further 

forward into his chair. On its conclusion he said to the 

speaker, - “I am very much interested in your story and 

wonder if would be possible for me to see the brass 

pistol. I have never seen but one of the kind you 

describe, and I should like very much to see whether 

this one resembles it. I wonder if you would be willing to 

send it to me and I will return it, or I will be willing to go 

to your home in Whitehall to see it.” The other man 

replied that it would not be necessary for him to make a 

trip as he always carried the pistol along with him in his 

grip. He then produced it and gave it to the other man. 

He took the pistol and examined it very closely, turning 

it over and over in his hands. Finally, he straightened up 

and handed back the pistol saying, “Well. That explains 

a mystery that has long puzzled our family. Some fifty 

years ago my father was in charge of a lumber gang 

that was working on the White River. There came to 

Whitehall a Swede who was known as Jense. He was a 

peculiar chap, never, talking about himself and mixing 

very little with those about him. He signed up as a 

member of my father’s group and went up into the 

woods with him. He had very little to say and made few 

friends. However, he did have a knack of making 

friends with the Indians who frequented the region, and 

after some time a local chief presented to him a pair of 

beautiful beaded moccasins which he highly prized. 

Jense was a man of quick temper, rather sullen, but a 

good worker, doing faithfully his share of the work. 

However, he was not willing to be imposed upon, and 

resented being asked to more than he felt was his 

share. He would come in from a hard days work in the 

woods or on the river, draw off his heavy lumbering 

boots, slip on these Indian moccasins and sit and 

smoke his pipe for a while before going to bed. He had 

no active enemies of which we knew, but he always by 

day or night carried with him a curiously designed and 

highly ornamental German Derringer pistol which was 

made of brass. We often wondered if he was afraid of 

some enemy tracking him down and so perhaps carried 

this pistol for his self-protection. 

Snow’s Trail and Mounds 

Location: South of Big Blue Lake 

There are many old lumbering trails throughout the 

entire White River region which were used primarily to 

haul logs to the various roll-aways. Generally speaking, 

these roads wind from tree-to-tree and keep as far as 

possible in the low land in order to avoid the necessity 

of hauling the trees over ridges. 

One such trail was built by Don Snow (See story 

“Lumbering on Cleveland Creek) along the South Side 


of Blue Lake to Cleveland Creek. This trail, which has 

not been used since about 1890, is known as Snow’s 

Trail and much of it had been cleared out as a hiking 

trail by the Scouts. 

When the trail was built, there was discovered a series 

of mounds that were evidently graves. These are 

located at a spot perhaps two hundred yards west of 

there the trail crossed the outlet from Blue Lake and 

lying southeast of the sunk hole formerly known as 

Pickerel Pond. When the trail was being built it was 

necessary to cut off one corner of one of these grave 

mounds, and an old musket was unearthed. It was 

thought at first that this was an Indian cemetery, but the 

general formation and lay of the mounds makes this 

doubtful. 

It may be that back in the very early days before this 

region settled at all, some exploring bands of pioneers 

had a battle with the Indians on this spot and lost 

several of their number and buried them in the woods. 

The Oceana Lumbering Boat 

The hulk of an old lumbering boat, the Oceana. Used 

by the Daltons (see Dalton’s Mill story). To carry 

supplies to their camp from Whitehall, may be seen 

along sand creek. 

A number of years ago a heavy storm tore out the old 

dam on Sand Creek Point at Rochdale, beside where 

the Inn now is. When the dam was rebuilt, the channel 

was changed to a different course so that the old 

channel became nothing but a marsh which became 

overgrown with a thicket of alder and other brush. 

The old lumber boat, therefore, remained stranded in 

the old channel where it is now entirely surrounded by 

brush, much of which is growing through the center of 

the boat itself. 

On account of the difficulty of locating this boat, a 

definite trail was blazed to it. To find the boat follow the 

roadway that leads from the Rochdale Inn Road along 

the west bank of the old channel about fifty yards. 

Before you come to the woods, there is a solitary large 

pine on the edge of the bank. Looking directly west from 

this pine, the ‘blazed trail can be picked up which leads 

directly to the old lumber boat some five hundred feet 

distance. 

A Log Drive 

All winter the men and teams have been at work in the 

woods hauling logs to the river bank, and when the 

snow and ice are gone they prepare to float them to the 

mill. This is called driving logs. 

Page 14 

Driving logs in the old days on the White River was a 

job requiring considerable nerve as well as skill. The 

men engaged in the work were constantly in danger of 

being drowned or crushed in the jams or roll-aways. 

They were generally a lot of hardy, active fellows, who 

were ready to take the risk, as the work commanded 

good wages and there was no lost time, Sunday 

included, from the day their names were enrolled on the 

pay list. 

As the lonely winter wore away and the signs of spring 

began to come, rivermen began to come in from the 

woods and congregate in Whitehall, the headquarters 

for all the camps along the White River. From the 

middle of March until the first of April the saloons did a 

rushing business. The general rule for the lumber men 

was first buy a suit of clothes, including boots with a 

hundred corks, *sharpened bits of steel) in each. A red 

sash to tie around the waist completed the outfit, and 

next to go to the saloons and blow the balance of cash. 

This last proceeding usually resulted with a black eye 

and a bloody nose. 

When his money was a spent he was ready to go up 

the river to the point the superintendent assigned him 

twenty miles or more away. His friend, the saloon 

keeper has equipped him with two quarts of execrable 

fluid and a package of peerless tobacco, shakes his 

hand and off he starts on foot. All day long he trudges 

along a trail, obstructed by fallen trees often leading 

through swamps and swale. About 9:00 P.M. he arrives 

at camp footsore and weary. The camp consists of a 

heap of blazed logs around which the men gather after 

a day’s work is over. There, wet garments hang upon 

poles to dry, while they regale themselves with all of the 

delicacies a wilderness affords, a tin cup of strong tea, 

a tin plate on which is served boiled potatoes, salt pork, 

baked beans and warm biscuits. A little to one side is a 

large tent furnished with hemlock boughs and coarse 

blankets. This is the sleeping apartment. On the 

opposite side of the fire is a smaller tent for the cook’s 

supplies. Here is another fire where the cooking is 

done. Two crotched sticks are driven into the ground. A 

pole laid across to support the two or three iron pots in 

which the boiling is done. Tin ovens open to the fire are 

used for baking. This department is presided over by a 

male cook who can chew and smoke as much tobacco 

as any of the boys. After supper the evening 

entertainment begins. 

It is usually opened by White-Water-Bill, and concluded 

by a thrilling story from Roll-Way-Jack. At it’s conclusion 

the men “turn in” to sleep if they can, or if wakeful to be 

serenaded by “hoot owls” or the hum of the hungry 

mosquito. At the first flush of dawn the stentorian voice 


of the cook is heard calling “Turn out boys,” and soon 

the camp is alive. The men appear with boots in hand 

that require much pulling and kicking against the 

stumps with some load talking before they are settled to 

their owner’s satisfaction. After a dowse of cold spring 

water they are ready for breakfast and the day’s work. 

They shoulder their pevies and headed by the foreman, 

they strike out in Indian file though the swamp and 

wood until they reach a high bluff at the foot of which is 

the head of the jam. The logs are piled in great 

confusion from bank to bank and extend up the river for 

a mile or more in a solid body. 

Below the river runs clear and smooth and winds off 

through the swamp like a huge snake. The men go 

down the hill and after considerable lifting, rolling and 

chopping, the jam is broken and the logs begin to 

move. The great body of water above sends them down 

with ever increasing velocity, often tearing trees from 

the banks and sending them breaking and crashing 

down stream with the logs. This the river driver calls a 

good haul. The hauling of a jam in rapid water is very 

exciting work. Many a man is thrown headlong into the 

water for being more daring than the rest. This is a 

common occurrence and as the sun rises higher and 

warms the air, this little episode is soon forgotten as the 

men jump on the logs as they go rolling and whirling 

down the river, often having to lie down on the log to get 

under overhanging branches. Men get to be experts 

and some will handle a log as easily as others a canoe. 

The men scatter along the river in places where the 

logs are most likely to jam. The men above break them 

loose and those below keep them moving on over this 

division to the crew below, and so one to the sorting 

grounds at the mouth of the river. 

Further up is another crew who clean up the drive. It 

consists of two gangs of men called the jam crew and 

the sackers. During the driving some logs are crowded 

out along the shore. The sackers roll these back into 

the river and are continually wading in the water all day. 

When the logs are sacked into the rear of the jam, the 

jam crew breaks them loose and stops them a mile or 

so below by swinging a broomstick across the river. 

This is done to raise the water so the sackers can float 

the heavier logs that always hang behind the jam. After 

the sack is brought in the jam is again moved, and so 

on until late in the season the last log is sacked in and 

delivered at the mills; then the men are paid. After fitting 

themselves with clothes for the winter; they soon 

deposit their remaining cash with the saloon keeper and 

taking his receipt in sore heads and black eyes they are 

off again for the woods. 

Such was the life of the River Driver on White River in 

the times that are past. 


Page 16 

Historical Facts & Information 

Beginnings 

The original 40 acres outside of Whitehall Michigan on 

the shores of Crystal Lake were donated to the Chicago 

Council in 1910 by local business men hoping to 

increase tourism to the Whitehall area. In 1911 a small 

group of scouts and workmen dug a well and built the 

basics of a camp. In 1912 they held their first summer 

camp operation there. The camp was originally called 

Camp White in 1912 and in 1913 the name was 

changed to Camp Owasippe. Scouts would take a 

steamship, a full day’s sail, to get to camp back then. 

A few years later, Scouts would debark from Dearborn 

Street Statiion to ride the Pierre Marquette train to a 

spot just south of Whitehall nicjnamed “Scout Siding.” 

The steam engine would stop with a jerk and the Scouts 

would sort their gear into one of three piles, one for 

each camp; West, Beard or Stuart. Then they would 

load the gear onto wagons and hike the short distance 

in to the camps. 

Chekagou 

“In the summer of 1932, many of us attended Camp 

Chekagou, one of the Owasippe Scout Camps, located 

with Camp Blackhawk (for West Side troops) on Crystal 

Lake, near Muskegon, Michigan. In 1934, Chekagou 

and Blackhawk were closed and the Northwest and 

West Districts were moved to Camp MacDonald 

(renamed Camp Stuart) on nearby Big Blue Lake. The 

camp period was ten days, from Sundays to 

Wednesdays, and we got there on the Pere Marquette 

Railroad. The camp fees were $10.00 and the fare was 

$5.00.” 

David H. Heller, Chicago Jewish History Vol. 24, No. 3, 

Summer 2000, Chicago Jewish Historical Society, p. 12 

Order of the Arrow & Owasippe 

Most Scouters know that E.Urner Goodman founded 

the Order of the Arrow, however many do NOT know 

that Mr Goodman was a prior reservation director at 

Owasippe in 1925. It was at this time, that he 

introduced this new concept, we now refer to as the 

“OA”, to Owasippe and Chicago Area Scouts. 

The first National Convention convened in Philadelphia 

on October 7, 1921, and a National Lodge composed of 

all of the constituent local lodges, represented by four 

delegates from each, was formed. It took over the 

affairs of the Order, adopted a constitution and a 

statement of policies, and appointed committees to 

develop further details. 

Following this initial convention, a steady progressive 

growth in lodges and membership was noted. 

Successive National Lodge meetings were held 

annually, later, biannualy. In November of 1929, at the 

National Lodge meeting, some discussion was held 

pointing to the adoption of the Order by the National 

Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as a component 

part of its program. At the session of the National 

meeting held at Owasippe Scout Reservation in 1933, 

this proposal was made and ratified by the delegates 

present. 

Owasippe Post Office 

Given a post office spelled Owasippi on August 1, 1924, 

with Herman Mahew as its first postmaster. With Craig 

Atkinson as postmaster, the spelling was changed to 

Owasippe on May 22, 1929. 

Wildcat Trails 

From the 1977 Owasippe Trail Map 

From each of the locations below, one of which is near 

your section camp, a white-eyed wildcat trail begins, 

circles through the woods, and returns to the point of 

beginning so you won’t get lost. 

1. Water tower northeast of Camp Dan Beard at 

Owasippe Lake 

2. Chapel west side of Lake Wolverine. 

3. South end of Sauger Lake. 

4. Camp Blackhawk pier. 

(Note this is referencing the original Blackhawk 

waterfront near the Alfred Stern Dining Hall). 

The wildcat trail is blazed with 2 dots of reflecting paint. 

After dark when you shine a flashlight at these two dots, 

they appear to be wildcat eyes. White reflecting paint 

makes a white-eyed wildcat trail. 

Somewhere along this white-eyed trail you may find a 

yellow-eyed trail. This yellow-eyed trail is for more 

experienced scouts. Follow the yellow-eyed trail a short 

distance to a wildcat den. The den is a group of trees 

with many pairs of reflecting eyes. From this den you 

must walk the compass course below in order to find 

the den from which the yellow-eyed wildcat trail 

continues back to the white-eyed wildcat trail. 

270 degrees 250 feet Den 




From this last den a wildcat trail returns you to the 

white-eyed trail. 


Camp Blackhawk 

Go! 

Camp Carlin 

Over all! 

Camp Dan Beard 

B-E-A-R-D! 

B-E-A-R-D! 

B-E-A-R-D! 

Yea! Beard! 

Camp James E. West 

West is the best! 

Camp Reneker 

Go for it! 

Camp Robert Crown 

Mojave! Mojave! 

[Clap. Clap. Clap-clap-clap] 

Camp Sauger Lake 

Sauger Lake—Over All! 

Sauger Lake—Over All! 

Sauger Lake—Over All!. 

Camp Cheers 

Camp Stuart - I 

Super camp Stuart! Hey! 



Stuart Has It Together 

Camp Stuart - II 

BEMO! 

BEMO! 

BEMO! 

Stuart Has It Together 

Camp Wolverine 

Zaxie! 

Camp Wolverine North 

Zap! 

Camp Wolverine South 

Dixie! 


Blackhawk Fight Song 

Oh’. We’re the men of Camp Blackhawk; 

We scout with all our might. 

We’re rough and tough and hard to bluff 

And for his name we’ll fight. 

So take us on and then you’ll see 

How much of this is time. 

We’re the scouts of Camp Blackhawk 

”Who the heck are you?” 

Blackhawk Song 

Tune: “The Orange and Black” of Princeton 

Author: Roy Plait, Troop 200 

Every Scout should go a camping, 

In a place that’s nature’s own, 

And every West Side Scouter knows, 

That Blackhawk’s nature’s home; 

Midst the flowers and birds of summer, 

By the waters of Big Blue, 

Let every Scout just stand and shout, 

”My Blackhawk I’m for you.” 

Camp Blackhawk - I 

It’s a great gang that goes to Blackhawk—Go! 

It’s a great gang to know 

Always full of pep and ginger 

And the watchword is let’s go— Let’s Go! 

Always on the level. 

Always on the square 

It’s a great gang that goes to Blackhawk—Go! 

And my heart’s right there 

Camp Blackhawk Song-II 

Tune: Artillery Song 

Over hill, over dale, 

As we hit the camping trail, 

And our buddies are hiking along; 

In and out, hear them shout, 

GEE am glad that I’m a scout 

As we’re singing that old camping song. 

Then it’s hi-hi-he, 

Camp Blackhawk for me, 

Shout out that name loud and strong, 

BLACKHAWK! 

Where’er you go, you will always know, 

That a true Scout will always come back, 

To Camp Blackhawk, 

For a true Scout will always come back. 

Page 18 

Camp Loyalty Songs 

Camp Blackhawk Song-III 

Tune: “Sweet Chewalka” 

Dear old Blackhawk 

By the sleepy water 

Take this weary scouter 

Over to you; 

Dear old Blackhawk 

How I love to be here 

How I love to see here 

Friends old and new. 

Night shades calling, 

Moonbeams falling 

over the water 

Tom toms beating, 

bringing golden memories. 

Dear Old Blackhawk 

By the sleepy water 

Take this weary scouter 

Over to you. 

Camp Wilderness Song 

Tune: “A Capital Ship” 

1. We’re a Scouting Troop that’s flown the coop 

For a rollicking, roving tramp; 

We’re a bunch of boys who know the joys 

Of making a forest camp. 

We know the trail when stars are pale, 

Or by the light of day, 

And our haversacks are on our backs, 

So let’s be on our way. 

CHORUS 

Yo ho! Yo ho! Yo ho! 

To Wilderness we’ll go, 

with joyous hearts each Scout will start, 

And this will be our song: 

We’re off on the morning breeze, 

To see the lakes and trees; 

There’s room for more in our jolly corps, 

So won’t you come along? 

2. Oh, we know the place where brook-trout race 

And the haunt of the beaver, too; 

And the secret ground where nuts are found, 

we’ll show the spot to you. 

You’ll learn to make a fire and bake 

A meal to fill your turn, 

And we’ll make you a Scout beyond a doubt, 

So pick up your feet and come! 


Camp James E. West 

Cheer, cheer for James E. West, 

Shout out the name of the camp you love best, 

Let the echoes ring on high, 

While we your praise sing to the skies; 

Here’s to your Scouts who are loyal to you. 

No other camp so dear to us, 

We pledge you our loyalty, Camp West! 

Camp West Rally Song 

Tune: Washington & Lee College Fight Song 

And then the Camp West boys will fall in line 

And we will do our stuff another time. 

For the standards that we love so well, 

Our scouting troops will yell, yell and yell 

And then well fight, fight, fight, with all our might. 

For our reputation day and night 

And we will always do our very best, 

with a zest for old Camp West. 

Famous Crystal Lake 

Famous Crystal Lake so Clear, 

Chicago Scouts revere, From the days of old, 

There dear old Owasippe, Each year trained Scouts 

should be Good campers all, 

O’er the land there spread its fame 

Till the camp so large became It split in three, 

Then South Shore and Calumet 

Formed the new camp James E. West. 

Now our own camp James E. West. 

It surely is the best in all the lead, 

Here we have our woodcraft games 

and learn of trees the names and other lore. 

Whether in our work or play, 

Great fun we have each day in all we do, 

While we strive to worthy be 

Of the name of our great Chief. 

Stuart Camp Song - I 

Tune: Spirit of Independence 

We’re Stuart Campers brave and free, 

Loyal sons of Chief Owasippe, 

We work and play and sing the whole day long 

We build up friendships true and strong Hail Stuart! 

No matter how far we may roam 

Stuart will always be our home, 

And when our camping days have ceased to be 

we’ll praise Owasippe. 

Stuart Camp Song –II 

Tune: Spirit of Independence 

Hail Stuart Camp so brave and free 

Loyal sons of Chief Owasippe 

We’re gonna work and strive the whole day through 

Making friendships through and through. Hail Stuart! 


Stuart will always be our home 

And when our camping days cease to be 

We’ll hail Owasippe 

Owasippe! 

Stuart Camp Song - III 

Tune: Spirit of Independence - Circa 1970’s 

Hail Stuart campers brave and free, 

Loyal sons of Chief Owasippe, 

We work and play and sing the whole day Through 

To build a friendship through and through. 

Hail Stuart! 


Stuart will always be our home, and 

when our camping days have ceased to be 

we’ll praise Owasippe. 

Owasippe! Hey! 

Camp Beard Victory March 

Tune: Maine Stein Song 

Give a cheer for dear old Beard! 

Shout ‘til the rafters ring, 

Stand and give a cheer once again, 

Let every loyal Beard man sing, 

Cheer for all the happy hours, 

Cheer for the carefree days, 

Cheer for Dan Beard Troop Camp, 

The camp that’s in our hearts always. 

Come along, come along, 

come along and hit the trail with us, 

Come along, come along 

and roam through forests green with us, 

Come along, come along 

and paddle down streams with us, 

Come along, come along, 

come along with us today. 

Give a cheer for dear old Beard! 

Shout ‘til the rafters ring, 

Stand and give a cheer once again, 

Let every loyal Beard man sing, 

Cheer for all the happy hours, 

Cheer for the carefree days, 

Cheer for Dan Beard Troop Camp, 

The camp that’s in our hearts always. 


Camp Dan Beard Song 

Tune: Comell Alma Hater 

High above Lake Owasippe’s waters, 

In among the trees, 

Floats the banner of Camp Dan Beard, 

Waving in the breeze. 

Hail to Dan Beard, Hail to Dan Beard, 

with its Scouts so true, 

With the spirit of good Scouting, 

Hail Dan Beard to yowl 

Owasippe Hymn 

Tune: “Cornell Alma Mater” 

Words by E. Urner Goodman, 1925 

All the wealth of earth and Heaven 

Bless thy woods and dales; 

Over all the lakes and forests, 

Happy youth, prevails 

So may scouting’s bond of friendship 

Seal our loyalty 

To the camp so dear to memory, 

Hail, O-WAS I-PPE: 

The Owasippe Chant 

Leader: Scouts come listen to my tale 

All: Hail Owasippe! 

Leader: Let it ring from every hill and dale, 

All: Happy Scouts are we! 

Leader: Leave your cities far behind 

All: Hail Owasippe! 

Leader: On the trail a whole new life you’ll find, 

All: Sons of Owasippe! 

CHORUS 

Sing out loud and strong 

with a hearts that’s brave and free. 

Let us sing our joyous carefree song, 

Sons of Owasippe: 

(Repeat verses in the same leader/all style) 

2. Join us in the forest green 

Where the winds blow free and the air is clean, 

See our waters blue and clear 

We return so faithfully each year, 

3. Downstream flashes our canoes 

On the waters flowing swift and true, 

White and Pine and Manistee 

All the streams of the Pottawatomie 

4. Out where pines grow straight and tall 

Where the rippling singing waters fall 

There you’ll find our happy Scouts 

On the ancient timeworn Indian routes, 

Page 20 

5. Praise our great and mighty chief 

Let us sing his name and feel no grief 

Once he ruled this wondrous land 

Now the scouts have joined his loyal land 

6. We are guardians of this land, 

Come, speak your mind and take a stand. 

Do what’s right and fight the wrong, 

So our scouts will always sing this song! 

It Must Be Owasippe 

By Ed Kinnerk, 1981 

Well the summer is under way 

From the city I came today. 

Wait a minute, where can I be? 

Well, this must be Owasippe. 

The might oak trees, the sassafras 

The rolling valleys, the lakes of glass, 

The sweetest sunsets you’ll ever see, 

Well, this must be Owasippe. 

A lasting Friendship, a merit badge, 

Discovering skills you never thought you had, 

And there’s adventure for that dream. 

It’s all here at Owasippe. 

Here the eagle with grace does fly, 

A threatened hero in an endless sky, 

A stirring moment for those that see. 

That’s what I call Owasippe. 

CHORUS 

And whole you’re here, you’ll see 

what Scouting can truly be 

And pretty soon you’ll find 

It’s in your heart and mind. 

As the days pass you’ll realize 

Your choice to come here proved to be wise, 

And maybe next year, if it’s to be, 

You’ll be back at Owasippe. 

And down your life’s path and far away, 

You may reflect upon your yesterdays. 

You carry with you a memory 

And its name is Owasippe. 


Sauger Lake Song 

Tune: Crest of the Wave 

We’re camping along at the Great Sauger Lake, 

And the camp is number one. 

All of the scouts and all of their leaders, 

Are here for scouting fun. 

We are the greatest! 

With all Owasippe behind us. 

We’re camping along at the Great Sauger Lake 

And Ad-Ven-Ture’s ours. 

Sauger Lake Camp Song 

Tune: “Over There” 

Sauger Lake, Sauger Lake 

Spread the word of the great Sauger Lake 

For the staff is steady, the Scouts are ready 

To share fun and friendship through the camp. 

Over all, over all 

Our pride will shine over all 

Our camp is best, better than the rest 

As part of it we stand very tall 

Sauger Lake, Sauger Lake 

Shout out for our great Sauger Lake 

It’s really clear that we are here 

Sauger Lake is over, over, over all! 

Camp Chicaugau Song 

Oh we’re the scouts of Chicaugau 

You hear so much about 

The people stop and stare at us 

whenever we go out. 

We’re rated for our wisdom 

And the clever things we do, 

Most everybody like us 

And we hope you’ll like us too. 

As we go marching, and the band begins to play 

U! Rah! Rah! 

You can hear us shouting 

The Boy Scout troops are here today. 

Robert T. Crown Song 

Tune: “The Titanic” 

1. One day we built a great camp, 

We called it Robert Crown; 

And when we put it up, 

No one could bring it down. 

Oh the rain will rain, the sun will shine, 

and Summer days will pass, and we’ll still call, 

The Great Camp Robert Crown. 

CHORUS 

Oh we are proud! (repeat) 

Oh we are proud: (repeat) 

Oh we are proud to be part of Robert Crown 

Of the great camp Robert Crown; 

Group l: 

Crown, Crown, Grown, Crown 

We are proud to be part of Robert Crown. 

Group 2: 

Staffman and Scouts will hail to the shouts, 

We are proud to be part of Robert Crown. 

2. The day that the Scouts come, 

we treat them just like kings; 

We fill them up with bug juice 

and teach them Scouting things. 

Oh the staff will sing, the Scouts will shout, 

as we all cry out. And we hail to 

The Great Camp Robert Crown. 

3. Scouts come to Owasippe 

They camp here year to year 

But the ones at Robert Crown 

Are the finest we have here 

Oh the rain will rain, the sun will shine 

And the summer days will pass 

And we’ll still call this great camp Robert Crown! 

Wolverine South Song 

Tune: “Viva La Company” 

1. Let every good South man now join in a song, 

Viva la Wolverine 

For some day the North men may come along 

Viva la Wolverine! HEY! 

CHORUS 

Viva la viva la viva la South 

Viva la viva la viva la South 

Viva la South, viva la South 

Viva la Wolverine! 

2. Let Stuart go back to its old dining hall, 


But we’re sorry to say Beard has none at all. 


3. Family Camp comes to look and to stare, 


But why are we never allowed over there. 


4. Blackhawk looks big but it really is small, 


one look at Wilderness leaves you appalled. 



5. Oh we’re from the South and we’re proud of it too, 


When North stole our flag we sunk their canoes. 


6. Old Sauger Lake is a hole in the ground. 


And some of their stuff can never be found. 


7. Now we’ve got a staff that’s better then ever, 


And from this tradition we will part never. 


Wolverine North Song 

Tune: “The Scout Company” 

1. You can see our star, in the Northern sky; 

Up above the pines, in the clear blue sky. 

CHORUS 

Oh, the North Wolverine is the best Wolverine; 

To e-ver come out of 0-wa-sip-pe. 

N-O-R-T-H spells a great camp. 

Come along with me to our great camp. 

Tra-la-la-la-la HEY! 

Tra-la-la-la-la HEY! 

We are Scouts of North Wolverine. 

2. Scouting is fun, at North Wolverine 

Where life is free, and the Staff’s on the beam. 

3. At North Wolverine, we’re the Good Guy’s Camp 

We’ve set the torch, to the Scouting Lamp. 

4. Up at the North, We’re an A-1 camp 

There the weather’s fine, and never ever damp. 

5. The North Wolverine is the best place to be; 

Up in the forests of God’s Country. 

6. The Scout Oath and Law are the rules of our land; 

And the Scouts that we have are the best at hand. 

Camp Wolverine 

The spark is alive, the spirit’s here 

The time has come for us to cheer 

With swelling pride, let voices ring 

With hearts united let us sing 

We’ll give a rah-rah-rah for Wolverine 

A cheer for our loyalty 

We’re gonna work and strive for our great camp 

Defend its unity— Wolverine! 

Proud of our colorful heritage 

As proud as we are today 

Great Scouts, great staff, great part of Owasippe 

Onward Wolverine! 

Page 22 

Camp Carlin Song 

Look ahead to the days of the summer 

Look ahead to the freedom that they give 

We’ll return once again to Camp Carlen 

Where the spirit of Scouting has lived 

And the challenge of our Camp Carlen 

Is the outdoor life to lead 

From the forests and the lakes to the friends that we 

make 

May Carlen always be 

Reneker Family Camp 

Tune: “Hey Look us Over” 

Hey look us over; we’re from Family Camp; 

Fresh from the city, to serve our time at camp. 

We like to swim, and we like to hike; 

But on our way to Eagle’s nest. 

We have to take a thousand rests. 

It’s up in the morning, at the crack of dawn; 

While the staff goes swimming 

The campers mow the lawn. 

But what we like most in this joyous place 

Is all you campers’ happy faces, 

We’re from Family Camp. F-A-M-I-L-Y 

Why? Because we like it. 

We’re from Family Camp 

Lower Lake Medley 

During the seventies, a tradition developed at Stuart to 

sing each of the camp songs from the camps on 

Owasippe Lake as a rememberance to the Owasippe 

traditition that still burned deep from West and Beard, 

even though they were no longer in operation. The 

medly ended the evening’s program and concluded with 

the Owasippe Hymn and The Crest of the Wave. 

1. Camp West Rally Song 

2. Camp Beard Victory March 

3. Stuart Camp Song 

4. Owasippe Hymn 

5. The Crest of the Wave 

The Crest of the Wave 

Because we’re riding along 

on the crest of the wave, 

And the sun is in the sky. 

All of our eyes on the distant horizon, 

Look out for passers by. 

We’ll do the hailing! 

While other ships around are sailing. 

We’re riding along on the crest of the wave, 

And the world is ours! 


Blow the Man Down 

Oh, come all ye fellows that follow the sea 

All: With a Yo! Ho! Blow the man down. 

And please pay attention and listen to me, 

All: Give us some time to Blow the man down. 

There were tinkers & tailors & sailors & all, 

All: With a Yo: Ho: Blow the man down 

They shipped for good seamen on board the Black Ball 

All: Give us some time to blow the man down 

Tis larboard & starboard you jump to the call 

All: With a Yo: Ho! Blow the man down 

Then kicking Jack Williams commands the Black Ball 

All: Give us some time to blow the man down 

CHORUS 

Oh: Blow the man down, laddies, Blow the man down 

With a Yo! Ho! Blow the man down. 

Give us some time to blow the man down, 

Give us some time to blow the man down. 

Drunkin Sailor 

CHORUS 

Wey, hey, and up she rises, 



Earli in the morning. 

1. What do you do with a drunkin sailor 

What do you do with a drunkin sailor 

What do you do with a drunkin sailor 

Earli in the morning? 

2. Put him in the brig on bread and water 

Put him in the brig on bread and water 

Put him in the brig on bread and water 

Earli in the morning. 

3. Shave his belly with a rusty razor 

4. Put him in a long boat and make him bail it 

5. Put him in the bilge and make him drink it 

6. Hang him from the yardarm till he’s sober 

7. Put him in a scuttle with a hosepipe on him 

8. Put him in the cabin with the captain’s Daughter 

9. Have you ever seen the captain’s daughter. 

Mermaid Song 

CHORUS 

Well the Ocean winds may blow 

And the Stormy seas may roll 

But we poor sailors go skipping 

Through the tops 

As the land lubbers lie down below, below, below! 

As the land lubbers lie down below. 

Sea Songs 

1. T’was Friday morn when we set sail 

and we were not far from the land. 

When we spied a mermaid fair 

with a comb and a brush in her hand 

2. Well up spoke the captain of our gallant ship 

And a well spoken captain was he. 

”I have me a wife in Salem town 

Who tonight a widow she’ll be!” 

3. Then up spoke the Cooky of our gallant ship 

And a red hot Cooky was he. 

”I care much more for my pots and pans 

Than I do for the bottom of the sea.” 

4. Then up spoke the cabin boy of our gallant ship, 

And a scummy little runt was he. 

”There is no one in Salem town 

That gives a heck about me.” 

5. So three times around went our gallant ship 

Yes, three times around went she, 

It was three times around on our gallant ship 

Then she sank to the bottom of the sea. 

Queen’s Navy 

I’m in the Queen’s Navy 


I don’t want to be in the Infantry (Stomp feet) 

Ride in the Cavalry (Pretend to ride horse) 

Shoot the Artillery (Pretend to shoot) 

I don’t want to fly over Germany (Pretend to fly 


I’m in the Queen’s Navy Toot-toot 

I’m in the Queen’s Navy Toot-toot 

(Sing again but omit words; Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, 

fly over Germany, and just do the motions) 

Roll Me Over the Billows 

CHORUS 

Roll me over the billows, roll me over the sea 

Roll me over the billows and the deep blue sea 

Oh roll me over the billows roll me over the sea 

Roll me over the billows and the deep blue sea. 

1. It’s the cheese, the cheese 

The cheese that makes the mice go round. 

It’s the cheese, the cheese 

The cheese that makes the mice go round 

It’s the cheese the cheese 

The cheese that makes the mice go round. 

cheese—that—makes—the—mice—go—round. 

2. It’s the mice, the mice 

The mice that makes the cats go round 

It’s the mice, the mice 


The mice that makes the cats go round. 

It’s the mice, the mice 

The mice that makes the cats go round 

mice—that—makes—the—cats—go—round 

3. Cats - Dogs 

4. Dogs - Girls 

5. Girls - Boys 

6. Boys - Staff 

7. Staff - Camp 

8. Camp - World 

The Three Fishermen 

There were three jolly fishermen (All). 

There were three jolly fishermen (All) 

Leader: Fisher, Fisher 

Group: Men, Men Men 

Leader: Fisher, Fisher 

Group: Men, Men Men 

There were three jolly fishermen (All) 

2. The first one’s name was Abraham (All) 

3. The second one’s name was I-I-zak (All) 

4. The third one’s name was Ja-a-cob (All) 

5. They all went up to Jer-i-cho, (All) 

6. They should have gone to Am-ster-shush, (All) 

7. I’m gonna say it anyway (All), 

I’m gonna say it anyway (All), 

Leader: Am-ster, Am-ster 

Group: Dam, Dam, Dam 

Leader: Am-ster, Am-ster 

Group: Dam, Dam, Dam 

They should have gone to Am-ster-dam. (All) 

There’s A Hole In The Bottom of the Sea 

There’s a Hole in the bottom of the sea 

There’s a Hole in the bottom of the sea 

There’s a Hole, There’s a Hole, 

There’s a Hole in the bottom of the sea. 

2. There’s a Log in the hole in the bottom of the sea, 

There’s a Log in the hole in the bottom of the sea, 

There’s a Log, There’s a Log 

There’s a Log in the hole in the bottom of the sea. 

3. Bump on the log 

4. Frog on the bump 

5. Fly on the frog. 

6. Wing on the fly. 

7. Flea on the wing. 

Page 24 

Titanic 

Oh they built the ship Titanic 

to sail the ocean blue; 

And they thought they build a ship 

that the water wouldn’t go through; 

But the good Lord raised his hand and 

Said “This ship will never stand” 

It was sad when the great ship went down. 

CHORUS 

Leader: Oh it was sad! 

All: Oh it was sad! 

Leader: Oh it was sad! 

All: Oh it was sad! 

Oh it was sad when the great ship went down to the 

bottom of the ... 

PART I: 

... Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives. 

PART II: 

... Sea-sea-sea-sea. 


2. Oh they were not very far 

from Greenland’s friendly shores, 

When the rich refused to 

associate with the poor. 

So they put them down below 

where they’d be the first to go, 


3. The lifeboats were lowered 

in the stormin’ ragin’ sea, 

As the band struck up with 

”Near My God to Thee’ 

Little children wept and cried 

as the waves crashed o’er the side, 

It was sad when the great ship went down 

4. (slowly) Oh the captain stood on deck 

with a tear in his eye, 

As the last boat left 

he waved them all good-bys 

He (fast) thought he made a slip, 

so he went down with his ship, 


5. The moral of this story, 

this tale of woe & pain 

Is if you are very rich, 

Don’t try to be too vain 

For in the good Lord’s eyes, 

you’re the same 

as the other guys. 



An Old Austrian 

Leader: An old Austrian went yodeling on a mountain so 

high and along came a: 

1. Cuckoo bird-cuckoo (imitate bird beak with hand) 

2. Skier-swish (wave arm across body diagonally) 

3. Avalanche-rumble, rumble (drop arms down from 

above) 

4. Ambulance-wheee, (twirl index finger in the air) 

5. St. Bernard-arf, arf (hands up like paws, tongue out) 

6. Grizzly bear-roar (hold curled out like claws) 

7. Moo-moo-cow-sgoosh, sgoosh (milk cow) 

8. Fair maiden-AHI (knees together, hand on hair) 

9. Her father-Bang! (hold shotgun and shoot) 

10. Army Sergeant-hubba hubba back to work! (salute) 

11. Girl Scout-Cookies (make the Girl Scout sign) 

… and interrupted his cry. 

Response (slow) 

Ho-le-di, Ho-de-le-di-ah-da, Ho-di-le, 

Ho-de-le-di-ah-da, Ho-di-le Ho-de-le-di-ah-da, 

Ho-di-le He-de-le-di-ah-he. 

Chorus Actions: 

First time “Ho-le-di, ...” drum hands on thighs then the 

rest of the verse sequence of slap hands on thighs, 

clap hands together, snap fingers, repeat 

Apples and Bananas 

Apples and Bananas 

I want to eat, I want to eat, eat apples and bananas 

I want to eat, I want to eat, eat apples and bananas 

(Repeat replacing vowels with “aa”, “ee”,”i”, “oh”, “oo”, 

“oy”, “er”, “iggle”, etc.) 

Damper Song 

Oh! you push the damper in 

(extend right arm forward) 

Find you pull the damper out 

(pull right arm back) 

And the smoke goes up the chimney just the same 

(curl right hand up the chimney in a spiral) 

Just the same, 

(full arm sweep to the right) 

Just the same, 

(full arm sweep to the left) 

And the smoke goes up the chimney just the same. 

(curl hand up in a spiral again) 

2. Whistle it with all the motions. 

3. Silently-putting in all the motions. 

Action Songs 

Down by the Old Millstream 

(Sign language to music using hands to make motions 

while singing.) 

Down (point downward) 

by (motion good-bye) 

the old (as though stroking beard) 

mill (revolving hands in wheel-like motion) stream (a 

zigzag motion), 

Where I (point to eye) 

first (finger raised) 

met (handclasp) 

you (point), 

With your (point) 

eyes (point to eyes) 

of blue (point to sky) 

dressed (touch clothing) 

in gingham (point to gums) 

too (two fingers); 

It was there (point) 

I (point to eye) 

knew (point to forehead) 

that you (point) 

loved (hand to heart) 

me (point to yourself) 

true; You (point) 

were sixteen (on hands), 

my (Point) 

village queen (crown motion over head) 

Down by the old mill stream 

(do same as first line). 

Goin On a Lion Hunt 

(Audience echoes each line and sets up clap/lapslapping 

rhythm.) 

Goin’ on a lion hunt. 

Goin to catch a big one. 

I’m not afraid. 

Look, what’s up ahead? 

Mud! 

Can’t go over it. 

Can’t go under it. 

Can’t go around it. 

Gotta go through it. (Make sloshing sounds and move 

hands as if slogging.) 

Repeat replacing “Mud” with verses below) 

Sticks. (Snap fingers.) 

Tree. (Make gestures climbing up and down.) 

Gate. (Make gate-opening gestures.) 

River. (make swimming gestures.) 

Cave. (Go in it and find lion.) 

(Reverse all motions quickly together home.) 


Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes 

(Sing through 3 times: quicker each time and point to 

respective part of body as song continues.) 

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, 

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, 

Eyes and ears and a mouth and a nose, 

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

Hocky Tocky Umba 

Leader: (spoken) 

This song is about an Eskimo hunter who is on a walrus 

hunt. It starts with the Eskimo paddling his kayak. To 

demonstrate this, everyone should cross their arms and 

move them in a seesaw fashion while singing: 

CHORUS 

Hocky Tocky Umba, Hocky Tocky Umba, 

Hey dittle, Hi dittle, Ho dittle Hey, 

Hocky Tocky Umba, Hocky Tocky Umba. 

Hey dittle, Hi dittle, Ho dittle, Hey! 


The second part of this song shifts to the Eskimo hunter 

searching for his walrus. He places his hand on his 

forehead in a backward salute, moving his head from 

left to right, right to left, and left to right and switching 

hand on each line of the following verse. 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky. 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wauc cky 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky 

After spotting the walrus, the Eskimo hops back into his 

kayak, folds his arms, and sings the Chorus, and 

paddles nearer to the walrus. 

REPEAT CHORUS 


In the next verse the Eskimo hunter shoots the walrus 

with an imaginary gun by using the index finger and 

thumb of the right hand. His left hand supports his right 

elbow and the right arm moves up and down as the gun 

shoots and recoils. Everyone moves their imaginary 

gun from left to right, right to left and left to right while 

singing: 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky “Boom” 




After killing the walrus, the Eskimo hunter hops back 

into his kayak, folds his arms, sings the Chorus, and 

paddles over to claim his prize. After reaching the dead 

walrus, the Eskimo hunter pulls the heavy walrus over 

his kayak, he acts like he is lifting something very 

heavy, as he sings this verse strainingly: 

Page 26 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky “Uh” 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky “Uh:” 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky “Uh” 

REPEAT CHORUS 

he is very tired, he paddles very slowly and sings the 

Chorus very slowly, but he goes 

louder and faster because he wants to hurry home. 

When he arrives home, he is greeted by the people of 

his village. He waves frantically to them and shows his 

gigantic Eskimo teeth and sings: 

Hey Tacoma Mi shoo wau cky 

Hey Tacoma Hi shoo wau cky 

Hey Tacoma Hi shoo wau cky 

He folds his arms, paddles his kayak, and sings the 

Chorus. The hunt is finished. 

REPEAT CHORUS 

I Points to Mineself 

point to mineself, vas is das here? 

Das is my topnotcher, ya mama dear. 

Topnotcher, topnotcher, ya mama dear, 

Dat’s what I learned in der school, Boom! Boom! 

Topnotcher — top of head 

Sweat browser — eye brows 

Eye winker — eye 

Horn blower — nose 

Soup strainer — mustache 

Lunch eater — mouth 

Chin chowser — chin 

Rubber necker — neck 

Chest protector — chest 

Bread basket — stomach 

Thigh slapper — thigh 

Knee knocker — knee 

Shin splinter — shin 

Foot stomper — foot 

If You’re Happy 

If you’re happy and you know it,clap your hands, 

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands, 

If you’re happy and you know it, 

then your life will surely show it, 

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. 

2. Stomp your feet 

3. Shout Amen 

4. Do all three 

I’m In The King’s Nivy 

I’m in the King’s Nivy, 

I’m in the Kings Nivy. 

Oh I don’t want to march in the infantry. 


Ride in the cavalry, 

Shoot the artillery, 

I don’t want to fly over Germany, 

I’m in the King’s nivy. 

ACTIONS 

March – Stomp feet & walk in place 

Ride – Hold reins and move up & down 

Shoot – Pretend to shoot rifle 

Fly – Hold arms out and rock back & forth 

(Repeat 5 times dropping a phrase and only do the 

action each time.) 

John Brown’s Baby 

Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic” 

John Brown’s baby had a cold upon its chest, John 

Brown’s baby had a cold upon its chest, John Brown’s 

baby had a cold upon its chest, and they rubbed it up 

with camphorated oil. 

Glory, Glory, hallelujah, etc. 

2. Substitute “baby” with motion of rocking baby. 

3. Substitute “cold” with a coughing sound. 

4. Substitute “chest” by striking chest with fist. 

5. Omit last line and rub chest. 

Musikanter 

Leader: Ich Bin Ein Musicanter 

Ich komu aus Schwabeniand 

All: Du Dist ein musicanter 

Du kommist aus Schwabenland 

Leader: Ich kan spielen 

All: Du kanst Spielen 

Leader: Auf mein viola 

All: Auf mein viola 

Chorus - ALL: (with gestures) 

1. Vio, vio viola Viola, viola 

Viol vio, viola Vio, vio, la. Hey:! 

2. tuba (um pah) 

3. piano (plink, plink) 

4. big bass drum (boom, boom) 

With each verse, the leader stretches out the first word 

“Du,” holding th enote longer each time. Then everyone 

echoes this with their first word, “Ich.” 

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean 

My Bonnie lies over the ocean, 

My Bonnie lies over the sea, 

My Bonnie lies over the ocean, 

Oh bring back my Bonnie to me. 

Bring back, bring back, 

Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me. (Repeat) 

(As you sing each word beginning with the letter “B,” 

change from a standing to a sitting position and vice 

versa. All should be standing at the end of the song. 

When you have mastered these movements, sing it 

again, faster.) 

One Finger, One Thumb 

One finger, one thumb, one hand keep moving, 



And we’ll all be happy again, Hey! 

2. One finger, one thumb, one hand, two hands keep 

moving, 

One finger, one thumb, one hand, two hands keep 

moving, 

One finger, one thumb, one hand, two hands keep 

moving 

And we’ll all be happy again, Hey! 

3. One finger, one thumb, one hand, two hands, one 

arm keep moving, etc. 


arm, two arms keep moving, 


arm, two arms, one leg keep moving, 


arm, two arms, one leg, two legs keep moving, 


arm, two arms, one leg, two legs, stand up-sit down 

keep moving, 

Purple Stew 

(Sing the song by yourself with the motions, then pick 

others, one-by-one to sing it with you) 

I’m making purple stew 

whip-whip, whip-whip (shake posterior) 

I’m making purple stew 

shoobie-doobie-do (do the twist) 

With purple tomatoes and purple potatoes 

and I want you (spin & point to next victim) 

She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain 

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain 

when she comes …“Hoot hoot” (repeat) 

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain, 

she’ll be comin’ round the mountain, 

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain 

when she comes … “Hoot hoot” 


She’ll be drivin’ six white horses 

when she comes ...’whoa, back!” 

(Pull back on reins) 

And we’ll all go out to meet her 

when she comes...”Hi, babe!” 

(Wave right hand, palm front, left to right) 

And we’ll kill the old red rooster 

when she comes ...”Hack, hack” 

(Chopping motion with right hand) 

And we’ll all have chicken n’ dumplings 

when she comes ...”Yum, yum!” 

(Rub tummy) 

And we’ll wear our bright red woolies 

when she comes…”Scratch, scratch” 

(Scratch ribs) 

The Grand Old Captain Kirk 

Tune: “A-Hunting We Will Go” 

(Stand on “up” and sit on “down.” Repeat 3 times, going 

faster each time.) 

The Grand Old Captain Kirk 

He Had A Thousand Men, 

He Beamed ‘em Up To The Enterprise 

And Beamed ‘em Down Again. 

And When You’re Up Your Up, 

And When You’re Down Your Down, 

And When You’re Only Half Way Up, 

You’re Nowhere to Be Found. 

The Grand Old Duke of York 

Tune: “A-Hunting We Will Go” 

(Stand on “up” and sit on “down.” Repeat 3 times, going 

faster each time.) 

The Grand Old Duke of York, 

He had ten thousand men. 

He marched them up the hill 

And marched them down again. 

And when you’re up, you’re up. 

And when you’re down, you’re down, 

And when you’re only half way up, 

You’re neither up or down. 

Three Chartreuse Buzzards 

FIRST CHORUS 

Oh look! One has flown away what a shame. (wailing) 

1. Three Chartreuse Buzzards 


Three chartreuse Buzzards 

sitting on a tree. 

Page 28 

FIRST CHORUS 

2. Two Chartreuse ‘Buzzards 

Two Chartreuse Buzzards 



FIRST CHORUS 

3. One Chartreuse Buzzard 

One Chartreuse Buzzard 



FIRST CHORUS 

SECOND CHORUS 

Oh look’ One has returned Let us rejoice. 

(loud cheers) 

1. One Chartreuse Buzzard 




SECOND CHORUS 

2. Two Chartreuse Buzzards 




SECOND CHORUS 

3. Three Chartreuse Buzzards 



sitting on a tree‘ 

SECOND CHORUS: 

Under The Chestnut Tree 

Under the spreading chestnut tree 

When I held you on my knee, 

We were happy as could be, 

Under the spreading chestnut tree 

(Repeat, omitting a word and inserting an action each 

time, adding one motion each time the song is repeated.) 

ACTIONS 

Spreading Arms outstretched over head 

Chest Strike chest 

Nut Tap head 

Tree Same as spreading 

Held Arms as though embracing 

Knee Strike knee 

Happy Scowl and emit a growl. 


Wad-A-Lee-Aches 

Come on let’s 

Wad-a-lee-achee, Wad-a-lee-aches, 

Wad-a-lee-achee, Wad-a-lee-aches, 

Doo-da-lee-doo, doo-da-lee-doo. 

Simplest thing, there isn’t much to it. 

All ya gotta do is just doo-da-lee-doo it. 

I like the rest bit the part I like best goes 

Doo-da-lee-doo-da-lee, 

Doo-da-lee-doo-da-lee, 

Doo-da-lee-doo-da-lee-do! 


Page 30 

History (Americana) Folk Songs 

Battle of New Orleans 

CHORUS 

We fired our guns and the British kept a comin’; 

There wasn’t quite as many as there was a while ago; 

We fired once more and they began, a runnin’; 

Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. 

1. In 1814 we took a little trip 

along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip’. 

We took a little bacon n’ we took a little beans, 

And we fought the bloody British 

near the town of New Orleans. 

2, We looked down the river & we see the British come 

And there must of been a hundred of them beating on a 

drum. 

They step so high that they made the bugles ring, 

As we sat behind the cotton bales 

and didn’t say a thing. 

3. Old Hickory said we could take them by surprise 

If we didn’t fire a musket till we looked em in the eyes; 

We held our fire till we seen their faces well 

Then we opened up our squirrel guns 

and really gave them hell. 

4. We fired so fast that the cannon melted down 

So we got an alligator and we loaded him down 

We filled him up with cannon balls and powdered his behind. 

When we lit the fuse the gator blew his mind. 

5. Well they ran through the brambles, 

and they ran through the branches 

They ran through the bushes where rabbits couldn’t go; 

They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch them 

Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico 

Blue Tail Fly 

CHORUS 

Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care 



The master’s gone away. 

1. When I was young I used to wait on ald massa 

and give him his pla 

Pass the bottle when he got dry 

And chase away the blue tail fly. 

2. And when he’d ride in the afternoon, 

I’d follow after with a hickory broom 

The pony being rather shy 

Then bitten by a blue tail fly. 

3. One day he rode around the farm 

The flies so numerous they did swam ; 

One chanced to bite him on the thigh 

Debit take the blue tail fly. 

4. The pony run, he jump, he pitch 

Throw my master in the ditch 

He died, the jury wondered why 

The verdict was the blue tail fly. 

5. They lay him under a ‘simmon tree 

His epitaph is there to see 

”Beneath this tree I’m forced to lie 

Victim of the blue tail fly.” 

Blue Water Line 

CHORUS 

Blue Water, Blue Water, Blue Water Line (repeat) 

If you can’t afford a quarter 

Then you ought to give a dime. 

If everybody gave then we could save 

The Blue Water Line, 

1. The city council met last week 

The vote was four to three 

To tear the home town depot down 

And build a factory. 

To take that streak of victory 

And tear it off the map 

To melt old engine number nine 

And turn her into scrap. 

2. Oh: I could tell you stories 

Of the glories on that train, 

About the forty-niner miners 

And the time Old Jesse James 

Stole a thousand golden nuggets 

In that great train robbery, 

And the time old Abe Lincoln rode 

With Todd upon his knee 

3. Just forty thousand quarters 

And twenty thousand dimes, 

And we’ll ride again to glory 

On the old Blue Water Line. 

We’ll have William Jennings Bryant 

Stoking coal on number nine, 

So dig into you pockets 

For the Old Blue Water Line 

Chicago Fire Song 

Late last night 

When we were all in bed, 

Mrs. O’Leary Hung a lantern in the shed. 

And when the cow kicked it over, 

She winked her eye and said 

”There’ll be a hot time In the ol’ town tonight!” 

Fire! Fire! Fire! 

(Repeat 3 times, each time softer except for the last line 

“fire! fire! fire!”) 


De Camptown Racetrack 

CHORUS 

Going to run all night, going to run all day, 

I’ll bet my money on the bobtail nag, 

Somebody bet on de bay. 

1. De Camptown ladies sing this song, 

Doo-dah; Doo-dah: 

De Camptown race track nine miles long, 

Oh, de doo-dah day! 

2. I came down there wid my have caved in, 

Doo-dah: Doo-dah: 

I got back home wif a pocket full of tin, 

Oh, doo-dah day. 

3. The long tailed fly and the big black horse, 


They fly the track and they both cut across, 

Oh, doo-dah day. 

4. The blind boss stuck in the old mud hole, 

Doo-dah: Doo-dah; 

Can’t touch bottom with a ten foot pole, 

On, doo-dah day! 

5. Old Muley cow came on the track 


The bobtail fling her ober his back, 

Ob, doo-dah day! 

6. Then fly along like a railroad car, 

Doo-dah: Doo-dah; 

Running a race with a shooting star, 

Oh, de doo-dah day! 

Ebeneezer Fry 

Oh! I own the old mill 

Down by Jarushsville 

My name’s Joshuway Ebeneezer Fry. 

I know a thing or two 

You can bet your boots I do 

You can’t fool me cause I’m to darn sly 

2. Well I sworn 

I must be getting on 

Getty up Napoleon 

It looks like rain 

Well I’ll be switched 

The hay ain’t pitched 

So come down to the farm again some fine day. 

3. Oh! There was a fair one day 

Down round Sanders way 

A man asked me for two tens for a five 

I says “You darn fool 

I be the Constibul 

You can’t fool me cause I’m too darn sly 

Erie Canal 

We were forty miles from Albany, 

Forget it I never shall. 

In that a terrible storm we had that night, 

on the E-ri-e Canal. 

Oh, the E-ri-e was a-risin’ 

And the gin was getting low, 

I scarcely think I’ll get a drink, 

Till I get to Buffalo, 

Till get to Buffalo. 

Erie-Erie-Erie-Oh! 

CHORUS 

Erie-Erie-Erie-Oh: (repeat 3 times) 

Workin’ on the railroad. 

1841 that’s the year that I begun, that’s the year that I 

begun, that’s the year that I begun, that’s the year that I 

begun, workin’ on the railroad. 

2. In 1842 that’s the year I met you, that’s the year I met 

you, that’s the year I met you, workin’ on the railroad. 

3. In 1843 that’s the year I went to sea,... 

4. In 1844 that’s the year I went to war,... 

5. In 1845 that’s the year I took a dive,... 

6. In 1846 that’s the year I picked my picks,... 

7. In 1847 that’s the year I went to heaven,... 

8. In 1848 St. Peter said I was too late,... 

9. In 1849 the devil said I was in time,... 

10. In 1850, Now until eternity,... 

I’ve Been Working On The Railroad 

I’ve been workin’ on the railroad, 

All the live long day. 

I’ve been workin’ on the railroad, 

Just to pass the time away. 

Don’t you hear the whistle blowing? 

Rise up so early in the morn. 

Don’t you hear the captain shouting 

”Dinah, blow your horn?” 

Dinah, won’t you blow, 


Dinah, won’t you blow your horn? 



Dinah, won’t you blow your horn? 

Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah, 

Someone’s in the kitchen I know; 

Someone’s inn the kitchen with Dinah, 

Strummin’ on the old banjo. 


CHORUS 

Fee-fi-fiddely-I-oh 

Fee-fi-fiddely-I-oh-oh-oh-oh 

Fee-fi-fiddely-I-ohhhhhh! 


Fee-plink, fi-plink, fiddely-I-oh plink; 

Fee-fi-fiddely-I-oh plink, plink, pluik. 

fee...fiii...fiddely-I-ohhhh....... 


Lover’s Lament 

He sat down beside her and smoked his cigar, 

smoked his cigar, smoked his cigar. 

He sat down beside her and smoked his cigar, 

smoked — his — cigar. 

She sat there beside him and played her guitar 

played her guitar, played her guitar. 

She sat there beside him and played her guitar 

played — her — guitar. 

3. He told her he loved her, but on how he lied… 

4. She told him she loved him, and she didn’t lie... 

5. They were to be married, but she up and died.... 

6. He went to the funeral but just for the ride... 

7. He ate some green onions and boo-hoo he cried... 

8. Well she went to heaven and flip-flop she flied.. 

9. Well he went to Hades and sizzled and fried..... 

10. The moral of the story is never tell lies..... 

Railroad Bill 

CHORUS 

Railroad Bill, old Railroad Bill, 

he never worked, and he never will, 

I’m gonna ride old Railroad Bill. 

1. Well Railroad Bill was a pretty mean man 

Shot the midnight lantern from the brakeman’s hand, 


2. Well I’m going up that mountain, 

I’m going out West, 

A .38 special sticking out of my vest, 


3. I’ll buy me a pistol just as long as my arm, 

Kill everybody that ever did me harm, 


4. I got a 38 special on a .45 frame, 

How can I miss when I got dead aim, 


5. Well Railroad Bill, he took my wife, 

He said if I didn’t like it, he’d take my life. 


Page 32 

6. Now, honey, honey, do you think I’m a fool? 

I wouldn’t leave you if the weather is cool. 


The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 

CHORUS 

The night they drove old Dixie down 

And the bells were ringing, 

The night they drove old Dixie down 

And the people were singing, 

They went la la la la la - la la la la la 

1. Virgil Caine is my name, 

And I served on the Danville train 

’Till Stoneman’s Cavalry came, 

And tore up the tracks again; 

In the winter of ’65 

we were hungry just barely alive; 

By May 10th Richmond had fell, 

it’s a time I remember Oh so well. 

2. Back with my wife in Tennessee, 

one day she called to me; 

”Virgil quick come see, 

There goes Robert E. Lee”; 

Now I don’t mind chopping wood, 

Don’t care if the money’s no good; 

Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest, 

but they should never have taken the very best 

3. Like my father before me, 

I will work the land; 

Just like my brother above me 

Who took a rebel stand; 

He was just 18 proud and brave, 

But a Yankee laid him in his grave; 

I swear by the ground below my feet, 

You can’t raise a Caine back up when he’s in defeat. 

The Voyageur’s Song 

1. Come listen ye fellers 

so young and so bold, 

And seek out your fortunes 

where the north winds blow cold. 

It’ll form as a habit and seep in your soul, 

Till the stream of your blood 

runs as pure as the snow. 

CHORUS 

Where the voyageurs paddled and toted their bales, 

You can hear their ghosts go sing’n 

on the same portage trails. 

And your muscles will harden, 

Your hands become rough, 

Once you put the ash to it, 

You can’t get enough. 


2. Now there’s many a man 

that I’ve seen in my time, 

Who’s lived without 

seeing the northern lights shine, 

Or an aspen grove glow as the sun sets so fine, 

Or hear the wind whisper 

as it runs through the pines. 

3. Now when I am gone 

and the ages rush by, 

I’ll wind up in heaven 

and look from the sky, 

At the clear lakes below me 

where the blue waters shine, 

You’ll always be with me, 

these Northwoods of mine. 

This is America 

Get the flags a-flying, 

Strike up the band and play the music, 

For our hearts are strong as we sing the song 

Of the Land where we belong. 

We are all together, 

ready to serve and proudly show 

Through bright or stormy weather 

We want the World to know. 

CHORUS 

This is America, 

Listen to a song on the way, 

By the Boy Scouts of ‘Old Glory’ 

In the good old U.S.A. 

This is America, and we want the whole world to know 

From New York City on to every state, 

Through the west beyond the Golden Gate 

This Land that we love from the dawns early lit 

Where the Stars n’ Stripes forever will be waved 

In the Name of Liberty. 

This is America, 

The Homeland of the Free. 

We’re the sons who follow 

Into the wake of those before us, 

And beneath the sky 

we shall do or die, 

With our Standard flying high 

raise the Lord that gave us all 

that we have and all we share 

From Coast to Coast we’ll echo 

our song across the air. 

Waterloo 

CHORUS : 

Waterloo, Waterloo, 

Where will you meet your Waterloo? 

Every puppy has its day,Everybody has to pay, 

Everybody has to meet in Waterloo. 

1. Now of Adam, was the first in history, 

With an apple he was tempted and deceived. 

Just for spite the devil made him take a bite, 

And that’s where of Adam met his Waterloo. 

2. Little general, Napoleon of France 

Tried to conquer the world but lost his pants; 

Met defeat known as Napoleon’s retreat 

And that’s when Napoleon met his Waterloo. 

3. Now a feller whose darlin’ proved untrue, 

Took her life, but he lost his too. 

Now he swings where the little birdie sings, 

And that’s where Tom Dooley met his Waterloo. 


A Boy and a Girl 

A boy and a girl in a little canoe 

With the moon shining all around. 

And as he paddled his paddle 

You couldn’t even hear a sound. 

So they talked and they talked 

’Til the moon grew dim; 

He said you better kiss me 

Or get out and swim. 

So what you going to do in a little canoe, 

With the moon shining all around. 

(Sing again and end) 

With the moon shinin’ all a, 

boy paddlin’ all a, 

girl swimmin’ all around. 

Oh yea, Oh yea 

Announcements 

(sung whenever someone make the mistake of saying 

“Announcements.” Repeat chorus after each verse.) 

CHORUS 

Announcements, announcements, announcements. 

A horrible way to die, a horrible way to die, 

A horrible way to start the day, A horrible way to die. 

What a terrible way to die, what a terrible way to die, 

What a terrible death, to be talked to death. 

What a terrible way to die. 

(Frere’ Jauque) 

Words of wisdom, words of wisdom, 

We don’t need, we don’t need, 

Stupid words of wisdom. Stupid words of wisdom, 

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb. 

(How Dry I Am) 

We sold (found) our cow, moo. 

We sold (found) our cow, moo. 

We have no use ... for your bull now. 

(London Bridge) 

Make the announcements short and sweet, 

Short and sweet, Short and sweet. 

Make the announcements short and sweet, 

They’re so BORING! 

(Ever Seen a Windmill) 

Have you ever seen a windbag, a windbag, a windbag, 

Have you ever seen a windbag. 

Well there’s one right now. 

Swings this way and that way, 

Swings this way and that way, 

Have you ever seen a windbag, 

Well there’s one RIGHT NOW! 

Page 34 

Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs 

(What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor) 

What do you do with a program director? 

What do you do with a program director? 

What do you do with a program director, 

Early in the morning. 

Hit him in the face with a chocolate cream pie! 

Hit him in the face with a chocolate cream pie! 

Hit him in the face with a chocolate cream pie, 

Early in the morning! 

Row Row Row your Boat 

Gently down the stream 

throw the announcements overboard 

and listen to them scream 

Row, row, row your boat 

Gently down the stream. 

Ha Ha! Fooled you, 

I’m a submarine. 

(The Grand Ol’ Duke of York) 

When you’re up, you’re up 

And when you’re down, you’re down. 

And when you’re only halfway up 

You’re also halfway down. 

Mary had a little lamb 

The doctor was surprised. 

Old McDonald had a farm 

He couldn’t believe his eyes. 

( A slow tempo verse) 

I was a farmer, I had some cows. 

The sows said “Oink, oink”. 

The chicks went “Cluck cluck”. 

But the cows said “Run fast! 

Here comes the bull!” 

The man stood up to talk. 

He talked real long and hard. 

He talked so long that I wrote this song, 

On the lid of a can of lard! 

Now lard is used to cook, 

And words they make a book. 

But if this guy keeps talking up a storm, 

We’ll be awake no more! 

We’ve got a silly cheer, 

that you’ve just got to hear! 

It makes no sense we’re sure you know, 

The announcements have to GO! 

Speak Freak 

Talk Joc 

Rap Sap 

So get to the point!!! 


Be Kind to Your Web Footed Friends 

(tune: Stars and Stripes Forever) 

Be kind to your web footed friends 

For a duck may be somebody’s mother 

Left all alone in the swamp, 

In the weather that’s cold and damp 

Now you may think that this is the end, 

Well — It is! 

Big Fat Hen 

A big fat hen 

A big fat hen, and a couple of ducks 

A big fat hen, a couple of ducks and three running 

hares 

Continue adding the following: 

Four brown bears, 

Five fat felines, 

Six simple simons, 

Seven silly sailors sailing the seven seas 

Eight egotistical elephants eagerly awaiting entrance 

into Ethiopia, 

Nine nimbling ninnys nimbling nimbling gnats, 

Ten tiny tom Toms tinkering tiny tunes. 

Bingo 

There was a farmer who had a dog 

And Bingo was his name-o 

B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N -G-O, 

and Bingo was his name-o. 

Boom Boom Ain’t It Great to be Crazy 

Boom, Boom, ain’t it great to be crazy? 

Boom, Boom, ain’t it great to be crazy? 

Silly and foolish all day long, 

Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy? 

1. A horse and a flea, and three blind mice, 

Sitting on a corner shooting dice 

The horse he slipped, fell on the flea, 

”Whoops,” said the flea, there’s a horse on me . 

2. Way down South where bananas grow, 

An ant stepped on an elephant’s toe 

The elephant sighed with a tear in his eye, 

Why don’t you pick on someone your own size? 

3. Eli, Eli, he sells socks 

A dollar a pair, a nickel a box, 

The longer you wear them, the shorter they get, 

You put them in the water and they don’t get wet 

4. Bought a pair of combination underwear, 

Guaranteed not to rip or tear, 

Wore them so long,without exaggeration, 

But that’s because I forgot the combination. 

5. Grandpa Moses shot a skunk 

Grandma Moses cooked a skunk 

Baby Moses ate the skunk 

Holy Closes, how they stunk! 

6. I walked around the corner,, I walked around the 

block 

I walked right into a bakery shop 

I picked up a doughnut right out of the grease 

I handed the lady a five cent piece. 

The lady looked at the nickel and she looked at me, 

She said, ”This nickel is no good to me! 

There’s a hole in the middle and it runs right through.” 

But lady, there’s a hole in the doughnuts too! 

7. There once was a chicken who wouldn’t lay an egg, 

So they poured hot water up and down its leg. 

The little chicken cackled and the little chicken bawled. 

But the gosh darn chicken laid an egg hard boiled’ 

8. Eli, Eli he went west, 

where he thought he was the best 

Now they’ve laid him down to rest 

9. Way up North where there’s ice and snow 

There lived a penguin and his name was Joe 

He got so tired of black and white 

He wore pink slacks to the dance last night! 

10. Called myself on the telephone 

Just to hear that golden tone 

Asked myself out for a date 

Said be ready ‘bout half-past eight! 

11. Took myself to the picture show 

Sat myself on the very last row 

Wrapped my arms around my waist 

Got so fresh I slapped my face! 

12. Late last night, I had a real strange dream, 

Ate a nine-pound marshmallow my mom gave me, 

When I woke up, I knew somethin’ was wrong, 

I looked around and saw my pillow was gone. 

13. I take a swim in my swimming pool. 

I jump from the board ‘cause that’s the rule. 

I hit my head on cement and mortar. 

Forgot to look - there was no water. 

14. That one-eared cat who used to sit 

Watching Grandma rock and knit 

Swallowed a ball of bright red yarn, 

And out came kittens with red sweaters on. 


15. There was an old doctor and his name was Peck. 

Fell down the well and broke his neck 

Served him right, he was doing wrong. 

Should have tended to the sick, and let the well alone. 

Boy Scout Camp 

Tune: “Army Life” 

The _________________ that they give you 

They say are mighty fine 

But _________________________________ 

Oh, I don’t wanna go to Boy Scout Camp 

Gee mom I want to go 

But they won’t let me go 

Gee mom I want to go home. 

1. biscuits /one rolled off the table and killed a friend of 

mine 

2. water /when you go to drink it tastes like turpentine 

(iodine) 

3. girls / they’re either under seven or over ninety-nine 

4. nurses / when you break a finger they break the other 

nine 

5. counselors /b ut when they try to help you they screw 

up your mind 

6. counselors / when they take off their makeup they 

look like Frankenstein 

7. busses that you ride in, / when they turn a corner, 

they leave the wheels behind. 

8. spaghetti / They rinse it the toilet and drain it on the 

line. 

9. tents / whoever said this has never slept in mine. 

10. Kybos / Last night my tent mate had to go, they 

haven’t found him yet. 

Bug Juice 

Tune: “On Top of Old Smokey” 

At the 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 told us, 

Would’ve grossed out a moose, 

For that great tasting pink drink, 

was really bug juice. 

It looked fresh and fruity, 

like tasty kool-aids, 

But the bugs that were in it, 

were murdered with Raid. 

Page 36 

Camp Grenada 

Tune:Dance of the Hours 

Hello Muddah, hello Faddah, 

Here I am at camp Grenada. 

Camp is very entertaining, 

And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining. 

I went hiking with Joe Spivey, 

He developed poison ivy. 

You remember Leonard Skinner, 

He got Ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner. 

All the counselors hate the waiters, 

And the lake has alligators. 

And the head coach wants no sissies, 

So he reads to us from something called Ulysses. 

Now I don’t want this should scare ya’, 

But my bunkmate has Malaria. 

You remember Jeffery Hardy, 

They’re about to organize a searching party. 

Take me home, oh Muddah, Faddah, 

Take me home, I hate Grenada. 

Don’t leave me out in the forest where, 

I might get eaten by a bear. 

Take me home, 

I promise I will not make noise, 

or mess the house with other boys, 

Oh please don’t make me stay, 

I’ve been here one whole day... 

Dearest Muddah, Darling Faddah, 

How’s my precious little bruddah? 

Let me come home if you miss me, 

I would even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me ! 

Wait a minute, it’s stopped hailing, 

Guys are swimming, Guys are sailing! 

Playing baseball, gee that’s bettah, 

Muddah, Faddah kindly disregard this letter!!! 

Camp Kookamonga 

Tune: “The Battle of New Orleans) 

1. Well in 19 and 59 we took a little hike 

With our Scoutmaster down to Lake A-Neek-A-Nike 

We took a little pizza and we took some sauerkraut 

We marched along together ‘till we seen the Girl Scouts 

CHORUS 

We’re the boys from Camp Kookamonga 

Our mothers sent us here for to study nature’s ways 

We learned to make sparks by rubbin’ sticks together 

And if we catch some girls then we’ll set the woods 

ablaze 

2. Well we crept up to the water and we seen the girls aswimmin’ 


There must a-been a hundred of ‘em pretty young women 

They looked so fine even birds forget to sing 

We lay down in the poison oak and we didn’t say a thing 

3. Well the counselor said we could take ‘em by 

surprise 

If we didn’t say a word ’till we looked ‘em in the eyes 

We kept real still and we kept our eyes a-glued 

We seen how they were dressed they were swimmin in the ... 

…Well, they 

Ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles 

And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go 

They ran so fast even we couldn’t catch ‘em 

From Lake A-Neek-A-Nike all the way to Buffalo 

4. Well we marched around ‘till everyone was pooped 

We rested for a minute and our forces we regrouped 

Then we seen the girls behind some evergreens 

Captured by a company of United States Marines! 

Chopped Liver 

Tune: “Moon River” 

Chopped Liver, 

Onions on the side, 

My social life had died since you 

My friends shun me 

They out run me 

The smell of my breath is 

Slow death, sad but true. 

Ding Dong 

CHORUS 

A ding dong dong dong dong, 



A ding dong! 

Leader: 1. Oh (name) don’t wear no socks. 

All: A ding dong 

Leader: I saw him when he took them off. 


Leader: He put ‘em in a garbage can: 


Leader: Killed three rats and a garbage man. 

2. Oh (name) don’t wear no socks. 

I saw him when he took them off. 

He threw ‘em in the air. 

Now the birds are on Medicare. 


I saw him when he took them off. 

He threw them in the sky. 

Now superman refuses to fly. 


I saw him when he took ‘em off. 

He threw ‘am on the wall. 

Now the roaches refuse to crawl. 



He threw ‘em on the floor. 

That floor ain’t there no more. 



He threw ‘em in the tree 

Now the dogs refuse to pee! 



He threw ‘em in the house 

There goes every mouse! 



He threw ‘em in the field 

That corn refused to yield! 



He threw ‘em in the lake 

They made the whole earth shake. 



He threw ‘em in the car 

Please leave that door ajar! 



He threw ‘em in a glass 

I’m gonna kick her … butt 



I sued him for pollutin’ the air 

Now I’m a millionaire! 



He threw ‘em in the hearse 

And this is the very last verse! 



He threw ‘em against the wall. 

They stuck! 

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 

Llike 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 minimum 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? 

Drool Song 

Just plant a watermelon• seed upon my grave 

And let the juice (slurp-slurp) run through 

Just plant a watermelon seed upon my grave 

That’s all I ask of you. 

Chicken and possum are mighty fine 

But there ain’t no taste like a watermelon rind. 

Just plant a watermelon seed upon my grave 

and Let the juice (slurp-slurp) run through. 

Dummy Line 

CHORUS 

Dummy line, dummy line, 

Rain or shine I’ll pay my fine. 

Rain or shine I’ll pay my fine 

Ride, ride, ride 

On the Dummy Line 

1. Bought me a pair of combination underwear 

To keep out the cold and the chisly air 

Now I’m in a heck of a mess 

Lost the combination and I can’t undress. 

2. Little Willie just for fun, 

Shot his sister with a B-B gun 

Father said, “I’m ashamed of you 

You should of shot her with a .22" 

Page 38 

3. Once was a scout named Jack 

Pitched his tent on a railroad track 

4:44 came round the bend 

What kind of flowers you gonna send. 

4. Little Willie with a shout 

Gouged his sister’s eyeballs out 

Stomped on them to hear them pop 

His mother said, ‘Now Willie stop.” 

5. Once was a guy whose name was Bill 

Lived on top of a garbage hill 

Never took a bath and he never will 

Come on guys let’s spit on Bill 

6. Little Willie one dark night 

Played around with dynamite, 

But curiosity never pays, 

Rained poor Willie for 17 days. 

7. Little Willie went out west 

Where he thought the food was best 

Now he lies in eternal rest 

With a concrete meatball in his chest. 

8. Little boy coming home from school 

Spied a dollar by the foot of a mule, 

Bent down to get it as sly as a mouse, 

Funeral next day at the little boy’s house. 

Garbage Barge 

Tune: The Titanic 

CHORUS 

Oh! It was sad, Oh! It was Sad’ 

It was sad when the garbage barge 

went down To the bottom of the… 

Part I -Mud, mud, mud, mud. 

Part II - Onions and shells, 

little garlics lost their smell. 

It was sad when the garbage barge went down. 

1. Oh: they built the garbage barge 

To sail the river brown 

And they built it so 

The garbage wouldn’t go down, 

But the mayor he raised his hand 

Said that ship would never land 


2. Oh! They almost reached the dump 

Bout one hundred yards left 

When the apples refused to 

Associate with the rest. 

So they put them down below 


Where they would be first to go 

It was sad when the garbage barge went down 

3. Oh, They lowered the lifeboats , 

On the dark and frothy break 

As the band played on 

”Oh Lord what a stink” 

Onions and shells, 

Little garlics lost their smell 

It was sad when the garbage barge went down 

4. As the garbage man stood on deck 

With a tear in his eye 

As the life boats left 

He waved them all good-bye 

And he couldn’t stand the stink 

So he dove into the break 


Ghost Chickens in the Sky 

Tune: Ghost Riders in the Sky 

CHORUS 

Yippie yi yo. 

Yippie yi yea. Hey. Hey 


1. A chicken farmer went out to work 

one dark and dreary day 

He rested by the coup 

as he went along his way 

When all at once 

a rotten egg hit him in the eye 

It was the sight he dreaded 


2. The farmer had been raising chickens 

since he was twenty-four 

Working for the colonel 

for thirty years or more 

Killing all those chickens 

and sending them to fry 

And now they want revenge 


3. Their feet were black and shiny, 

their eyes were burning red 

They had no meat or feathers, 

these chickens all were dead 

They raised the farmer up 

and he died by the claw 

They cooked him extra crispy, 

and served him with coleslaw 

Ghost Riders in the Sky 

1. An old cowpoke went riding out 

one dark and windy day 

Up on a ridge he rested 

as he went upon his way 

When all at once a mighty herd 

of red-eyed cows he saw 

coming through the ragged sky, 

and up a cloudy draw 

2. Their brands were still on fire 

and their hot breath he could feel 

Their horns were black and shiny 

and their hooves were made of steel 

A bolt of fear went through him 

as they rumbled through the sky 

Then he saw the riders coming hard, 

and he heard their mournful cry 

CHORUS 

Yippe-ai-ay, 

Yippee-ai-oh 

Ghost riders in the sky 

3. As the riders loped on by him, 

he heard one call his name 

If you want to save your soul from hell, 

a riding on this range 

Then cowboy change your ways today 

or with us you will ride 

Trying to catch the devil’s herd, 

across these endless skies 

Glory How Peculiar 

Tune: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” 

As one black bear backed up the hill, 

The other black bear backed down, 

(repeat 4 times) 

CHORUS 

Glory, glory, how peculiar 

Glory, glory, how peculiar 

Glory, glory, how peculiar (Repeat line of verse) 

REPEAT CHORUS 

As one ditch digger dug up the ditch 

The other ditch digger dug down. 

REPEAT CHORUS 

As one slick seal slid up the slide, 

The other slick seal slid down. 

REPEAT CHORUS 

As one pink porpoise popped up the pole. 

The other pink porpoise popped down. 


God Bless My Underwear 

Tune: “God Bless America” 

God bless my underwear, my only pair. 

Stand beside them, and guide them, 

Through the rips, through the holes, through the tears. 

From the washer, to the dryer, to the clothesline 

God bless my underwear, my only pair. 

Grannies in the Cellar 

1. Grannies in the cellar 

Oh lordy cant ya smell her 

Cooking biscuits on that darn old greasy stove 

In her eye there is some matter 

that keeps drippin in the batter 

And she whistles while the (sniff) 

goes down her nose 

CHORUS 

Down her nose, down her nose, 



In her eye there is some matter 

that keeps drippin in the batter 





Cooking grits on that darn old greasy stove 

On her belly there’s some zits 

that keeps poppin in the grits 



3. Down her nose, down her nose, 



On her belly there’s some zits 

that keeps poppin in the grits 





Cooking crabs on that darn old greasy stove 

On her elbow there’s some scabs 

that keeps fallin in the crabs 





Cooking cobbler on that darn old greasy stove 

Her glass eye is a wobbler 

and keeps fallin in the cobbler 

Page 40 





Cooking rice on that darn old greasy stove 

In her hair there is some lice 

that keep jumpin in the rice 



Ham and Eggs 

Tune: “Tammany” 

Ham and eggs, Ham and eggs, 

I like mine fried nice and brown. 

I like mine fried up side down. 

Ham and eggs, Ham and eggs, 

Flip ‘em, Flop ‘em, Flop ‘em, Flip ‘em, 

Ham and eggs 

Hey Lotty, Lotty Lo 

CHORUS 

Hey Lottey, Lottey-Lottey 

Hey Lottey, Lottey-Lo 

Hey Lottey, Lottey-lottey 


1. I know a guy whose name is Frank 

Hey lottey, Lottey-Lo 

He just built a German tank 


2. I know a girl whose name is Geri 


All she wants to do is get-married 


How Do You Do? 

How do you do, Mister? How do you do? 

Is there anything that we can do for you? 

We’ll do the best we can- 

Stand by you like a man, 

How do you do, Mister? How do you do? 

I Had But Fifty Cents 

1. I took my girl to a fancy ball 

It was a social hop, 

We stayed until the folks went home 

Until the music stopped. 

2. Then to a restaurant we went 

The best one on the street, 

She said she wasn’t hungry 

But this is what she ate: 


(Talk) A dozen raw, a plate of ‘saw, a chicken and a 

roast, some asparagus, and apple sauce, and soft 

shelled crabs and toast. 

3. An Irish stew and crackers too 

Her appetite was immense, 

When she cried for pie I thought I’d die, 

For I had but fifty cents. 

(Talk) She said she wasn’t hungry, she didn’t come to 

eat, I’ll bet my only trousers, that she cannot be beat. 

She said everything was rosy. 

4. She had an awful tank 

She said she wasn’t thirsty, 

But this is what she drank; 

5. A pot of tea, some black coffee, 

It made me shake with fear, 

Some soda pop with cream on top 

And then a glass of beer. 

(Talk) A glass, a pail, a milk carton, she should of had 

more sense. When she called for more I fell on the 

floor, for I had but fifty cents. 

6. You bet I wasn’t hungry 

I didn’t care to eat , 

Expecting every moment 

To be kicked out on the street. 

7. She said she’d bring her family 

And we would have some fun, 

I gave the man the fifty cents 

And this is what he done: 

(Talk) He tore my clothes, he smashed my nose, hit me 

more and more. He gave a prize of two black eyes and 

with me swept the floor. 

8. He took me by the trousers 

And threw me over the fence, 

Take my advice, don’t try it twice 

when you got but fifty cents. 

I Love You 

I love you, I love you 

I love you so well, 

If I had a peanut 

I’d give you the shell. 

I love you, I love you 

With all my heart and sole, 

If I had a donut 

I’d give you the hole. 

Johnny Verbeck 

1. Once there was a Dutchman 

His name was Johnny Verbeck 

He made the finest sausages 

And sauerkraut and speck. 

He made the finest sausages 

That’ll evermore be seen, 

Till one day he invented 

A sausage making machine. 

CHORUS 

Oh, Mr. Johnny Verbeck 

How could you be so mean, 

I told you, you’d be sorry 

For inventin’ that machine 

Now all the neighbors cats and dogs 

Will nevermore be seen 

For they’ll be ground to sausages 

In Johnny Verbeck’s machine. 

2. One day a boy came walkin’ 

A walkin’ thru the door. 

He bought a pound of sausages 

And laid them on the floor. 

The boy began to whistle, 

He whistled up a tune. 

And all the little sausages 

Went dancin’ round the room. 

3. One day the machine got busted 

The darn thing wouldn’t go, 

So Johnny Verbeck he climbed inside 

To see what made it so. 

His wife she had a nightmare, 

Went walkin’ in her sleep 

She gave it a yank a deuce of crank 

And Johnny Verbeck was meat! 

Junior Birdman 

Up in the air, Jr. Birdmen, 

Up in the air, upside down. 

Up in the air, Jr. Birdmen, 

Flying all around. 

Then you hear the doorbell ringing, 

And when you see the wings of tin, 

Then you know that Jr. Birdmen 

Have sent their box tops in. 

It takes: 5 box tops, 4 bottle bottoms, 

3 wrappers, 2 coupons and 1 thin dime, 

Let’s here it for the Jr. Birdmen 

Nee——————boom!!” 


Little Rabbit Fru Fru 

Little rabbit fru fru 

Hopping through the forest, 

Scooping up the field mice 

And bopping them on the head. 

And down came the good fairy. And she said: 

”Little rabbit fru fru I don’t like your attitude 



I’ll give you three chances 

And if you don’t obey me 

I’ll turn you into a goon.” 

So, the next day... 

Little Rabbit Fru-Fru 

hopping through the forest, 


and bopping them on their head. 

And down came the good fairy, and she said, 

“Little Rabbit Fru-Fru, I don’t like your attitude 



I’ll give you two more chances, 

And if you don’t obey me, 

I’ll turn you into a goon!” 


Little Rabbit Fru-Fru, 



And bopping them on their head. 





I’ll give you one more chance, 

And if you don’t obey me, 

I’ll turn you into a goon!” 


Little Rabbit Fru-Fru 



And bopping them on their head. 





I gave you three chances, and you didn’t obey me, 

so I’ll turn you into a goon!” POOF! 

SPOKEN 

The moral of the story is: “Hare today, goon tomorrow.” 

Page 42 

MOTIONS: 

Motions are the same for each verse. 

“Little rabbit Fru-Fru...” 

Make a “peace sign” with your index and middle 

fingers and move that as though it were a rabbit. 

“Scooping...” 

Pretend to pick up something with one hand. 

“bopping” 

Hit one hand with the other. 

“Down came the...” 

Make “rain” motions with your hand in front of you. 

“I don’t like your attidtude...” 

Wag an index finger in front of you. 

|“I’ll give you .... chances...” 

Hold up fingers with the numbers of chances left. 

Mountain Dew 

CHORUS 

Oh they call it that good old mountain dew, mountain dew, 

And them that refuse it are few. (Are Few!) 

So hush up your mug, and I’ll fill up your jug 

with that good old mountain dew. 

1. Well my Uncle Bill’s got a still on the hill. 

It pumps out a gallon or two (ALL: Or two!) 

And the buzzards in the sky, get so drunk they can’t fly 

Just from sniffing that good old mountain dew. 

2. Oh, my Auntie June bought a bottle of Perfume. 

As a matter of fact she bought two (bought two!) 

But to her surprise when she had it analyzed. 

”Twas nothin’ but that Good old mountain dew. 

3. Well my Uncle Mort, he was sawed off and short 

Stood about 4 foot 2 (4 foot 2!) 

But he stood like a giant after he had a pint 

Of that good old mountain dew. 

4. My aunt Lucille had an automobile, 

It ran on a gallon or two. (Or two!) 

It didn’t need no gas and it didn’t need no oil, 

It just ran on that good old mountain dew. 

5. I know a guy named Pete, his hair ain’t so neat, 

Though he fixes it with syrup and blue, (And blue!) 

But it stays right in place when he uses just a trace 


6. Oh my Uncle Hank bought an old Sherman tank 

As a matter a fact he bought two (bought two!) 

It used to run on gas, it’s a thing of the past 

Now it runs on good old mountain dew. 


7. The preacher-he walked by with a big tear in his eye 

Said that his wife had the flu (The flu!) 

And hadn’t I ought just to give him a quart 

Of that good old mountain dew 

8. My uncle Klaus had a real mean old mouse 

When they asked how it happened 

He said it was a lappin’ 

That good old mountain dew 

9. There’s an old hollow tree just a little way from me 

Where you lay down a dollar or two (Or two!) 

If you hush up your mug, then they’ll give you a jug 

Of that good old mountain dew 

10. You take a little trash and you mix it up with ash, 

And you throw in the soul of a shoe, (A shoe!) 

Then you stir it awhile with an old rusty file, 

And they call it that good old mountain dew. 

11. During the last war we couldn’t get no more, 

We didn’t have no sugar for the dew (The dew!) 

With a few old potaters and a few ripe tomaters, 

We turned out some stuff, I’m tellin’ you 

12. Old Deacon Crane took a trip in the rain, 

Said his wife had come down with the flu, (The Flu!) 

But she’ll be all right if you give her a pint 


13. Mr. Franklin Roosevelt he told me how he felt 

The day the old dry law went through. (Went through!) 

If your like yer’s too red it will swell up your head 

Better stick to that good old mountain dew 

14. Well my ole aunt Jill bought some brand new perfume 

It had such a sweet smellin’ pew, (Smellin’ pew) 

but to her surprise, when she had it analyzed, 

it was nothin but good ole mountain dew. 

15. Way up on the hill there’s an old whiskey still 

That’s run by a hard working crew (Working crew) 

You can tell if you sniff and you get a good whiff 

That they’re making that good ole mountain dew. 

My Favorite Senior Things 

Tune: “My Favorite Things” 

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting, 

Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, 

Bundles of magazines tied up in string, 

These are a few of my favorite things. 

Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses, 

Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses, 

Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, 


When the pipes leak, 

When the bones creak, 

When the knees go bad, 

I simply remember my favorite things, 

And then I don’t feel so bad. 

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions, 

No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, 

Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring, 


Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin’, 

Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinin’, 

And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames, 

When we remember our favorite things. 

When the joints ache, 

When the hips break, 

When the eyes grow dim, 

Then I remember the great life I’ve had, 

And then I don’t feel so bad. 

Old MacDonald Had a Farm 

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. 

And on his farm he had some chicks, E-I-E-I-O. 

With a chick, chick here, and a chick, chick there, 

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick, 

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. 

2. Duck – quack 

3. Turkey – gobble 

4. Pig - oink, oink 

5. Cow - moo, moo 

6. Cat -meow, meow 

7. Mule - Heehaw 

8. Dog - bow wow 

9. Turtle - nerp, nerp 

(Make up your own verses for fun) 

10. Tamerak – rustle, rustle 

11. Wingnut – wingnut 

Old Scouter 

Old Scouter..... Had to come in late, 

Old Scouter..... Had to clean his plate, 

Old Scouter..... Went out in a boat, 

Old Scouter..... Couldn’t stay afloat, 

Old Scouter..... Bumped his head, 

Old Scouter......Had to stay in bed, 

Old Scouter .....Tent in the mud, 

On Top of Spaghetti 

Tune: “On Top of Old Smokey” 

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. 

Ooey-Gooey 

Ooey Gooey was a worm 

A mighty worm was he, 

He sat upon a railroad track 

A train he did not see. 

OOEY GOOEY 

Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track 

Oh! A peanut sat on a railroad track ‘ 

His heart was all a flutter 

Along came the six-fifteen (Toot-toot) 

Peanut butter! 

Pink Pajamas 

Tune: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” 

I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it’s hot. 

I wear my flannel nighties in 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. 

Ravioli 

Tune: “Alouette” 

All: Ravioli. I like ravioli. Ravioli, It’s the best for me. 

Leader: Have I got it on my chin? 

All: Yes, you have it on your chin. 

Leader: On my chin? 

All: On your chin. 

OH-h-h-h Ravioli, 

I like ravioli. Ravioli, 

It’s the best for me. 

(Continue with tie, shirt, pants, shoes, floor, walls. Point 

to the items as each new word is added by the song 

leader. It is repeated by the Chorus and all preceding 

verses are sung in reverse order.) 

Page 44 

Russel Road 

Tune: John Denver’s “Country Road” 

Words by: Chauncey Niziol 

Almost Heaven, White River, 

Blue Trail, Owasippe Grave Markers. 

Life is older, Older than the trees, 

Younger than a Boy Scout peeing in the breeze. 

CHORUS 

Russell Road, Take me home, to the land I belong 

West of Whitehall, North of Holton, 

take me home, Russell Road. 

Riding down the road I hear the radio it’s calling me 

KSI598 Mobile 8 where are you? 

Riding now I get the feeling that I should have been 

home 

hours ago,…days ago. 

REPEAT CHORUS 

Second Story Window 

(Sung as a two team contest, alternating verses until 

one team can’t come up with more nursery rhymes) 

CHORUS 

And threw them out the window, the window, 

The second story window High-low, low-high, 

Threw them out the window. 

1. Old King Cole was a merry old soul, 

A merry old soul was he, 

He called for his pipe, 

And he called for his bowl… 

2. Little Jack Horner sat in a corner 

Eating his Christmas pie, 

He stuck in his thumb 

And pulled out a plum... 

3. Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet 

Eating her curds and whey, 

Along came a spider 

And sat down beside her... 

4. Jack and Jill ... 

5. Hey Diddle Diddle ... 

6. Little Miss Muffett ... 

7. Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater ... 

8. Humpty Dumpty ... 

9. Little Boy Blue ... 

10. Mary, Mary, quite contrary ... 

11. Little Bo Peep ... 

12. There was an old Lady who lived in a shoe ... 

13. Jack be nimble ... 

14. Baa, baa black sheep ... 

15. Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John... 

16. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe ... 


17. Georgie Porgie, puddin’ and pie ... 

18. Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle ... 

19. Hickory, dickory, dock, the mouse ran up ... 

20. Higglety, pigglety, my black hen... 

21. Jack Sprat could eat no fat ... 

22. Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home ... 

23. Little Boy Blue come blow your horn ... 

24. Little Jack Horner, sat in a corner ... 

25. Mary had a little lamb ... 

26. Old King Cole was a merry old sole ... 

27. Olde Mother Hubbard ... 

28. Pete, Peter pumpkin eater ... 

29. The was an old woman who lived in a shoe ... 

30 Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town ... 

31. Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold ... 

32. I’m a little teapot, short and stout ... 

Shaving Cream 

CHORUS 

Shaving Cream 

Oh nice and clean 

Shave everyday 

And you’ll always look keen 

1. I have a sad story to tell you 

I hope you won’t mind it a bit 

This morning I walked in the KYBO 

And I stepped in a big pile of… 

2. A baby fell out of the window 

A terrible thing Ill admit 

But everything ended up happy 

‘Cause he landed in a big pile of… 

3. An old lady died in the bathtub 

She died of a terrible fit 

To fulfill her very last wishes 

She was buried in 6 feet of… 

4. My dad put a sack in the garden 

I’m curious Ill admit 

One morning I snuck out a handful 

And I found it was nothing but… 

5. I know that these versus are scanty 

They are a bit much for my wit 

I start out like Shakespeare and Dante 

But somehow I end up with… 

6. My story is coming to an ending 

I think it is time I should quit 

If any of you I’ve offended 

Go stick your head in a barrel of… 

She Waded in the Water 

1. She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet, 

She waded in the water aAnd she got her feet all wet, 

She waded in the water and she got her feet all wet, 

But she didn’t get her (clap-clap) wet. Yet! 

2. Substitute “ankles wet” for “feet all wet.” 

3. Substitute “knees all wet” 

4. Substitute “Thighs all wet” 

5. She waded in the water and she got herself all wet, 

She waded in the water and she got herself all wet, 

She waded in the water and she got herself all wet, 

And she finally got her bathing suit wet. 

Sippin Cider 

CHORUS 

The prettiest girl (echo) 

I ever saw (echo) 

Was sippin cy (echo) 

Der through a straw (echo) 

The prettiest girl (echo) 

I ever saw (echo) 

Was sippin cy (echo) 

Der through a straw. (echo) 

1. I says to her (echo) 

What you doin’ that fer (echo) 

A sippin cy (echo) 

Der through a Straw (echo) 

2. She says to me (echo) 

Why don’t you know (echo) 

That sippin cy (echo) 

Der’s all I know (echo) 

3. First cheek to cheek (echo) 

Then jaw to jaw (echo) 

We’d both sip cy (echo) 


4. Every now and then (echo) 

That straw would slip (echo) 

And I’d sip cy (echo) 

Der through her lips (echo) 

5. That’s how I got (echo) 

My mother in law (echo) 

From sippin cy (echo) 


6. Now 49 kids (echo) 

All call me Paw (echo) 

From sippin cy (echo) 


7. The moral of (echo) 

This little tale (echo) 

Is sip your cy (echo) 

Der through a pail (echo) 

(on repeat sing “bucket”) 


8. That’s all there is (echo) 

There ain’t no more (echo) 

To sippin cy (echo) 


Skeeters ‘n’ the Bedbugs 

I woke up Monday morning 

and looked upon the wall 

The skeeters and the bedbugs 

were having a game of ball 

The score was 19-20, 

the skeeters were ahead 

The bedbugs hit a homerun 

and knocked me out of bed 

Singin’ eenie-meenie and a minie-moe 

Catch a whipper-whopper by the toe 

If he hol-hollers let him go 

Singin’ eenie-meenie and a minie-moe 

(Repeat each time, changing the days; Tuesday, 

Wednesday, etc. and singing faster each time) 

Supercaligragilisticexpialidocious 

CHORUS 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! 

Even though the sound of it 

is something quite atrocious; 

If you say it loud enough 

you’ll always sound precocious 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious 

Um-did-dle did-dle did-dle um-did-dle ay! 

Um-did-dle did-dle did-dle um-did-dle ay! 

1. Because I was afraid to speak 

when I was just a lad, 

My father gave me nose a tweak 

and told me I was bad. 

But then one day I heard a word 

to save me aching nose, 

The biggest word you ever heard 

and this is how it goes. OH! 

2. I traveled all around the world 

and everywhere I went 

I used this word and all would say,” 

There goes a clever gent.” 

When dukes and maharaja’s 

pass the time of day with me, 

I say me magic word and then 

They ask me out to tea: OH! 

3. So when the cat has got your tongue 

there’s no need for dismay, 

Just summon up this word 

and then you’ll have a lot to say. 

But better use it carefully 

Page 46 

or it can change your life! 

I said it to me girl 

and now me girl’s me wife! Oh! 

The Billboard Song 

I was walking dorm a highway 

On a dark and stormy day 

When I came upon a billboard 

And much to my dismay 

The words were torn and tattered 

From the storm the night before 

The wind and rain had done its work 

And this was what I saw. 

1. Smoke Coca-Cola cigarettes 

Chew Wrigley’s Spearmint beer 

Kennel-Ration Dog Food 

Makes your complexion clear 

Simonize your baby 

Kith a Hershey’s Candy Bar 

And use it as a beauty cream 

That’s used by all the stars. 

2. Oh! Take your next vacation 

In a brand new Frigidaire 

Learn to play the piano 

In your winter underwear 

Doctors say that babies 

Should smoke until they’re three 

And people over sixty-five 

Should bathe in Lipton Tea. 

The Green Grass Grows All Around 

1. There was a little hole — ALL: repeat 

The cutest little hole, — ALL: repeat 

That you ever did see — ALL: repeat 

CHORUS 

Oh, the hole’s in the ground, and the green grass grows 

all around, all around, and the green grass grows all 

around. 

2. Now in that hole — ALL: repeat 

There were some roots — ALL: repeat 

The prettiest little roots — ALL: repeat 

That you ever did see — ALL: repeat 

Oh, the roots in the hole and the hole’s in the ground 

and the green grass grows all around all around, and 

the green grass grows all around. 

3. limb 

4. branch 

5. nest 

6, egg 

7. bird 

8, feather 


The Grub (Daddy’s Whiskers) 

CHORUS 

They’re always in the way! 

They’re always in the way! 

They hide the dirt on Daddy’s shirt, 

They’re always in the way. 

1. When Daddy went to war, 

He hid from the enemy 

He hid behind his whiskers 

They thought he was a tree 

2. When Daddy rode the bus 

A lady lost a dime 

Poor Daddy’s whiskers 

Had it all the time 

3. When Daddy went a swimmin’ 

He didn’t wear a thing 

He tied his whiskers round his waist 

They couldn’t see a thing 

4. When Daddy went a boatin’, 

He fell out of the boat 

His whiskers were so buoyant, 

That Daddy stayed afloat 

My Wild Irish Nose 

Tune: My Wild Irish Rose. 

My wild Irish Nose! 

It spoils my sweet repose. 

Pugnacious and grim, it always butts in, 

That wild Irish Nose! 

That wild Irish Nose! 

You’ll hear it when it blows 

And soma day, for my sake, 

Prohibition will take 

The bloom from that wild Irish Nose. 

The Quartermaster Store 

CHORUS 

My eyes are dim, I cannot see 

I have not got my specks with me. 

I have not got my spec’m with me. 

1. 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 

2. lice - living on the mice. 

3. rats - big as alley cats 

4. roaches - big as football coaches 

5. watches - big as sasquaches 

6. snakes - big as garden rakes 

7. bears - but no one really cares 

8. beavers - with little meat cleavers 

9. foxes - stuffed in little boxes 

The Thing 

As I was walking down the beach 

One bright and sunny day, 

I happened upon a wooden box 

A floatin’ in the bay. 

I picked it up and looked inside 

And much to my surprise, 

I discovered a (clap 1, 1-2) 

right before my eyes. 

(Repeat last line) 

I picked it up and ran to town 

as happy as a king 

I took it to a guy I knew 

Who’d buy most anything, 

But this is what he hollered at me 

Hey! Get out of here with that (clap 1 1-2) 

Before I call a cop 

(Repeat last line.) 

I turned around and got right out 

A runnin’ for my life, 

I thought I’d take it home with me 

And give it to my wife, 

But this is what she hollered at me 

As I walked in the door, 

Hey get out of here with that (clap 1 1-2) 

and don’t come back no more. 


I wandered all around the town 

Until I chanced to meet, 

A hobo who was lookin’ 

for a handout on the street. 

He said he’d take most anything 

He was a desperate man, 

But when I showed him my (clap 1 1-2) 

He turned around and ran! 


I traveled around for many years 

a victim of my fate, 

Until I chanced to meet 

St. Peter at the gate, 

But when I tried to take it inside 

He told me where to go. 

He said get outta here with that (clap 1 1-2) 

and take it down below. 


The moral of this story is 

If you’re ever on the beach, 

And you should see a wooden box 


And its within your reach, 

Don’t ever stop to pick it up 

That’s my advice to you, 

Cause you’ll never get rid of that (clap 1 1-2) 

No matter what you do. 


There ain’t No Flies On Us 

Tune: “Farmer in the dell” 

1. There ain’t no flies on us, 

There ain’t no flies on us, 

There may be flies on some of you guys, 

But there ain’t no flies on us. 

2. Bugs———mugs 

3. Ticks ——hicks 

4. Cooties—beauties 

5. Germs——worms 

What’s Your Name 

CHORUS 

What’s your name little boy? 

My name is Lemmy 

Lemmy what little boy? 

Let me kiss you. 

1. What’s your name little girl? 

My name is Ida 

Ida what little girl? 

I don’t wanna........... 


My name is Alaska. 

Alaska what little girl? 

I’ll ask my mother 


My name is Olie. 

Olie what little girl? 

Olie right, pucker up. 

(THROW PIES) 

Twelve Days of Summer Camp 

Tune: “The twelve days of Christmas” 

On the first day of summer camp 

My mother sent to me... A box of oatmeal cookies. 

On the second day of summer camp 

My mother sent to me... Two T-shirts, 

And a box of oatmeal cookies. 

On the third day of summer camp 

My mother sent to me... Three pairs of socks, 

Two T-shirts, And a box of oatmeal cookies. 

Page 48 

On the fourth day of summer camp 

My mother sent to me... Four woolen caps, etc. 

Five underpants, 

Six postage stamps, 

Seven nose warmers, 

Eight Batman comics, 

Nine bars of soap, 

Ten Band-aids, 

Eleven shoestrings, 

Twelve bottles of insect repellent, 

While the Organ Peeled Bananas 

While the organ peeled bananas 

Lord was rendered by the choir 

While the sexton tolled the church bells, 

Someone set the church on fire, 

”Holy smoke” the preacher shouted 

In the rush he lost his hair 

Now his head resembles heaven 

For there’s no parting there. 

Yon Yonson 

My name is Yon Yonson, 

Aye come from Wisconsin. 

Aye work in de lumber mills dere. 

Van aye walk dorm de street, 

All de people ay meet, 

Day say, “Hello, vat’s your name? 

And aye say, (repeat) 

Zulu Warrior 

I Kin-A-Zimba-Zimba-Zia 

I Kin-A-Zimba-Zimba-Zia 

I-Kin A-Zimba-Zimba-Zia 

I-Kin-A-Zimba-Zimba-Zia 

See him there the Zulu Warrior 

See him there the Zulu Chief 

Chief-Chief-Chief....... (everybody says “Chief”) 


1,000 Legged Worm 

There was a thousand legged worm 

And he gave a little squirm 

Has anybody seen a leg of mine? 

For if it can’t be found 

I shall have to hop around 

On the other 999. 

Hop around, hop around on the other 999. 

For if it can’t be found 

I shall have to hop around 

On the other 999. 

Beaver Song 

(Holds a piece of imaginary wood to munch on & sing 4 

times, getting faster each time.) 

I ‘m a beaver, you’re a beaver, beavers are we all 

And when we get together, we do the beaver call! 

(beaver noise) a hung a hung a hung a hung 

a hung a hung a hung a hung a hung a hung 

a hung a hung a hung a hung 

Bill Hogan’s Goat 

There was a man, by the name of Billy O; 

He had a goat, and that was all. 

One day his goat, was feeling fine; 

He ate six red shirts, right off my line. 

At first I cursed, And then I swore; 

That this old goat, would eat no more. 

I grabbed him by, His wooley wooley back; 

And tied him to, A railroad track. 

Well the 8:15, Was drawing nigh; 

Old Hogan’s goat, Was doomed to die. 

He gave three shrieks, Of mortal pain; 

Coughed up the shirts, And flagged the train. 

And when the engineer stopped, got out to see; 

What this red sight, On the track could be. 

And when he saw, It was a goat; 

He took his knife, and slit his throat. 

And when the goat got to heaven St. Peter said, 

”Old Hogan’s goat Where is your head.” 

And the goat replied, “I cannot tell, 

It must have slipped, straight down to da, da, da. 

Flea 

Flea Fly, Flea Fly Floe Fee stuh, Fee stuh 

Kum a lad a, kum a lad a, Kum a lad a fee stuh 

Oh, no, no, no, not the Fee stuh 

Fee stuh fee stuh 

Animal Songs 

Ee nee meenie, doss a leenie Oo oh a wallo meenie 

Ep to meenie kuh sol a meenie Oo oh a wah 

Be bibbly o tum doe tum bo bo Be bibbly o tum doe tum 

bo bo Ba detum dohtum 

Shh! 

Froggie 

Dog 

Dog, Cat 

Dog, Cat, Mouse 

Pole 

Polecat 

Polecat spray 

Camper 

Camper and polecat runnin’ through the forest 

Run, run, run little camper 

Froggie 

Itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie, little-bitty froggie 

Jump, Jump, Jump little Froggie 

Kumbalada, Kumbalada, Kumbalada feesta 

Spiders and flies are scrumdidilicious 

Ribbit Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit Croak 

Little Brown Mouse 

Liquor was spilt on the bar room floor, 

And the bar was closed for the night, 

When out of a hole in the wall came a mouse, 

And danced in the pale moonlight. 

He licked up the liquor on the bar room floor, 

And on his haunches he sat. 

And all through the night you could hear him shout. 

”Bring on the gosh darn cat”. 

Oh, the cat came out about quarter to three 

And ate up the little brown mouse. 

The moral of this story is, 

You can’t get a drink on the house. 

Out in the Woods 

Out in the woods — repeat 

I saw a bear — repeat 

A great big bear — repeat 

Oh way out there — repeat 

Out in the woods I saw a bear, 

A great big bear, Oh way out there. 

He looked at me — repeat 

I looked at him — repeat 

He sized up me — repeat 

I sized up him — repeat 

He looked at me, I looked at him, 

He sized up me, I sized up him. 


He said to me — repeat 

Why don’t you run — repeat 

I see you ain’t — repeat 

Got any gun — repeat 

He said to me why don’t you run, 

I see you ain’t got any gun. 

I said to him — repeat 

That’s a good idea — repeat 

So come on feet — repeat 

Let’s up and flea — repeat 

I said to him that’s a good idea 

So come on feet let’s up and flea. 

And so I ran — repeat 

Away from there — repeat 

But right behind — repeat 

Me was that bear — repeat 

And so I ran away from there 

But right behind me was that bear. 

And up ahead — repeat 

There was a tree — repeat 

A great big tree — repeat 

Oh glory be — repeat 

And up ahead there was a tree 

A great big tree oh glory be. 

The lowest branch — repeat 

Was ten feet up — repeat 

I’d have to jump — repeat 

And trust to luck — repeat 

The lowest branch was ten feet up 

I’d have to jump and trust to luck. 

And so I jumped — repeat 

Into the air — repeat 

But I missed that branch — repeat 

On the way up there — repeat 

And so I jumped into the air, 

But I Missed that branch on the way up there. 

Now don’t you fret — repeat 

And don’t you frown — repeat 

Caused I caught that branch — repeat 

On the way back down — repeat 

Now don’t you fret and don’t you frown 

Cause I caught that branch on the way back down. 

That’s all there is — repeat 

There ain’t no more — repeat 

Unless I see — repeat 

That bear once more — repeat 

That’s all there is there ain’t no more, 

Unless I see that bear once more. 

Page 50 

The Ants Go Marching 

CHORUS 

And they all go marching down 

Where? To the earth 

Why? To get out of the rain. 

Boom. Boom. Boom. 

1. The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah 

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah 

The ants go marching one by one, 

The little one stops to suck his thumb 

2. The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah 

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah 

The ants go marching two by two, 

The little one stops to tie his shoe. 

3. The ants go marching three by three, ... 

... The little one stops to climb a tree 

4. The ants go marching four by four, ... 

... The little one stop to shut the door 

5. The ants go marching five by five, ... 

... The little ones stop to play with a hive 

6, The ants go marching six by six, ... 

... The little one stop to pick up sticks 

7. The ants go marching seven by seven, ... 

... The little one stop to pray to heaven 

8. The ants go marching eight by eight, ... 

... The little ones stop to shut the gate 

9. The ants go marching nine by nine, ... 

... The little one stops to check the time. 

10. The ants go marching ten by ten, ... 

... The little one stops to shout “THE END!” 

The Cat Came Back 

CHORUS 

BUT the cat came back the very next day 

They thought he was a goner; 

BUT the cat came back they knew he wouldn’t stay, 

Away, Away, Away. 

1. Old Farmer Johnson had problems of his own. 

He had a yellow cat that wouldn’t leave his home. 

He tried and he tried to give the cat away, 

He gave him to a man going far, far away. 

2. He gave it to a man going up in a balloon 

Told him to give it to the man in the moon 

Balloon came down about 90 miles away. 

And where the man is today I dare not say. 


3. He gave him to a man going way out west. 

Told him to give him to the one he loved best. 

First the train hit the curve, then it Jumped the rail 

And not a soul’s alive today to tell the Gruesome tale. 

4. He gave him to a little boy with a dollar note. 

Told him for to take him up the river in a boat. 

Tied a rock around his neck it must have weight a pound. 

And now they drag the river for the little boy that drowned. 

5. Man around the corner said he’d shoot that cat on 

sight. 

Loaded up his shotgun with nails & dynamite. 

He waited and waited for that cat to come around. 

97 pieces of man was all that they found. 

6. The A-bomb fell just the other day. 

The H-bomb fell in the very same way 

England went-Russia went — then the U.S.A. 

The human race was destroyed without a chance to pray 

The Mousie Song 

1. There was a little mouse who lived on a hill 

Um Hum La Di Da, Um Hum La Di Da. 

There was a little mousie who lived on a hill. 

He rustled and tussled like Buffalo Bill. 


2. One day he thought he’d take a ride. 

Um Hum La Di Da, Um Hum La Di Da 

One day he thought he’d take a ride. 

With a pistol and a sword at his side. 


3. He rode up to Miss Mousie’s door. 

Um Hum La Di Da. Um Hum La Di Da. 

He rode up to Miss Mousie’s door. 

And he knocked and he knocked till his knuckles got 

sore. 

Um Hun La Di Da, Um Hum La Di Da. 

4. He put Miss Mousie on his knee. 


He put Miss Mousie on his knee. 

And said “Miss Mousie will you marry me?” 


5. Miss Mousie said: “I can’t do that.” 


Miss Mousie said: “I can’t do that.” 

You’ll have to ask my brother Rat. 


8 Now Brother Rat had gone to town. 


Now Brother Rat had gone to town. 

For to buy Miss Mousie her wedding gown. 

Um Hum La Di Da, Um Hun La Di Da. 

7. The wedding was held in the old oak tree. 


The wedding was held in the old oak tree. 

With popcorn, peanuts, and black eye peas. 


8. The first to come was Mr. Chick 


The first to come was Mr. Chick 

He ate so much that he got sick. 


9. The second to come was Mr. Fly 


The second to come was Mr. Fly 

He said that Mr. Chick would surely die. 

Um Hum La Di Da, Urn Hem La Di Da. 

10. The third to come was Dr. Skunk 


The third to come was Dr. Skunk 

He drank so much that he got drunk. 


11. The last to come was Mr. Snake. 


The last to come was Mr. Snake 

He wrapped his tail around that cake. 


12. In the morning they had sailed for France 


In the morning they had sailed for France 

And that’s what ended their romance. 


13. They had four kids what looked like rats. 


They had four kids what looked like rats. 

One tall, one skinny, one short, one fat. 


14. That’s all there is there ain’t no more. 


That’s all there is there ain’t no more. 

If I told you more you might get sore. 



I Like the Mountains 

I like the mountains, 

I like the rolling hills, 

I like the flowers, 

I like the daffodils, 

I like the fireside, 

When all the lights are low. 

Boom de ah da, Boom de ah da 

Boom de ah da, Boom. 

I love the forest, 

I love the evergreens, 

I love the rivers, 

I love the flowing streams, 

Life is to live and I want to live my life. 

Indian Lake 

You take a bus marked “Lakewood Drive” 

And you keep on drivin till your outta the city, 

Out there the air is fine 

With the sweet smellin’ pine 

And the countryside’s pretty. 

And you’ll see daffodils peepin’ over 

The hills or a honey lovin’ mamma bear. 

You take a left at the bridge 

Go down to Quakerform Ridge 

And in a minute you’re there. 

Indian Lake is a scene you should make with your little 

ones 

Keep it in mind if you’re lookin’ to 

Find a place in the summer sun, 

Swim in the cove, have a snack in the grove, 

Or you can rent a canoe at Indian Lake 

You’ll be able to make the way the Indians do. 

Pollution Protest 

Tune: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” 

The blue fish lie dead in the ocean 

The codfish lie dead in the sea, 

They all died of water pollution 

Caused by the oil company. 

Don’t swim, Don’t swim 

Remember the bluefish and cod 

It’s not our sea 

Texaco leased it from God. 

Roll On Columbia 

CHORUS 

Roll on Columbia Roll On. 

Roll on Columbia Roll on, 

Your power us turning 

Page 52 

Nature Songs 

our darkness to dawn, 

So roll on Columbia roll on. 

1. Green Douglas fir where the water cut thru 

Down the wild canyons and mountains she flew 

Canadian Northwest to the oceans so blue 

It’s Roll on Columbia roll on. 

2. Other great rivers have power to you 

Yacksma, Snake and the Kirkataft too 

Sandy Willimet and the Hood River too 


3. At Bonneville now there are ships in the dock; 

The water has risen and cleared all the locks 

Soon ship leads of plenty will sail to your docks, 


The Far Northlands 

Tune: An Old Scottish Marching Air 

It’s the far North land that’s a-calling me away 

As take I with my pack-sack to the road, 

It’s the call of me on the fords in the North 

As step I with the sunlight for my load. 

CHORUS 

By Lake Duncan and Clear Water, 

To the Bearskin I will go. 

And there you see the loon 

and hear its plaintive Wail, 

If you’re thinking in your inner heart 

There’s swagger in my step, 

You’ve never been along the Border Trail. 

It’s the Far North-land that’s a calling me away. 

As take I with-my pack-sack to the road. 

(the last two lines sung softly and fading away.) 

The Happy Wanderer 

CHORUS 

Vat-de-ri! Val-de-ra! 

Val-de-ri! Val-de-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha 

Val-de-ri! Val-de-ra! 

A knapsack on my back. 

1. I love to go a wandering 

Along the Mountain track 

And as I go, I love to sing 

Knapsack on my back. 

2. I love to wander by the stream 

That dances in the sun 

So joyously it calls to me 

Come join my happy song. 


3. I wave my hat to all I meet, 

And they wave back to me. 

And blackbirds call so loud and sweet 

From every greenwood tree. 

4. High overhead, the skylarks wing, 

They never rest at home. 

But just like me, they love to sing 

As over world we do roam. 

5. Oh! May I go a wandering, 

until the day I die! 

Oh! May I always ‘laugh and sing 

Beneath God’s clear blue sky. 

Whooped Up 

Way down south not so very far off 

A blue tailed bird knocked his head right off. 

He whooped and he whooped and he whooped so hard, 

he whooped his head and tail right off. 

(Second verse same as first, a little louder) 


A Hundred Miles 

CHORUS 

A hundred miles, a hundred miles, 

A hundred miles, a hundred miles, 

If you miss the train, I’m on a hundred miles. 

1. If you miss the train I’m on 

Then you know that I am gone 

You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles. 

2. Lord I’m one, Lord I’m two, 

Lord I’m three, Lord I’m four, 

Lord I’m five hundred miles away from home. 

3. Away from home, away from home, 

Away from home, away from home 

Lord I’m five hundred miles away from home. 

4. Not a shirt on my back 

Not a penny to my name 

Lord I Cannot go back home 

5. This a way, this a way 

This a way, this array 

Lord I can’t go back this away. 

6. Repeat Verse 1 

Auld Lang Syne 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot 

And never brought to mind? 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot 

And days of auld lang syne. 

CHORUS 

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

For auld lang syne; 

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet 

For auld lang syne. 

We two ha’e run aboot the braes, 

And pu’d the gowans fine; 

We’ve wander’d mony a weary foot 

Sin’ auld lang syne. 

And here’s a hand, my trusty friend, 

And gie’s a hand o’ thine; 

We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, 

For auld lang syne. 

Blowin’ in the Wind 

1. How many roads must a man walk down, 

Before you’ll call him a man? 

Yes, how many seas must a white dove sail 

Before she sleeps in the sand? 

How many times must a cannonball fly, 

Before they’re forever band? 

Page 54 

Ballads 

CHORUS: 

The answer, my friend, Is blowin’ in the wind, 

The answer is blowin’ in the wind. 

2. How many times must a man look up 

Before he sees the sky? 

How many ears must one man have, 

Before he hears people cry? 

How many deaths will it take till he knows, 

That too many people have died? 

3. How many years can a mountain exist, 

before it’s washed to the sea? 

Yes, How many years can some people exist 

Before they’re allowed to be free? 

Yes, how many times can a man turn his head, 

And pretend that he just doesn’t see? 

By the Waters of Babylon 

By the waters, the waters of Babylon, 

We laid down and wept, and wept, for the Zion. 

We remember, we remember, we remember thee Zion. 

Dang Me 

CHORUS 

Dang me, dang me, 

They ought to get a rope and hang me, 

High from the highest tree. 

Woman would you weep for me? 

Well I hear I said “Hi”, getting ideas. 

There ain’t nothing but a fool who’d live like this, 

Out all night and runnin wild. 

Woman sitting hate with a month old 

2. Just sittin’ around drinkin’ with the rest of the guys. 

Six rounds bought and I bought five. 

Spent their groceries and half the rent. 

Like fourteen dollars and twenty seven cents. 

3. Roses are red and violets are purple. 

Sugar is sweet and so is maple surple 

And I’m the seventh out of seven sons, 

my pappy was a pistol, I’m a son of a gun. 

Day is Done 

Tell me why you’re crying my son? 

Ii know -you’re frightened like everyone. 

Is it the thunder in the distance you fear? ‘ 

Will it help if I stay very near? 

I am here. 

CHORUS 

And if you take my hand my son, 

All will be well when the day is done. 

And if you take my hand my son, 

All will be well when the day is done. 


Group 1 Group 2 

Day is done Oh, when the day is done. 



Together: Day is done. 

2. Do you ask why I am sighing my son? 

You shall inherit what mankind has done. 

In a world full of sorrow and woe, 

If you ask my why this is so, 

I really don’t know. 

3. Tell my why you are smiling my son? 

Is there a secret you can tell everyone? 

Do you know more than men that are wise? 

Can you see what we must disguise, 

Through your loving eyes? 

Gone The Rainbow 

CHORUS 

Shule, shule, shule-a-roo, 

Shule-a-rak-shak, Shule-a-ba-ba-coo. 

Whem I saw my Sally Babby Bea 

Come bibble in the boo shy Lorey (repeat) 

1. Sad I sit on Buttermilk Hll 

Who could blame my cry my fill? 

Every tear would turn a mile 

Johnny has gone for a soldier. 

2. I sold my flax, I sold my wheel 

To buy my love a sword of steel. 

That in battle he might wield 

Johnny has gore for a soldier. 

3. Ho, my baby, ho, my love. 

Gone the rainbow, gone the dove. 

Your father was my only love. 

Johnny has gone for a soldier. 

Green Grow the Rushes Grow 

I’ll sing you one-ho. Green grow the rushes grow. 

What is your one-ho? 

One is one, and all alone and never more shall be it so! 

I’ll sing you two-ho. Green grow the rushes grow 

What is your two-ho? 

Two, two, little Boy Scouts, clothed all in green-ho 

One is one, and all alone and ever more shall be it so! 

[Add each verse and repeating backwards to, “One is 

one, and all alone, and ever more shall be it so!”] 

Three, three, the rivals; 

Four for the Gospel makers; 

Five for the symbols at your door; 

Six for the six proud walkers; 

Seven for the seven stars in the sky; 

Eight for the April rainers; 

Nine for the nine bright shiners; 

Ten for the ten commandments; 

Eleven for the eleven who went to heaven; 

Twelve for the twelve apostles. 

Greenback Dollar 

Some people say I’m a no ‘count. 

Others say I’m no good. 

But I’m just a nat’ral-born travelin’ man, 

doin’ what I think I should, O, yeah. 

Doin’ what I think I should. 

CHORUS 

And I don’t give a damn about a greenback dollar, 

spend it as fast as I can. 

For a wailin’ song and a good guitar, 

the only things that I understand, poor boy, 

the only things that I understand. 

2. When I was a little baby, 

my momma said, “Hey, son. 

Travel where you will and grow to be a man 

And sing what must be sung, poor boy. 

Sing what must be sung.” 

3. Now that I’m a grown man, 

I’ve traveled here and there. 

I’ve learned that a bottle of brandy and a song, 

The only ones who ever care, poor boy, 

the only ones who ever care. 

4. Some people say I’m a no ‘count. 

Others say I’m no good. 

But I’m just a nat’ral-born travelin’ man, 

doin’ what I think I should, O, yeah. 

Doin’ what I think I should. 

Hammer Song 

If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the mornin’, 

I’d hammer in the evenin’, All over the land. 

I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out warning, 

I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my 

sister, 

All over this land. 

If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the mornin’, 

I’d ring it in the evenin’, All over this land. 

I’d ring out danger, I’d ring out warning, 

I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters, 


If I had a song, I’d sing it in the mornin’, 

I’d sing it in the evenin’, all over this land. 

I’d sing out danger, I’d sing out warning 


I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters, 


Well I’ve got a hammer, and I’ve got a bell, 

rind I’ve got a song to sing, All over this land. 

It’s the hammer of justice, It’s the bell of freedom, 

It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters, 


It’s the hammer of justice, It’s the bell of freedom, 

It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters, 


I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing 

I’d like to build the world a home 

Aand furnish it with love. 

Grow apple trees and honey bees 

And snow white turtle doves. 

I’d like to teach the world to sing, 

In perfect harmony. 

I’d like to hold it in my arms, 

And keep it company. 

I’d like to see the world for once, 

All standing hand in hand. 

And hear them echo through the hills, 

For peace throughout the land. 

That’s the song I hear (I’d like to teach the world to 

sing) 

Like the world to sing today (In perfect harmony) 

A song of peace that echoes on 

And never goes array. 

Lemon Tree 

1. When I was just a lad of ten, 

My father said to me; 

Come here and take a lesson from 

The lovely lemon tree. 

Don’t put your faith in love my boy, 

My father said to me. 

I fear you’ll find that love is like 

The lovely lemon tree. 

CHORUS 

Lemon tree very pretty, 

And the lemon flower is sweet, 

But the fruit of the poor lemon, is impossible to eat. 

Lemon tree very pretty, 

And the lemon flower is sweet, 

But the fruit of the poor lemon, is impossible to eat. 

2. One day beneath the lemon tree, 

My love and I did lie. 

A girl so sweet that when she smiled, 

The stars rose in the sky. 

We lost that summer lost in love 

Page 56 

Beneath the lemon tree. 

The music of her laughter 

hid my Father’s words from me. 

3. One day she left without a word, 

She took away the sun. 

And in the dark she left behind, 

I knew what she had done. 

She left me for another, 

It’s a common tale but true. 

A sadder man but wiser 

now I sing these words to you 

Linger 

I want to linger A little longer, 

A little longer here with you 

It’s such a perfect night 

It doesn’t seem quite right 

That it should be my last with you. 

And come September 

I will remember 

My camping days of friendship true 

And as the years go by 

I’ll think of you and sigh 

This is good night and not good-bye. 

I want to linger A little longer 

A little longer here with you. 

One Tin Solder 

1. Listen children to a story, 

That was written long ago; 

’Bout a kingdom on a mountain 

And the valley far below; 

On the mountain was a treasure, 

Buried deep beneath a stone; 

And the valley people swore, 

They’d have it for their very own. 

CHORUS 

Go ahead and hate your neighbor 

Go ahead and cheat a friend 

Do it in the name of heaven, 

Justify it in the end. 

There won’t be any trumpets blowin’ 

Come the judgment day, 

On the bloody morning after 

One tin soldier rides away. 

2. So the people of the valley 

Sent a message up the hill, 

Asking for the buried treasure, 

Tons of gold for which they’d kill 

Came an answer from the kingdom 


With our brothers we will share, 

All the secrets of our mountain, 

All the riches buried there. 

Puff the Magic Dragon 

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea, 

And frolicked in the autumn mist 

In a land called honalee. 

Little Jackie Vapor 

Loved that rascal puff, 

And brought him strings and ceiling wax 

And other fancy stuff. 

CHORUS: 

Oh-Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea, 


In a land called Honalee, 

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea, 


In a land called Honalee. 

Together they would travel 

On a boat with billowed sail, 

Jackie kept a lookout perched 

On Puff’s gigantic tail 

Noble kings and princes 

Would bow when’ere they came; 

Pirate ships would lower their flags . 

When Puff roared out his name. 

Dragon lives forever 

But not so little boys, 

Painted wings and giant things 

Make way for other toys. 

One gray night it happened 

Jackie Vapor came no more, 

So Puff that mighty dragon 

He ceased his fearless roar. 

His head was bent in sorrow 

Green scales fell like rain, 

Puff no longer went to play 

Along the cherry lane. 

Without his lifelong friend 

Puff could not be brave. 

So Puff that magic dragon 

Silently slipped into his cave. 

CHORUS: (SOFTLY) 

Stewball 

Stewball was a race horse, and I wish he were mine. 

He never drank water, he always drank wine. 

His bridle was silver, his maynot was gold, 

And the work of his saddle has never been told. 

On the fairgrounds were crowded 

And Stewball was there, 

But the betting was heavy, 

On the Bay and the Mare. 

And away up yonder, 

ahead of them all, 

Came a-prancin’ and a-dancin’ 

my noble-Stewball. 

I bet on the gray mere, 

I bet on the Bay, 

If I’d a bet on old Stewball 

I’d be a free man today. 

Oh the Lou-Dell she hollered 

And the turtle dove mourned, 

I’m a poor boy in trouble, 

I’m a long way from home. 

Oh Stewball was a race horse, 

And I wish he were mine. 

He never drank water, 

He always drank wine. 

Take me Home, Country Roads 

1. Almost heaven, West Virginia 

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River, 

Life is old there, older than the trees, 

Younger than the mountains growin’ like a breeze. 

CHORUS 

Country Roads, Take me home, 

To the place I belong: 

West Virginia, Mountain Momma, 

Take me home, Country Roads. 

2. All my mem’ries gather ‘round her, 

`loner’s lady, stranger to blue water. 

Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, 

Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye. 

I hear her voice in the morning when she calls me, 

Radio reminds me of my home far away. 

Driving down the roads I get a feeling 

That I should have been home yesterday. Yesterday. 


Today 

CHORUS 

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine 

I’ll taste your strawberries, I’ll drink your sweet wine. 

A million tomorrows will soon pass away, 

Ere I forget all the joys that are mine today. 

1. I’ll be a dandy and I’ll be a rover, 

You’ll know who I am by the song I sing, 

I’ll feast at your table, I’ll sleep in your clover. 

Who cares what the “morrow will bring. 

2. Can’t be contented with yesterdays glories. 

Can’t live on promises winter to spring 

This is my moment and now is my story. 

I’ll laugh and I’ll cry and I’ll sing. 

Tom Dooley 

CHORUS 

Hang doom your head — Tom Dooley 

Hang down your head and cry 

Hang down your head — Tom Dooley 

Poor boy your bound to die. 

1. Met her on a mountain. 

There I took her life. 

Met her on a mountain. 

Stabbed her with my knife. 

Poor boy now! 

2. This time tomorrow. 

Reckon where I’ll be 

If not for graces, 

Down in Tennessee, 

Poor boy now; 

3. This time tomorrow, 

Reckon where I’ll be 

Down in some lonesome valley. 

Hangin’ from a white oak tree. 

Poor boy now! 

4. Now Tom Dooley’s dead. 

No longer can be saved. 

Now Tom Dooley’s dead 

He’s a-lyin’ in his grave. 

Poor boy now! 

Page 58 

Where Have all the Flowers Gone? 

Where have all the flowers gone? 

Long time passing. 


Long time ago. 


Gone to young girls everyone. 

When will they ever learn? 


Where have all the young girls gone? 





Gone to young men everyone. 



Where have all the young men gone? 

Long time passing 




Gone to soldiers everyone. 



Where have all the soldiers gone? 





Gone to graveyards everyone. 



Where have all the graveyards gone? 

Long time passing? 




Gone to flowers everyone. 




Back to Gilwell 

I used to be a Beaver 

And a good old Beaver too, 

But now I’ve finished Beavering, 

I don’t know what to do. 

I’m growing old and feeble, 

And I can Beaver no more. 

So I’m going to earn my ticket, if I can. 

CHORUS 

Back to Gilwell happy land, happy land, 

I’m going to earn my ticket if I can. 

Back to Gilwell happy land, happy land, 

I’m going to earn my ticket if I can. 

I used to be a Wolf Cub ... 

I used to be a Boy Scout ... 

I used to be a Venturer ... 

I used to be a Rover ... 

Birds in the Wilderness 

Tune: “Old Gray Mare” 

Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, 

Birds in the wilderness, 

Bards in the wilderness, 


Waiting for the fun to start. 

Waiting for the fun to start 

Waiting for the fun to start; 


Waiting for the fun to start. 

Climbing Up the Ladder 

Tune: “Railroad Song” 

CHORUS 

Patsy, oree, oree, ay, 

Patsy, oree, ores, ay, 

Patsy, oree, oree, ay, 

Climbing up the ladder. 

In 2001, I thought that Scouting must be fun, 

I thought that Scouting must be fun, 

Climbing up the ladder. 

In 2002, I set myself to work it through, 

In 2003, A Boy Scout troop accepted me. 

In 2004, My badge as tenderfoot I wore. 

In 2005, At second class I did arrive. 

In 2006, With First Class Scouts I did my tricks 

In 2007, A star reminded me of heaven. 

In 2008, To be a Life Scout was my fate. 

In 2009, At last the Eagle badge was mine. 

In 20-10, if you want more I’ll sing it again. 

Scouting Songs 

Cry-I-Cry-I-Cus 

Cry-I Cry-I-Cus 

Nobody likes us 

We are the Scouts of the U.S.A. 

Always a winnin’ 

Always a grinnin’ 

Always a feelin’ gay, Hey! 

Follow Me Boys 

CHORUS 

Follow me boys, follow me, 

When you think your really beat 

That the time to lift your feet, 

And follow me boys, follow me, 

Pick’em up, put’em down and follow me, 

Pick’em up, put’em down pick’em up. 

There’s a job to do, 

There’s a fight to win, 


And it won’t be time till we all pitch in, 

Lift your chin with a grin and follow me. 

It’s a long long climb, 

But we’ve got the will, 


When we reach the top 

Then It’s all down hill, 

Till you drop don’t you stop and follow me. 

So the journeys end 

Is beyond our sight, 


If we do our best 

And we’ve done alright, 

Pack your load, hit the road and follow me. 

Good Night Comrades 

Tune “Good Night, Ladies” 

Good night, Comrades! 



We’re going to leave you now. 

CHORUS 

Merrily we stroll along, 

Stroll along, Stroll Along; 

Merrily we stroll along, 

O’er the dark green fields. 

Sweet dreams, Comrades! 

Sweet dreams, Comrades! 

Sweet dreams, Comrades’! 

We’re going to leave you now. 

REPEAT CHORUS 


Good Old Open Trail 

Tune: “Jingle Bells” 

Skies are warm and bright, 

Out hearts are light and gay; 

Everything’s all right, 

And bright the world today; 

Let’s be on the march 

Over hill and dale. 

On a happy hike we go once more, 

On the good old open trail! 

CHORUS 

March along! March along 

Singing all the while, 

Shouting out a rousing song 

As we reel off mile on mile. (Keep time there) 

March along! March along!’ 

Spirits never fail, 

When again we’re on our way, 

On the good old open trail. 

Growing Together 

1. Watchin’ the sun come up early mornin light. 

Be in with my friends, 

That’s what its all about. 

Talkin’ things over as we travel our way. 

Cause we are: 

(REFRAIN) 

Growing together learning to know each other better. 

Watchin’ over the world lookin’ after our brother. 

Being on hand when we’re needing each other. 

Knowin’ together, tomorrow will be our best day ever. 

Cause we’re makin’ the world better 

Growing together each day 

Cause we are makin’ the world better 

Growing together each day. 

I Belong 

I belong to a wonderful wonderland. 

Everywhere there’s a friendly hand to guide me. 

It is mine in this world that I own. 

I need never be alone. 

Till journey ends a million friends 

Will decorate my ways. 

And all along a summer song, 

Will fill my scouting days. 

I belong to a wonderful world of boys. 

And my heart can alight the joys of living 

Let me give all I have to give 

Find in every way be strong. 

Let me pledge anew, all my life to you 

And the land where I belong. 

Page 60 

I’m Happy When I’m Hiking 

I’m happy when I’m hiking, 

Pack upon my back 

I’m happy when I’m hiking, 

Off the beaten track 

Out in the open country, 

That’s the place for me 

With a true scout friend, 

To the Journey’s end. 

Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, 

Fifty miles a day, 

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. 

Lang, Lang Trail to Camp 

Tune: “Long, Long trail” 

There’s a long, long trail a-winding 

Into the camp of my dreams: 

Where the evening camp fire’s glowing 

And the bright moon beams. 

There’ll be long, long months of waiting 

Until my dreams all come true: 

Until the day when I’ll be going down 

That (Camp) a: trail with you. 

At ‘Owasippe’, ‘Kiwanis’ or: 

That old (Camp) trail with you. 

(After arriving in Camp the last four lines will be): 

There’ve been long, long months of waiting 

And now my dreams have come true: 

And every day I’m slipping down 

That old camp trail with you. 

Let Us Sing Together 

Let us sing together, 


One and all a joyous song. 




Let us sing again and again, 

Let us sing again and again 



Philmont Hymn 

Silver on the sage, 

Starlit skies above, 

Aspen covered hills, 

Country that I love. 

Philmont Here’s to thee, 

Scouting Paradise, 

Out in God’s country, tonight 


Wind in whispering pines, 

Eagles soaring high, 

Purple mountains rise, 

Against an azure sky. 

Philmont here’s to thee, 

Scouting Paradise, 

Out in God’s country Tonight. 

Scout Company 

1. When you hear the sound of the morning call 

That ever came out of the land of the free … 

CHORUS 

S-C-O-U-T is a good scout 

Come along with me be a good scout, 

Tra la la la la boom, Tra la la la la boom, 

We are Boy Scouts rah, rah, rah! 

2. When you hear the sound of the big bass drum, 

Then you’ll know that the scouts have come for … 

3. When you get a line on a new recruit 

Dress him up in a khaki suit for the … 

Scouting Spirit 

Tune: “Joy in My Heart” 

1. I’ve got that Scouting spirit, 

Up in my head, 



I’ve got that Scouting spirit, 


Up in my head to stay. 


Deep in my heart ... 

Continue as in first verse. 


Down in my feet ... 



All over me ... 




Deep in my heart, 

Down in my feet, 

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, 

All over me, 

All over me to stay. 

Scouting We Go 

Tune: “Mobile” 

Scouting we go, Scouting we go, 

Sunlit trails and lands where waters flow. 

By the campfire’s friendly flaming glow, 

Scouting we go, Scouting we go. 

The Boy Scout Day 

Tune: “Perfect Day” 

When you come to the end of a Boy Scout day, 

And you sit in the camp fire light; 

And the sky has turned from the blue to grey, 

With the shades of the coming night; 

Do you think :chat the end of a good Scout day, 

Can mean in a real boy’s life ; 

When the bugle blows & the flag comes dorm, 

And there’s peace in the world of strife. 

Well this is the end of a Boy Scout day, 

Near the end of our journey, too; 

And the days that are gone cannot be recalled, 

What have they meant to you? 

For we’ve shared the same tent side by side, 

The streets of the old world trod; 

In sun and rain we’ve done our best, 

And we’re closer grown to God. 

The More We Camp Together 

Tune: “Ach Du Lieber Augustine” 

The more we camp together, 

the merrier, merrier 

The more we camp together, the merrier we’ll be 

For my Scout says to your Scout, 

And your Scout says to his Scout, 

And his Scout says to my Scout, 

And my Scout says to me, 

The more we camp together, 

the merrier, merrier 

The merrier, the merrier, 

the merrier we’ll be. 

The more we camp together 

the merrier we’ll be. 

The More We Get Together 

Tune: “Ach der Lieber Augustine” 

The more we get together, together, together 

The more we get together, the happier are we. 

For your friends are my friends 

And my friends are your friends. 

The more we get together, the happier are we are. 


Till We Meet Again 

By the blazing council fire’s light, 

We have met in comradeship tonight, 

’Round about the whispering trees 

Guard our golden memories. 

And so before we close our eyes in sleep, 

Let us pledge each other that we’ll keep 

Scouting friendships, strong and deep, 

Till we meet again. 

Trail To Eagle 

Tune:”On Wisconsin” 

Trail the Eagle, Trail the Eagle, 

Climbing all the time. 

First the Star, and then the Life, 

Will on your bosom shine. 

Keep climbing! 

Blaze the trail and we will follow, 

Hark the Eagle’s call; 

On, brothers, on until we’re Eagles all. 

Troop Number Song 

Tune: “Hip Ho the Merrio” 

We are Scouts from Troop __! 

Where Scouting’s good and free 

Hi, He for Troop __! 

She’s good enough for me. 

Several dozens Boy Scouts 

and dozens more there’ll be. 

Hi, He, for Troop __! 

She’s good enough for me 

Just like a good Scout we are growing. 

We started some thing and we’ll keep it going 

Good Turn is our motto, 

Prepared we’ll ever be. 

Hi, He for Troop __!, 

She’s good enough for me. 

Trusty Tommy Was A Scout 

Tune: “Yankee Doodle Dandy” 

Trusty Tommy was a Scout, 

Loyal to his mother, 

Helpful to the folks about, 

Friendly to his brothers. 

CHORUS 

Tra la la la la la la 



Page 62 

2. Courteous to the girl he knew, 

Kind unto his rabbit, 

Obedient to his father too, 

and Cheeful in his habits. 

3. Thrifty saving for a need, 

Brave, but not a faker, 

Clean in thought and word and deed, 

and Reverent to his maker. 

Vi Va La More 

CHORUS 

Viva la viva la viva la more 

Viva la viva la viva la more 

Viva la more, viva la more, 

Viva la Companie, 

1. Let every good fellow now join in a song 

Viva La Companie 

Success to each other and pass it along 

Viva La Companie, Hey! 

2. A friend on the left and a friend on the right 

Viva la Companie 

In willing endeavor our hands we unite 

Viva la Companie. 

We’re Here for the Fun 

Tune: “Auld Lang Syne” 

We’re here for fun right from the start 

So drop your dignity. 

Just laugh and sing with all your heart 

And show your loyalty. 

May all your troubles be forgot 

Let this night be the best 

Join in the songs we sing tonight, 

Be happy with the rest. 

We’re On the Upward Trail 

We’re on the upward trail, 


Singing as we go. 

Scouting bound. 



Singing, Singing (everybody singing) 

Scouting bound. 


A Way Down Yonder 

A way down yonder not so very far off, 

A blue jay died of the whooping cough. 

Well he whooped so hard from the whooping cough, 

That he whooped his head and tail right off. 

Second verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a 

little bit worse. 

Third verse, same as the first, a whole lot louder and a 

whole lot worse! 

America 

America, America, 

how can I tell you how I feel? 

You have given me many treasures. 

I love you so. 

Be Prepared 

(4 part round) 

Be, Be, Be, prepared, The motto of the Boy Scouts, 

Be, Be, Be, prepared, The motto of the Boy Scouts, 

Prepared! Prepared! The motto of the Boy Scouts 

Prepared! Prepared! The motto of the Scouts. 

Bottle Pop - II 


1. One bottle pop, two bottle pop, three bottle pop, four 

bottle pop five bottle pop, six bottle pop, seven, seven 

bottle pop. 

2. Don’t chucky-chucky my a-chuck my a-chuck, my achuck. 

Don’t chucky-chucky my a-chuck. Chuckychucky-chucky-chuck 

Or 

2. Don’t chuck your muck in my dustpan, my dustpan 

my dustpan. Don’t chuck your much in my dustpan, my 

dustpan’s full. 

3. Fish and chips and vinegar, vinegar, vinegar. Fish 

and chips and vinegar. Bottle, bottle, bottle of pop. 

Calliope 


1. Um twiddle de dee, um twiddle de dee 

2. Um shh shh, Um shh shh 

3. Um pah pah, Um pah pah 

4. The more we get together, together, together; 

The more we get together, The happier we’ll be. 

For your friends are my friends. 

And my friends are your friends. 

The more we get together, 

The happier we’ll be. 

Round Songs 

Ezekiel Saw A Wheel Turning 


Ezekiel saw a wheel a-turning 

Way in the middle of the air. 

The big wheel ran by faith: 

The little wheel ran by the race of God. 

Ezekiel saw a wheel a-turning 

Way in the middle of the air. 

Gee, I’m Glad I’m A Boy Scout 


Gee, I’m glad I’m a Boy Scout, Yes, I am. 

Gee, I’m glad I’m a Boy Scout, Yes, I am. 

I’d rather wear the fleur-de-lis 

Than be the king of Italy. 

Hello, Hello 

Hello. Hello. Hello. 

We’re glad to meet you, 

We’re glad to greet you 

Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. 

(Divide the singers into 4 groups, each singing 1 “Hello” 

and holding it through to the completion of the full 

chord, singing the middle part in unison) 

Hi. Ho. Nobody Home 


Hi, Ho, nobody home. 

Meat for drink nor money have I none 

Still I will be me-e-e-ery 

Let Us Sing Together 


Let us sing together 

Let us sing together 

Let us sing a joyous song. 

Let us sing to-ge-ther 


Let us sing again and again. 




Little Tommy Tinker 


Little Tommy Tinker Sat on a clinker, 

And he began to cry, 

”Oh, Me!, Oh, Mail’ 

Poor little innocent boy. 


London’s Burning 

London’s burning, London’s burning: 

Look it yonder, look it yonder. 

Fire, fire, fire, fire, 

And we have no water. 

One Bottle of Pop - I 

One bottle of pop, two bottle of pop, 

Three bottle o’ pop, four bottle o’ pop. 

Five bottle o’ pop, six bottle o’ pop, 

Seven, seven bottle o’ pop. 

Don’t check your muck in my dust pan, 

My dust pan, my dust pan, 

Don’t chuck your muck in my dust pan, 

My dust pan’s full. 

Fish and chips and vinegar, 

vinegar, vinegar, 

Fish and chips and vinegar 

Pepper, pepper, pepper POP! 

Row, Row, Row Your Boat 

Row, row, row your boat 

Gently down the stream: 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, 

Life is but a dream. 

The Paddle Song 

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. 

(Start softly and get louder as the canoes “get nearer.” 

Then get softer again as the “pass and go 

downstream.”) 

Page 64 

This Old Man 

1. This old man, he played one, 

he played knick knack on my thumb, 

with a knick knack paddy whack 

Give your dog a gone, 

This old man came rolling home. 

2. On my shoe. 

3. On my knee 

4. On my door 

5. On my hive 

6. On my stick 

7. Up in heaven 

8. On my gate 

9. On my spine 

10. Once again 

Three Blind Mice 

Three blind mice, three blind mice, 

See how they run, see how they run, 

They all ran after the farmer’s wife, 

She cut off their tails with a carving knife, 

Did you ever see such a sight in your life, 

As three blind mice? 


Amen 

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen Amen. 

See the little baby, (amen) 

Lying in the manger (amen) 

On Christmas morning (amen, amen, amen) 

See him in the Temple (amen) 

Talking to the elders (amen) 

Who marvel at his wisdom (amen, amen, amen) 

2. Follow him In the garden 

Down to the Jordan 

Praying to his father 

Where John baptized him. 

In deepest sorrow. 

3. At the seaside 7 

Led before Pilate 

Calling to the fishes 

There they crucified him 

Making them disciples. 

Rose on Easter morning, 

4. March through Jerusalem. 

Amen, Amen 

With palm branches Amen, 

Amen, Amen. 

With pomp and glory. 

Dem Bones 

I know it brother —(I know it) 

Yes indeed I know it brother (I know it) 

I know it brother —(I know it) 

These bones shall rise again 

1. Lord decided to make a man 


So he took a little water, Took a little sand, 

These bones shall rise again. 

2. Adam didn’t know what to do 


So the Lord made a woman too 


3. Took a rib from Adam’s side 

These bones shall rise again ; 

Gave Miss Eve to be his bride 

These bones shall rise again . 

4. Put them in a garden fair 


Thought they’d be contented there 


5. Peaches, pears, plums and such 


But of this tree you must not touch 


Religious Songs 

6. Around that tree old Satan slunk. 


And at Miss Eve his eye he wunk. 


7. First he gave her the one he pulled. 


Then he filler her apron full. 


8. Next day when the Lord came down. 


Saw those cores all over the ground. 


9. Adam you must leave this place. 


For what you’ve done is a terrible disgrace 


OR 

9. Adam, Adam where art thou? 


Here I is, Lord. I’z comin’ now. 


10. But Lordy, Lordy! Wasn’t me. 


I ‘specs it was Eve. 


11. So he gave them a pick and plow. 


And I guess that’s why we’re working now 


12. This is where my story ends. Yeaaahl! 

These bones’ shall rise again. 

If you don’t sing louder I’ll sing it all over again. 

Them bones shall rise again 

Happy Sunday School 

Young folks, old folks, everybody come, 

Join the happy Sunday School and have a lot of fun 

Please Park your chewing gum and razors at the door 

And we’ll tell you Bible stories, 

That you never heard before. 

1. The earth was made in six days 

And finished an the seventh, 

Accordin’ to the contract 

It should’ve taken eleven, 

But the carpenter was drunk 

And the mason wouldn’t work, 

So the only thing to do 

Was to fill it up with dirt. 


2. Adam was the first man, 

Eve was his spouse 

They didn’t much like farming 

So they took to keeping house, 

Things were easy, 

They were living in the main 

Till Eve had a baby, 

And she took to raisin’ Cain 

3. Adam was the first man 

Ever was invented, 

He lived all alone 

and he never was contented 

He was made outta mud 

in the days gone by 

They hung him on the fence 

in the sun to dry. 

4. Noah was an old man, 

A stumblin’ in the dark, 

He stumbled on a hammer 

And he built himself an ark, 

The animals they came in two by two, 

He thought he ham an ark, 

But he really had a zoo! 

5. Salome was a dancer, 

Who danced -the hoochy-cooch 

The king didn’t like her 

Cause she didn’t wear so mooch. 

The king said, “Salome, 

You cannot do that here.” 

Salome said, “Baloney,” 

And she kicked him in the rear. 

6. Samson was a strong man 

From Jeffrey Johnson School 

He killed 3,000 Philistines 

With the jawbone of a mule, 

Then he met Delilah, 

And she filled him up with gin, 

He pulled down the temple 

And the cops they run him in. 

7. David was a, little boy, 

A fiery little cuss 

Along came Goliath 

a lookin’ for a fuss 

David said he’d beat him up, 

Or down he would bust, 

So he picked up a hammer, 

And he bust him in the crust. 

Page 66 

8. Daniel was a little boy, 

Who wouldn’t obey the king, 

And now the king 

wouldn’t stand for such a thing. 

So he plucked him in the den, 

With lions underneath 

But Daniel was a dentist 

And he yanked the lion’s teeth! 

He’s Got the Whole World 

He’s got the whole world-in his hands. 

He’s got the whole wide world-in his hands. 

He’s got the whole world-in his hands 

He’s got the whole world in his hands. 

He’s got the flowers and the trees-in his hands 

He’s got the flowers and the trees-in his hands 

He’s got the flowers and the trees-in his hands. 

He’s ‘got the whole world in his hands. 

3. He’s got the earth and sky-in his hands. 

4. He’s got the night and the day-in his hands. 

5. He’s got the sun and the moon-in his hands. 

6. He’s got the wind and the rain-in his hands. 

7. He’s got the rivers and the streams-in his hands. 

8. He’s got the spring and the fall-in his hands 

9. He’s got each and every Scout-in his hands. 

10. He’s got the whole camp-in his hands. 

11. He’s got you and me brother-in his hands. 

12. He’s got the whole world-in his hands. 

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 singing, Lord, Kum ba yah! 




Someone’s praying, Lord, Kum ba yah! 





Michael Row the Boat 

CHORUS 

Michael row the boat ashore, Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Michael row the boat ashore. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

1. Sister helped to trim the sail. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Sister helped to trim the sail. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

2. The river Jordan is chilly and cold, Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Chills the body but not the soul. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

3. The river Jordan is deep and wide, Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Milk and honey on the other side.. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

4. Brother lend a helping hard, Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Take us to the Promised land. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

5. Michael’s boat is a music boat, Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Michael’s boat is a music boat. Hal-le-lu-ya. 

Rise and Shine 

CHORUS 

Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory 

Rise and shine and give God your glory, glory 

rise and shine and (clap) give God your glory, glory 

Children of the Lord. 

1. Lord told Noah 

there’s gonna be a floody, floody 

Lord told Noah there’s gonna be a floody, floody 

Get those children (clap) 

out of the muddy, muddy 


2. So Noah he built him, 

he built him an arkie, arkie 

So Noah he built him, he built him an arkie, arkie 

Built it out of (clap) 

hickory barkie, barkie. 

Children o£ the Lord. 

3. The animals they came in, 

they came in by twosies, twosies. 

The animals they came in, 

they cane in by twosies, twosies. 

Elephants and (clap) 

kangaroosies, roosies. 


4. It rained and rained 

for forty daysies, daysies 

It rained and rained for forty daysies, daysies 

Almost drove those (clap) 

animals crazy, crazy 


5. The sun came out 

and dried up the landy, landy, 

Sun came out and 

dried up the landy, landy, 

Everything was fine and dandy, dandy, 


Rock of My Soul 

Chorus 

Rock of my soul in the bosom of Abraham, 



O rock of my soul. 

So high you can’t get over it, 

So low you can’t get under it, 

So wide you can’t get around it. 

Scout Vespers 

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, 

Deep in my heart I love you so. 

Standing in the Need of Prayer 

CHORUS 

It’s me, It’s me, 

it’s me, 0 Lord, 

Standing in the need of prayer; 

It’s me, It’s me, it’s me, 0 Lord, 

Standing in the need of prayer. 

1. Not my brother, nor my sister, 

But it’s me, 0 Lord. 


Not my brother, nor my sister 


2. Not the preacher, nor the deacon 

But it’s me, 0 Lord. 


Not the preacher, nor the deacon 

But it’s me, 0 Lord, 



Taps 

Day is done. 

Gone the sun 

From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky 

All is well 

Safely rest 

God is nigh 

Fading light 

Dims the sight 

And a star, Gems the sky, Gleaming bright 

From afar 

Drawing nigh 

Falls the night 

Thanks and praise 

For our days 

’Neath the sun, ’Neath the stars, ’Neath the sky 

As we go 

This we know 

God is nigh 

Tell Me Why 

Tell me why the stars do shine, 

Tell me why the ivy twines 

Tell me why the sky’s so blue, 

Tell me (Camp) Just why I love you. 

Because God made the stars to shine, 

Because God made the ivy to twine, 

Because God made the skies so blue, 

Dear old (Camp) that’s why I love you. 

These Bones Shall Rise Again 

Chorus 

I know it brother, yes indeed I know it brother 

I know it brother, these bones shall rise again 

leader: 1. Lord he thought he’d make a man 

all: These bones shall rise again 

leader: Took a little water, took a little sand 

all: These bones shall rise again 

2. Put him in that garden fair 

Saw him mighty lonely there 

3. Took a rib from Adam’s side made 

Miss Eve to be his bride. 

4. Put them in that garden fair 

Saw them mighty happy there. 

5. Apples, peaches, pears and such 

But one fruit you must not touch. 

6. Round that tree old Satan slunk 

At Miss Eve his eye he wunk. 

Page 68 

7. My that fruit looks mighty fine 

Take a bite, the Lord won’t mind. 

8. So she took a pick and she took a pull 

Then she filled her apron full. 

9. Next day when the Lord came round 

Saw those cores all over the ground. 

10. Adam, Adam, where art thou? 

Here I am Lord, coming now! 

11. Adam who these cores did leave? 

Wasn’t me Lord, must a been Eve. 

12. Adam you must leave this place 

Earn your bread by the sweat of your face. 

13. So he took a pick and he took a plow 

And that’s why we’re all singing now. 

14. This is the end, there ain’t no more 

Eve got the apple, Adam got the core. 

15. Moral of the story be 

Don’t leave your cores for the Lord to see. 

Vespers, Taps & Scout Oath 

End campfire with the singing of Scout Vespers with 

Taps sung next without a break. Each line of Taps 

would be sung and then a senior boy leader of the troop 

would speak the Scout Oath one phrase at a time. At 

the end of the phrase the Troop would sing the next line 

of Taps and so on. 

(TROOP SINGS ) 

Softly falls the light of day 

As 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 or have I dared 

Everything to be prepared 

Day is done (TROOP) 

On my honor (SPOKEN BY SCOUT) 

Gone the sun (TROOP) 

I will do my best (SCOUT) 

From the Lake (TROOP) 

To do my duty to God and my country (SCOUT) 

From the hills (TROOP) 

And to obey the Scout Law (SCOUT) 

From the sky (TROOP) 

To help other poeple at all times (SCOUT) 


All is well (TROOP) 

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake 

(SCOUT) 

Safely rest (TROOP) 

And morally straight (SCOUT) 

God is nigh. (TROOP) 

You Can Dig My Grave 

You can dig my grave with a silver spade 

You can dig my grave with a silver spade 

Cause I ain’t gonna be here much longer. 

There’s a white robe up in heaven for me. 

There’s a golden crown up in heaven for me. 

There’s a golden harp in heaven for me. 

You can touch one string, 

And the whole heaven rings. 

You Can’t Get To Heaven 

Oh you can’t get to heaven (repeat) 

In (insert name)’s shoes (repeat) 

Because the Lord don’t want (repeat) 

No war canoes....(repeat) 

CHORUS 

(repeat four lines previously sung) 

I ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more 

Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more 

Ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more. 

Oh you can’t get to heaven (repeat) 

In (insert name)’s car (repeat) 

Because the rotten thing (repeat) 

Stops at every bar (repeat) 

Well the deacon went down (repeat) 

To the cellar to pray, (repeat) 

But he got drunk (repeat) 

So he stayed all day, (repeat) 


Baba Eka Bo 

Baba eka be, ekabo 

Baba ile nko Se alafia ni 

Baba iyawo nko salafia ni 

Baba omooe nko 



Cuma Zimba 

Part I - Chief, chief, chief, chief 

Part II - cuma zimba, zimba, ziya 

coma zimba, zimba, zee 

coma zimba, zimba ziya 

coma zimba, zimba zee 

See him there that Zulu warrior 

She him there that Zulu chief 

Chief, chief, chief, chief 

Ding Gang Goo 

Ging gang gooli gooli gooli gooli 

Watcha ging gang goo ging gang goo 

Ging gang gooli gooli gooli gooli 

Watcha ging gang goo ging gang goo 

Heyla, heyla sheyla, heyla sheyla heyla hol 

Heyla, heyla sheyla, heyla sheyla heyla ho: 

Shali walli, shali, walli, shali walli,shali walli, 

Ooompah, oompah.......... 

Dutch Song 

I’m a heartbroken Deutscher filled with grief and nit shame. 

Und dis is de reason. I don’t know my name. 

CHORUS 

Ah Hul ya, la hul ya, la hul ya, la la 

Ah Hul ya, la hul ya, la hul ya, la la 

2. You tink dot is funny, you tink dot is queer 

But ve-it until my story you hear. 

3. My mudder had tvins, me und my brudder 

Ve vus so much alike, couldn’t tell van from de udder 

4. Ve vus called Hans and Yakup, and dot vus our 

names, 

But dot made no difference, ve got called chust der 

same. 

5. Non vun of us died and belief me it’s so 

Vich vun uv us died, mine own mudder don’t know. 

6. Und dis is der ting I can’t get tru my jead 

if I’m Hans vot is living or Yakup vot’s dead. 

Page 70 

Foreign Songs 

Framat Vi Ga Sjungande 

Frp mat vi ga Sjungande pa varan 

glada trall Blackhawk lagret ar ju 

Malet for oss i sommar Scouter hor hit 

Aijen oss dit till lagret vid Big Blue Lake 

Vart 2n det bar AI’alet hor h‘ar 

Klart man hava skall Blackhawk lagret ar ju 

Helet for oss i sonar Scouter hor hit 

fdljen oss dit till lagaze t vid Big Blue Lake 

Han Skal Leve 

Han skal leve, Han skal leve 

Han skal leve, hoit, Hurrah’! 

Hurrah, hurrah, Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, 

Hurrah, hurrah, Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, 

Han skal leve, Han skal leve, 

Han skal leve hoit Hurrah! 

Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravissimo, 

Bravo, bravo, bravissimo 

Bravo, bravissimo 

Bravo, bravissimo, 

Bravo, bravo, bravissimo. 

(This song has become very popular in camps over the 

country. In Denmark the song is used when you want to 

laud a person particularly at meetings, parties and 

around the camp fire. The text is pronounced thus; “ 

Han skal levay hoit, Hurrah!” all a’s being pronounced 

as a in “hard.” The translation is “t play he live 

splendidly. Hurrah!.”) 

Holly Poddle Doodle 

Ein hase sass im tiefen gras 

Singing holly polly doodle all the day 

Uebt segelflug wie lilienthal 

Singing holly polly doodle all the day 

Der hase denkt das geht famos, singing… 

Zieht seinen fallschirm and springt los, singing… 

Und fuenfzig meter ueberm boden, singing… 

Sieht er sin schild “Hier parken verboten” singing... 

Den armen hasen sperrt man ein, singing..... 

Bei trocken brot and gaensewein, singing..... 

Farewell, farewell, far well my fairy fay 

Oh im off to Louisiana for to see my Susianna 

Singing Holly polly doodle all the day. 

Hong Kong Blues 

CHORUS 

Come on you music master, 

We want to hear the sound 

And you know the style 

We’re gonna choose. 


For there isn’t any land 

Anywhere you go to beat the band 

Good as the Hong King Blues. 

1. You can go to New Orleans 

on any dancing floor 

or merry side or Triniday or 

Down to Bangalor. 

But there is no other school like ours. 

So sample it, cool 

2. This is the kind of music 

Under the midnight sun 

Dancing through the hours you wouldn’t lose. 

For there isn’t any beat 

That was ever heard on Basin Street 

Good as the Hong Kong Blues. 

3. They play it high and then 

They play it sweet and low down 

It’s got a sound nobody ever heard before. 

You can travel up and down 

But you got to go to Chinatown 

To hear the Hong Bong Blues. 

4. No matter where you come from 

No matter where you go. 

And it doesn’t matter 

There you’ve been 

You can travel up and down 

But you got to go to Chinatown 

To hear the Hong Kong 

I said the Hong Kong 

To hear the Hong Kong blues 

5. We can sail the seven seas, 

To cities big and small 

But beyond a doubt 

this is our favorite port-o-call. 

’When its shore leave we can go 

And now we got the lot, so. 

Ko-Ko, Ko-Ko 

Jag gick mig ut i skogen dar liv och gladje 

bor och goken gol sa trogen och ropade. ko-ko 

Ko-ko, ko-ko, ko-ko-ko-ko, ko-ko, ko-ko, 

Ko-ko, ko-ko, ko ko-ko-ko, ko-ko. 

Jag fragade hur manga, hur mcaanga ar 

mantro han svarade med langa och klagande: ko - ko 

Kung, Kling, Kung 

Kling klieg klang, vi er sa gode naver 

Kling klieg klang, pa vejen nar vi traver 

Kling king klang, tenk gott om mej min van 

Ihx aver ej nar igen vi ses pa landevej 

O Mo Ni Go 

Omo ni go, omo ni gogo moni go, 

igo igo re, omo ni 

O, Vad Livet Ar H Arlight 

O, vad livet ar hprligt 

Sjunger vi i en sang, 

Blir det nansin besova.rligt 

Stammer vi upp en sang 

Se smg so stralar lockas 

Fram av var lilla sang 

Det ljusnar duet lattar om vi pa en gang 

Sjunger var lil a sang 

Sarasponda 

Part One —Boom da Boom da 

Boom da Boom da 

Part Two —Sarasponda, Sarasponda, 

Sarasponda Ret, set, set. (repeat) 

Ah do ray oh, 

Ah do ray boom day oh, 

Ah do ray boom day ret set set, 

Ah say pa say oh. 

Six Pence 

1. I’ve got six pence. 

Jolly, jolly six pence 

I’ve got six pence 

To last me all my life, 

live got two pence to lend, 

and two pence to spend 

And two pence to send home to my wife, poor wife. 

CHORUS 

No cares have I to greet me 

No sassy little girls to deceive me 

I’m as happy as a lark, believe me 

As we go rolling, rolling home 

Rolling home, rolling home 

By the light of the silvery moon 

Happy is the day when the staff gets it pay 

As we go rolling, rolling home. 

2. I’ve got four pence. 

Jolly, jolly four pence 

live got four pence 

To last me all my life, 

I’ve got no pence to lend, 

and two pence to spend 

And two pence to send home to my wife, poor wife. 

3. Two pence 

4. No pence. 


Walking at Night 

Walking at night, along the meadow way, 

Home from our camp, beside our comrades 

Walking at night, along the meadow way, 

Home from our camp, beside our comrades 

CHORUS 

Sto-do-la, sto-do-la, sto-do-la pumps 

Sto-do-la pumpa 

Sto-do-la pumpa 

Sto-do-la, sto-do-la, sto-do-la pumpa 

Sto-do-la pumpa, pum, pum, puss. 

Nearing a wood, we heard the nightingale 

Sweetly it echoed over hill and dale, 

Nearing a wood we heard a nightingale, 

Sweetly it echoed, over hill and dale. 

Many the stars that brightly shone above, 

But none so bright as her one word of love 

Many the stars that brightly shone above, 

But none so bright as her one word of love. 

Waltzing Matilda 

CHORUS 

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, 

Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me. 

(Repeat last two lines of verse) 

Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong 

Under the shade of a coolibah tree, 

And he sang as he watched and he waited ‘til his billy boiled, 

”You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!” 

Down came a jumpbuck to drink beside the billabong. 

Up jumped the swagman and seized him with glee. 

And he sang as he talked to that jumbuck in his tucker-bag, 


Down came the storyman, riding on his thorougbred 

Down came the troopers one, two, three. 

”There’s the jolly jumbuck you’ve got inside your tuckerbag?” 


Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong, 

”You’ll never catch me alive,” says he. 

And his ghost can be heard as you ride beside the billabong, 

”You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.” 

We Are Jolly Boys 

Vie are jolly boys, 

Vie are jolly scouts ‘ 

We are jolly friends 

Jolly Jolly Oh 

Jolly Jolly Oh 

Page 72 

Wild Rover 

I’ve been a wild rover for many a year, 

And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer. 

Now I’m returning with gold in great store, 

Oh, I swear I will play the Wild Rover no more. 

CHORUS 

And it’s no-Nay-Never (clap four times) 

No no never no more 

I will play, the wild rover, 

No never, no more. 

1. I went to an ale house I used to frequent, 

And told the landlady my money was spent. 

I asked her for credit, she answered me “nay” 

”A hundred like you I can get any day” 

2. I pulled from my pocket 10 sovereigns bright 

And the landlady’s eyes opened up with delight. 

She said she had whiskey and wine of the best, 

But the words that she offered were only in Jest. 

3. I go to my parents, confess what I’ve done, 

I ask them to pardon their prodigal son, 

And if they caressed me as oft times before 

I swear I will play the wild rover no more. 

Wir Zogen Indas Feld 

Wir aogen in das feld 

as haetten wir weder saeckel noch geld 

Strampedemi, ala mi presente avuostro signori 

Yir kamen auch nach Rom 

Da gingen wir in Sankt Peters Dom 

Strampedemi .... 

Dann kamen wir nach liien 

Und mussten vor den Tuerken flien 

Strampedemi .... 

Mir kamen nach Benevent 

Da hatt all unser not ein end. 

Zum Gali Gali 

1. He-cha-lutz le’man a-vo-dah 

A vo-dah le’man he-cha-lutz; 

CHORUS 

Zum gali gali gall, Zum gali gali, 

Zum gali gali gali, Zum gali gali. 

2. A-vo-dah le’man he-cha-lutz 

He-cha-lutz le’man he-cha-lutz; 

3. He-cha-lutz le’man he-b’tu-lah 

Ha-b’tu-lah le’man he-cha-lutz; 

4. He-sha-lom le’man ha-agnin 

Ha-a-min Ie’man ha-sha-lom; 


2,000 Lb.Canary Cheer 

Put hands on opposite shoulders, while opening and 

closing elbows, say in a deep voice, “Here, kitty, kitty.” 

Abe Lincoln Cheer 

That was great! HONEST! 

Alka Seltzer Cheer 

Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Oh what a relief it is. 

Angry Cantaloupe Cheer 

Motion 

Scoop out seeds and shove into your mouth 

Archery Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Pull out and nock arrow 

Twanggg Release bow string 

Ouch! Jump up and hold your seat 

because the arrow hit you there. 

Archery Cheer 

Mimic shooting an arrow, then call out, “Bull’s Eye!” 

Artillery Cheer 

Clap hands, speeding up and then slowing it down until 

it (the bombardment) stops 

Avon Lady Cheer 

Point a forefinger and shout, “Ding, Dong!” 

Baden-Powell Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

A Sky-Va-Va Spin hand over head 

A Ski-Vee-Vee Spin left hand around 

Sisss Spin right hand around 

Boom Throw towards the ground 

Cuckoo 

Barbershop Cheer 

Put hands over the ears. 

Cheer Motion 

Chit-chit. Chit-chit Sharpen razor 

Tsch! Tsch! Tsch! Shave face 

Bear Cheer 

Growl like a bear four times with your “paws” held over 

your head, turning halfway around each time. 

Beaver Cheer 

Cut a tree by tapping front teeth together, slap your tail 

by slapping a palm against your thigh, then yell, 

“TIMBER!” 

Bee Cheer 

Put arms straight out and pretend to fly, while going 

“Buzz-z-z-z, Buzz-z-z-z.” 

Cheers 

Ben Franklin Cheer 

Hold both hands out in front of you as if flying a kite. 

Jerk back suddenly while saying, “Zap, Zap, Zap.” 

(Lightening) 

Big Hand Cheer 

Leader says, “let’s give him/her/them a big hand” 

everybody in the audience holds up one of their hands 

with the palm out. 

Big Rainstorm Cheer 

1. Start clapping with one finger of each hand. 

2. Increase fingers until you are full clapping. 

3. Decrease until clapping with one finger 

Big Rock Candy Mountain Cheer 

How sweet it is. 

Big Sneeze Cheer 

Cup hands in front of nose and sneeze in hands. 

Having nowhere to put it, wipe your hands in your hair. 

Big Thumb Cheer 

Hold out a hand at arms length, make a fist with the 

thumb up. Variation Add, “GREAT JOB!!” 

Bing-A-Lacka Cheer 

Bing-A-Lacka! Bing-A-Lacka! 

Bing-Bing-Bing! 

Ching-A-Lacka! Ching-A-Lacka! 

Ching-Ching-Ching! 

Bing-A-Lacka! Ching-A-Lacka! 

Who are We? 

We are the Boy Scouts! Yes Sir-r-ee-eee 

Black Powder Rifle Cheer 

Pretend to have black powder rifle in front of you. Pour 

powder from an imaginary powder horn down the 

barrel. Stamp it down with an imaginary rod, raise the 

gun and fire saying, “Click, BANG!” 

British Rank Yell 

Be Prepared! Be Prepared! Shout! Shout! Shout! 

Tenderfoot! Second Class! First Class Scout! 

Broken Arm Cheer 

Stick arm out in front of you with the lower arm and 

hand dangling. Swing lower arm and hand back and 

forth in a limp manner. 

Bull Cheer 

Make bull horns with fingers while shouting “El Toro, El 

Toro !” 


Bull Fighter Cheer 

Hold down cape and move to in appropriate motion 

while shouting “OLE!” 

Calamine Lotion Cheer 

(Repeat after leader) 

Fleas, Flys, Mosquitoes, June bugs! 

Calamine, Calamine, Calamine Lotion! 

Oh No! That Calamine Lotion! (repeat) 

Itchy, Itchy, Scratchy, Scratchy! 

I got one on my Backy, Backy! 

Itch goes the bug when you hit him with the bug spray! 

Shoooooooo! 

Call the Hogs Cheer 

SOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEE, SOOOOOOOO, 

EEEEEEEE!!!!!!! PIG PIG PIG PIG!!! 

Can of Applause Cheer 

Cheer and applaud as cover is removed from can and 

become quiet as lid is replaced. 

Cantaloupe Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Ssssshuuuuup Suck up seeds 

Ptuuuuu! Spit them out 

Carpenter Cheer 

Pretend to be holding a hammer in one hand and a nail 

in the other. Start pounding the nail with the hammer 

while saying, “Bang, Bang, Ouch”. 

Cat’s Meow Cheer 

You’re the cats MeeeeOOOOW!!! (to person receiving 

applause) 

Cheerio Cheer 

Cheerio-Cheerio-Cheerio. 

Cherry Cheer 

Pick a cherry, roll in your mouth, then spit the pit out 

with a loud “P-TUU.” 

Chinese Cheer 

Fooey: Fooey: Fooey’. 

Chip Chop Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Chip Swing arms (axe) to the right 

Chop Swing arms (axe) to the left 

(Repeat many times speeding up.) 

Tiiimbeeeerrrr! Fall down to the ground 

Page 74 

Christmas Bells Cheer 

Pretend to hold a bell rope, then get the left side of the 

audience to say “DING” on the down stroke and the 

other side of the audience to say “DONG” on the up 

stroke. Repeat three times. 

Clam Cheer 

Fold hands together, interlocking fingers. Make noise by 

pressing palms together. 

Class “A” Cheer 

Clap hands with the following count: 

1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 

1-2-3-4. 

1 (big one) 

Class “B” Cheer 


1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 

1-2-3-4. 

(miss) 

Class “C” Cheer 


1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 

1-2-3-4. 

(miss) 

1 (big one) 

Class “Z” Cheer 


1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 1-2 1-2; 

1-2-3-4 

1-2-3-4. 

(miss) 

”Zip! Zip! Zip!” 

While drawing an imaginary “Z” in front of you with 

your index finger (Like the Zoro Cheer) 

Columbus Cheer 

Put hands up like you’re holding a telescope and shout 

“Land Ho”. 

Coo Coo Cheer 

Everyone nod their heads up and down and say “COO- 

COO” as many times as you tell them, as if you were 

striking the hour. 


Cookie Cheer 

“Crummy, Crummy, Crummy”. 

Cork Cheer 

Hold out one hand as though holding the neck of a 

bottle. Put a cork in the bottle, then hit it in with the palm 

of the other hand and yell “Put a cork in it!” 

Crab Cheer 

Every knows crabs walk sideways. So have the group 

stand, raise their arms over their heads and pinch their 

fingers and thumbs together lick claws while stepping to 

the left two steps and back to the right two steps. 

Desert Cheer 

“Yucca, Yucca, Yucca !!” 

Dip Stick Cheer 

Pretend to get under the hood of your car, find the dip 

stick, pull it out, and say, “Oh, no, You’re a quart low!!!” 

English Cheer 

Cheer Answer 

Augy! Augy! Augy! Aye! Aye! Aye! 


Augy! Aye! 

Augy! Aye! 


Eskimo Cheer 

Brrrrr-rrr, Brrrrr-rrr. 

Ferris Wheel Cheer 

Move right arm in a large circle, on the upswing say 

“OHHHHH!” On the downswing say: “AHHHHH!” 

Fire Engine Cheer 

Divide the group into four sections 

(1) Rings the bell fast, DING; 

(2) Honks the horn, HONK, HONK, HONK; 

(3) Sounds the siren, Rrrr, Rrrr, Rrrr; 

(4) Clangs the clangor, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG. 

Have all four groups do their parts together. 

Fishy Cheer - I 

Pretend to a fish by it’s tail with one hand with one hand 

and plug your nose with the other and say: “PEEE-U- 

EEEEE!!!!” 

Fishy Cheer - II 

Hold your hands to your cheeks and flap as if gills and 

open and close your mouth as if you were a fish. 

Flat Tire Cheer 

Bend down, attach pump to tire, lift and push on pump 

three times, then yell, “Boom!” and jump back in 

surprise. 

Flea Cheer 

Make noise by rubbing finger nails together. 

Flea Flip Cheer 

Flick your middle fingernail with your thumbnail. 

Flintstone Cheer 

Shake hands over the head and say, “Yabba-dabbadoo”. 

Foil Dinner Cheer 

“RAW, RAW, RAW !!” 

George Washington Cheer - I 

That was great. I cannot tell a lie. 

George Washington Cheer - II 

Get out axe and swing it at a tree while saying, “Chip, 

chop, chop, TIMBER!” then yell, “WRONG TREE!” 

Ghost Cheer - I 

Wave hands like a ghost and say “WHOOOO, WHOO, 

WHOOOOOOO!!” 

Ghost Cheer - II 

“BOO! BOO! BOO!” 

Guillotine Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Pull rope (blade) up. 

Tie Rope 

Swing axe & cut rope 

(whistle) None (Blade coming down) 

Plop! None (Head hitting ground) 

Golf Cheer 

1. Swing club “Pow”! 

2. Now-hit ball “Four!” 

3. Watch with hand 

Golf Cheer 

Shout “FORE” and pretend to hit the ball, place hand 

over above eyes to follow where the ball went. 

Gondolier Cheer 

Make a motion as if polling a boat, singing out “O, 

SOLE MIO” 


Good Turn Cheer 

Stand up and turn around. 

Grape Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Shup-Ptu! Suck up seed Spit out fast 

Hangman Cheer 

Put your hand behind your neck like you are holding a 

hangman’s noose, then roll eyes and stick out your 

tongue. 

Handkerchief/Neckerchief Cheer 

Cheerleader motions to throw handkerchief or 

neckerchief into the air. When he does, the group yells 

and screams until handkerchief or neckerchief is caught 

or touches the ground. 

A variation includes an accomplice who snags the 

handkerchief before the cheer leader can catch it. The 

group continues to yell as the cheer leader chases the 

accomplice until he “catches” him and gets the 

handkerchief back. 

Hay-Straw 

Cheer Answer 

Hay! Straw! 

Straw! Hay! 

Howdy Cheer 

HOOOOW DDD DEEEE!!! 

Howdy Pard Cheer 

HOOOOW DDD DEEE PARRRD!!!! 

Indiana Jones Cheer 

Swing hand and arm back and then forward simulating 

the snapping of a whip. “Snakes, it would have to be 

snakes.” 

Jolly Green Giant Cheer 

HO, HO, HO! 

Kiowa Indian Yell 

1. Stamp feet 3 times 

2. Slap knees 3 times 

3. Beat chest 3 times 

4. Shake fist 3 times 

5. Yell “Ahhhhhh!” (putting hand over mouth) 

Kybo Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Ugh, Ugh Crouch down. 

Uuugggh Try harder 

Aaaaaaahhh! Finally Get it 

Page 76 

Livewire Cheer 

Grab onto a live electrical wire and shake your whole 

body wildly. 

Locomotive Cheer 

1. Slap left arm with right hand. 

2. Increase speed. 

3. Work down over left palm and to ends of the fingers. 

4. Put right hand over eyes, looking out. 

5. Imitate train whistle ”Whoo-whoo”, “Whoo-whoo” 

Lumberjack Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Hack-hack-Hack Chop wood with hand 

Zoom-Zoom-Zoom Push/pull saw with arms 

Timber Cup hands to mouth 

Boom! 

Mad Doctor Cheer 

Swing arm down like a tree falling 

Scalpel. Sponge. Sponge. Sponge. Ooops! 

Marilyn Monroe Cheer 

(Sway hips) “Hip, hip, hooray”, “Hip, hip, hooray.” 

Mexican Hat Dance Cheer 

Put hands on hips and stamp feet while turning around 

in a circle around imaginary sombrero. 

Model “T” Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Ooooga! Ooooga! Ooooga Honk your horn 

Moose Cheer 

Place open hands by ears to form antlers and call 

“OOOOO-AAA-OOOO.” 

Mosquito Cheer 

With hand, slap yourself on the neck, arms, legs, while 

saying “Oooo, Aaaah.” 

Motorcycle Cheer 

Lift up the left foot and slam it down starting the engine 

with your hands pretending to hold handlebars and 

saying “V-V-r-a-a-a-a-m-m-m-m.” 

Mount Rushmore Cheer 

Washington! Jefferson! Lincoln! Roosevelt! 

Mountain Climbers Cheer 

Pretend to climb on a mountain. A rock slips off. Put 

your hand over your eyes, look down and yell, “Look out 

below! 

OPEC (Oil Well) Cheer 

“Crude! Crude! Crude!” 


Paper Bag Cheer 

Make motions to simulate opening a paper bag., 

forming neck, blowing it up and pop it, yelling “Pop!” 

Party Cheer 

Throw hands in the air and say, “Confetti, Confetti, 

Confetti.” 

Pat on the Back 

Everyone pat the back of the their left shoulder with 

their right hand. 

Pennsylvania University Cheer 

Draw right fist back to shoulder, then throw punch while 

yelling P U. 

Pinky Cheer 

Clap little fingers together. 

Pirate Cheer 

“Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of Sprite. 

President Cheer 

Salute and say “Hail to the Chief.” 

Rainstorm Cheer 

1. Pat hands on knees 

2. Increase to hand clapping 

3. Yell “Boom!” for thunder 

4. Decrease to hands patting on knees. 

Razzle Dazzle Cheer 

Razzle Dazzle’. Never Frazzle! 

Not a thread but wool. 

All together! All together! 

That’s the way we pull’ 

Relay Cheer 

First person in row claps next person’s hand and so on 

down to the end of the row. 

Reverse Applause 

Move hands away from each other. 

Rip-Rip-Rap Cheer 

Rip! Rap: Rap! Rip! Rap! Reel 

Loyal Happy Boy Scouts are We 

Road Runner Cheer 

Beep-Beep-Zoom.” 

Robot Cheer 

Walk around stiff legged with arms in place, and repeat 

in a monotone voice, “Does not compute. Does not 

compute. Does not compute!” 

Rooster Cheer 

Placing your thumbs in your armpits, wave the arms up 

and down while crowing. 

Round of Applause 

While clapping hands, move them around in a circle in 

front of you. 

Santa Claus Cheer 

Hold stomach and saying loudly, “Ho! Ho! Ho!” 

Seal of Approval 

Put your thumbs in your armpits, then move arms up 

and down like a seal moving its flippers and say “Arf, 

Arf, Arf” several times. 

Silent Yell 

Raise both fists to level with hand and shout without any 

sound while shaking both fists. 

Sky Rocket Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Chit! Strike match 

Ssssss! Light Fuse 

Whooosh! Take off arm up in air 

Boom! Explosion open arms above head 

Aaaah! People amazed hands on cheeks 

Southern Cantaloupe Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Ssssshuuuuup Suck up seeds 

Ptuuuuu! Y’all 

accent 

Spit ‘em out with southern 

Space Shuttle Cheer 

Countdown, 10 - 1 !! BLASTOFF! 

Stamp of Approval 

Everyone stamps their foot down on the ground at the 

count of three. 

The Fonz Cheer 

Make a fist thumbs pointing up with each hand in front 

of you and say “Aaaaaayyyy.” 


The Great “B” Cheer 

Cheer Answer 

Give me a “B” “B” 

Give me another “B” “B” 

Give me a third :B” “B” 

One more “B” “B” 

What’s that spell? 

The Mask Cheer 

“It’s showtime!” 

“B” flip lips with finger 

Throw Up Cheer 

I’ve got the urge, the urge (Repeat) 

The urge to regurgitate (Repeat) 

Regurgitate! Regurgitate (Repeat) 

Vomit, Vomit (Repeat) 

Blaaaaah; (Repeat) 

Toucan Yell 

Hold hands in front of mouth, simulating a bird opening 

its beak, several times while saying “Toucan, Toucan, 

Toucan! A Scout can too!!!” 

Trumpet Cheer 

da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-CHARGE! 

Turkey Yell 

Say “Gobble, gobble,,” then rub stomach saying “Yum, 

yum”. 

Turtle Cheer 

1. Cross both arms over the chest and bow head down. 

2. Raise head. 

3. Look left. 

4. Look Right. 

5. Look forward and say “turtle-Urg” 

Page 78 

Watermelon Cheer 

Cheer Motion 

Ssssshuuuuup Hold watermelon and eat from 

one side to the other-Spit out seeds. 

Ptuuuuu! 

What A Ten Chew Cheer 

(Repeat after leader) 

What a ten chew! 

Bo do ski daten-daten, Qhat a ten chew! 

It skiddy o-dotten, Bo do ski daten-daten, What a ten 

chew! 

Ittan-dittan little kitten, It skiddy o-dotten Be do ski 

daten-daten, Ihat a ten chew! 

Oten doten little boten, Itten-ditten little kitten, It skiddy 

o-dotten, Bo do ski daten-daten, What a ten chew! 

Witch Cheer 

Say in witchy voice “Heee, Heee, Heee.” 

Yodelers Cheer 

Cup hands around mouth saying, “Yodel, ley, hee, who.” 


Bell Ringer #1 

Props: Coat with football or wadded clothing under it for 

theHunchback, hat or nightstick for Gendarme. 

Announcer: The Hunchback of Notre Dame has 

decided to retire, and has place an ad in the Paris 

Times for someone to come and learn how to ring the 

bells. 

Effects: (Knock, knock, knock) 

Hunchback: (Gravely voice) Oh, somebody must be 

here about my job. I’ll go down and see. (Goes ‘round 

and ‘round the campfire, as if going down the bell tower, 

bent over due to hunch.) 

Effects : (Knock, knock, knock) 

Hunchback: (Angrily) I’m coming, I’m coming. There’s 

a lot of stairs here. (Arrives at and opens the door.) 

Hunchback: Yeah! What do you want? 

Applicant: I’m here about the bellringer’s job. 

Hunchback: All right! Come on up and I’ll see if you 

can do the job. (Begins to go up (the other way around) 

followed by the applicant.) 

Applicant: Boy, the ceiling is not very high here, is it? 

Hunchback: Listen, you go up and down these stairs 

20 times a day for 45 years and you just learn to stay 

bent over. Hey, did you close that door, didn’t you? 

Applicant: I don’t know. I don’t remember. 

Hunchback: Well, we gotta go down and keep it 

locked, can’t run up the church’s fuel bill. (Both turn 

around and go back.) 

Hunchback: That’s the first thing you gotta learn. Keep 

the door closed. Up and down these stairs, that’s the 

hard part. (Arriving at door) O.K., so now you’re here, 

close the door. 

Applicant: (Closes door) How are the benefits in this 

job? 

Hunchback: (Both going back up) Well, it has it’s ups 

and downs. The Church board will buy you ear plugs 

every six months and a new bottle of bell polish once a 

year. (Finally arriving at the bell) Alright, now you stand 

over there, and I’ll show you how it’s done. First you 

grab the bell here and push it out very hard (steps back 

and follows path of bell out and back) then the bell 

comes back on it’s own. That’s all there is to it. Do you 

think you can do that? 

Applicant: Sure! (does the action with the bell, but 

does not step back, is hit by bell and falls back, to the 

ground) 

Skits 

Hunchback: Oh my gosh! He’s fallen 15 stories to the 

sidewalk. I’d better get down there. (Goes around and 

around until he reaches the ground) (Crowd enters 

mumbling, stops astonished at body) 

Gendarme : (Entering, calls to Hunchback) Hey you! 

Do you know this guy? (Rolls body over with foot) 

Hunchback: No, but his face sure rings a bell! 

Bell Ringer # 2 

(The trick with this skit is to do it the night after doing 

Bell Ringer #1, and to do everything exactly the same - 

perhaps with alittle more ‘hamming it up’) 

(When the Applicant arrives the Hunchback says:) 

Hunchback: You look just like the guy who was here 

yesterday. 

Applicant: Oh, that was my twin brother. (revert to the 

original dialog again. The audience will think it’s getting 

a re-run and prepare itself for a ‘groaner’ of a cheer. 

When they hear the ending, you’ll get a great reaction.) 

(Carry on with dialog, except for the last line.) 

Hunchback: No, but he’s a dead ringer for the guy who 

was here yesterday! 

Bell Ringer # 3 

(To be used ONLY when Bell Ringer #1 and #2 have 

been used.) 

Props: Rain slickers, blanket, and Gendarme gear from 

above. Two players enter in rain slickers holding blanket 

between them like a jumping net. The jig and jog 

around the performing area. 

Gendarme : (Entering) Hey, what are you guys doing? 

Fireman #1: Well, the last two nights some guy has 

jumped out of that bell tower, and we came to catch 

him! 

Bicycle Shop 

(The scene begins with three players on their hands 

and knees, ina row, as bicycles.) 

Shop Owner: Well, there we are, three brand new 

bicycles all set up for sale. 

Customer : (Entering) Hi. I’d like to buy a bicycle. 

Shop Owner: Sure thing. Why don’t you try them on for 

size? (Customer sits on the first bike and it falls down. 

The second is too big, while the third is too small.) 

Customer: I sure like the first one, let me try it again. 


Shop Owner: Why not ? (Setting up bike again) 

There you are, it’s all set up again. (Customer sits on it, 

and again it falls down.) 

Customer: I don’t know. I really like this one but it 

keeps falling down. I’m afraid it’s not made well enough. 

Shop Owner: Our bicycles are all very well made. It 

was just assembled this morning, and it may need a 

little adjustment. Let me get some help. 

(A volunteer is chosen from the audience, who is 

instructed to hold one ‘wheel’ of the now upright 

bicycle.) 

Customer: (Sitting on the bike) That’s perfect now. 

What was the problem ? 

Shop Owner: Oh, we just need a big nut to hold it 

together! 

Brains For Sale 

Scout 1 (yelling) ”Brains for Sale” “Brains For Sale” 

Scout 2 - What kinds do you have? 

Scout 1 - Well, This one is $100. It is the brain of a 

doctor. 

Scout 2 - That’s not good enough. What else do you 

have? 

Scout 1 - Well, this one is $250. It is the brain of Albert 

Einstein, the great scientist. 

Scout 2 - That is neat. You have anymore?? 

Scout 1 - Yeah, This one is for $1 million dollars. 

Scout 2 - Wow, Why so expensive. 

Scout 1 - It is the brain of our Scoutmaster. It never has 

been used. 

Candy Store 

Two people discuss the idea of opening a Candy store. 

They get the “parts” from the audience: 

doors: two people stand with arms extended, facing 

each other. When a person comes by, they spin in a 

circle going, “click click” 

cash register: a person stands “inside” the store and 

pulls an imaginary handle going, “ring ring” 

bathroom: a person squats going “flush flush” 

sign: a person stands outside, yelling “Candy store! 

Candy store!” 

and any other “appliances” or “furniture” you can think 

of 

Finally, the 2nd person asks the first: “Now all we need 

is the suckers.” 

The 1st responds with “But we have all these right 

here.” 

Page 80 

Gathering of Nuts 

Vincent: I am the famous artist, Vincent Van Go Go. I 

have come here this evening at great expense to create 

one of my living nature paintings which will express the 

atmosphere of this camp ! First I am going to need 

some trees. (Two trees are selected from the 

participants in the audience, and are directed where to 

stand. They wave their arms gently.) 

Vincent: Now I will need some birds to twitter among 

the trees. (Three birds are selected and they move 

around the trees making twittering sounds.) 

Vincent: (Stands back to view scene) Perhaps a sun to 

shine on everything. (A tall participant stands on a 

bench and smiles brightly.) 

Vincent: (Again viewing) It’s not right yet. I know, some 

rabbits hopping around. (Assistant Leaders are chosen 

for rabbits) 

Vincent: One last touch. A babbling brook. Scouter, will 

you be the brook, you’re always babbling ? (The brook 

takes his place.) 

Vincent: (Turns to audience) There it is, another 

Vincent Van Go Go original nature scene. I call it “The 

Gathering of the Nuts.” 

Is it Time Yet? 

Equipment 

Licorice, black jelly beans, or chocolate syrup, to 

simulate chewing tobacco 

Preparation 

five or six scouts sit as if on a bench, with legs 

outstretched, right leg over left, arms folded across 

chest, eyes closed, heads nodding. 

Action 

The six scouts appear to be dozing. The scout at one 

end has licorice in his mouth. The scout at the opposite 

end “awakens”, leans over to the scout next to him and 

asks, “Is it tahm, yet?”. The second scout leans to the 

next scout and asks him, “Is it tahm, yet?”. This 

continues to the last scout, who spits, and says, “nope”. 

The “nope” is passed down the line to the first scout. 

They all return to dozing. The same question is 

repeated down the line a few more times, with the same 

“spit, nope” response. Finally, the scouts spits and says 

“yup”. After the “yup” is passed back up the line, they all 

look at each other, yawn, and lift their right legs off their 

left, and switch, placing left over right, dozing off again. 

J.C. Penny 

# 2 enters and passes # 1, wearing a hat. 

# 1: “Where did you get the hat ?” 


# 2: “J.C. Penny.” 

# 3 enters and passes # 1 carrying a pair of pants. 

# 1: “Where did you get the new pants ?” 

# 3: “J.C. Penny. 

Others enter carrying new articles of clothing and offer 

similar explanations. 

Finally # 4 enters wearing just underwear. 

# 1: “Who do you think you are dressed like that?” 

# 4: “I’m J.C. Penny!” 

New Underwear 

Preparation 

Have all of Troop but one, line up shoulder to shoulder. 

SPL should be the one not lined up. 

Action 

SPL: (walking back and forth in front of troop) Ok 

guys, i know that we’re all a little down. That flood 8 

days ago completely wiped out all that we had. But still I 

am proud of all of you, after all, we have survived with 

nothing but each other for more than a week. 

(pauses) 

I do, however, have some good news. I also have some 

bad news though. 

(pause again) 

The good news is that we all get new underwear!!! 

ALL TROOPERS: (excitedly, jumps up and down) 

Yeah!!! 

SPL: Now the bad news.....you have to trade with him, 

you two switch, and you get his!!! 

Puppy in the Box 

Props :A cardboard box, and a stuffed dog (or rabbit, 

etc.) 

Announcer: This scene takes place on the street 

outside a grocery store. (Several participants are 

gathered around outside the store, chatting.) 

Roger: (Enters holding the box) Hi guys, would you 

please hold this box for me while I go into the store? 

(Exits) 

Martin: I wonder what’s in the box? 

Gerry: I don’t know, but something yellow is leaking out! 

Bob: (Rubs finger against the bottom of box, then licks 

finger) Hmmm, it tastes like lemon soda. 

Martin: (Also rubs box and tastes finger) No. I think it’s 

more like chicken soup. 

Roger: (Returns, looks in box) Oh, you naughty puppy! 

Raisin Skit 

1st Scout comes out: Gets down on all fours, 

pretending to be a table. 

2nd Scout comes out, looks at the table and declares; 

2nd SCOUT: “Ahh, a fly, I think I’ll pull it’s wings off” 

Proceeds to pick it up, pluck the wings, put it back on 

the table, and walks off. 

3nd Scout comes out, looks at the fly on the table and 

says; 

3rd SCOUT: “Oh, a fly with no wings, I think I’ll pull it’s 

legs off”, With great precision and animation, picks up 

the fly, removes it’s legs, and puts it back and walks off. 

4rd Scout comes out, looks at the fly and announces; 

4th SCOUT: “Say, a fly with no wings and no legs, I 

think I’ll pull it’s head off.” Then proceeds as the other 

Scout before him. 

Last Scout comes out looks at the table, then carefully 

inspects the object with out picking it up and says very 

quickly 

LAST SCOUT: “A raisin !” and quickly picks it up and 

puts it in his mouth 

Reggie and the Colonel 

Characters: Reggie, big, dumb, Bermudas, high socks, 

safari hat, glasses, down on nose, moustache, carries 

gun in front of him. Colonel: short, limp, monocle, no 

gun, just small knapsack, has cane. Scene: Walking in 

place through darkest Africa, speaking pronounced 

English accent. 

Colonel: (excited, jumping and pointing with cane) 

Reggie, look... Did you see it, Reggie?? 

Reggie: See what??! No, no, where, where?? Colonel: 

Oh, Reggie, It was a beautiful condor, 8 foot wing span, 

beautiful colors. 

Reggie: No. I didn’t see it. Colonel: Wish you’d pay 

closer attention. (They continue walking). 

Colonel: Did you see it, Reggie? 

Reggie: No, what? 

Colonel: A spotted Zebra...Wish you’d pay closer 

attention. 

Colonel: (later) Did you see it, Reggie?? Did you see 

it? 

Reggie: No I missed it ... what was it? 

Colonel: An ooh-aah bird. 

Reggie: Ooh-aah bird. What’s a ooh aah bird?? 


Colonel: An ooh-aah bird is a 2 pound bird that lays a 3 

pound egg, like this: Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 

(face lights up). 

(continue walking). 

Reggie: Whispers to audience: Next time I’ll say yes - 

pretend like I saw it. I’ll fool him. 

Colonel: Reggie, Reggie did you see it! (excited) 

Reggie: I saw it, I saw it! 

Colonel: Then why in heaven’s name did you step in 

it??? 

Submarine Captain 

A line of submarine officers on a Japanese sub during 

WWII .Captain sights a ship in the periscope 

CAPTAIN: ‘Tanker bearing 259, Range 1 mile’ 

He yells this to the first mate, who in turn tells second 

mate, down the line until finally the torpedo operator is 

told. The torpedo operator just shrugs his shoulders. 

CAPTAIN: ‘Load main tube # 1 and stand by to fire. ‘He 

yells this to the first mate, who in turn tells second mate, 

down the line until finally the torpedo operator is told. 

TORPEDO OPERATOR: ‘I don’t know How. 

Next the captain gives the order to fire down the line, 

but the 

TORPEDO OPERATOR. Says “I don’t know 

How...”This message is returned up the line to the 

Captain who SCREAMS. 

CAPTAIN: “Press the red button. “When this message 

finally gets down to the TORPEDO OPERATOR. He 

follows it, but it took too long so they miss the ship. 

(More message passing if you want.) Finally after about 

three ships (each time the TORPEDO OPERATOR 

doesn’t remember how to fire.)The Captain feels 

disgraced and pulls out a knife and commits Seppuku 

(or incorrectly, Hari Keri) Each officer in turn picks up 

the knife and follows the Captains example until at last 

the knife comes to the Torpedo Officer Who looks at the 

knife and says; 

TORPEDO OPERATOR: ‘I don’t Know How...” 

The Dead Body 

Number of Participants: 2 

Scene: One person lying on the ground, dead. Another 

sees him and runs for the telephone and, panicking, 

Page 82 

gasps: “Police, there’s a dead person here... Where ? 

.... Um, (looking for a sign), “I’m at Montgomery and 

Westchester... Spell it ?... Uh, M-o-t-n... Uh, M-o-t-g,,” 

(confused), “Just a minute, I’ll drag him over to King 

and Elm !” 

The Important Papers 

The setting can be either a king or a boss in his office 

who beckons to a courtier or assistant that he wants his 

royal or important papers. The person runs in with a 

sheath of papers, the king or boss quite agitated tosses 

them aside and demands that they bring him his 

important papers. Other people bring in other things 

one at a time such as a Boy Scout Handbook etc. the 

king throws them aside and gets more and more upset 

demanding that he have his important papers. At last 

the some one comes in with a roll of toilet paper (court 

jester, office boy etc.). The king knights him or the boss 

promotes him thanking him profusely and runs off the 

stage in visible relief. 

The Lawnmower 

(One participant is on his hands and knees as the 

mower.) 

Owner: (Yanking imaginary rope, while mower sputters) 

This darned old mower, I can’t get it going. I need some 

help. (Gets help from another participant.) 

Helper #1: So you just want me to yank on this rope, 

and get it started ? That’s easy ! (Yanking rope) 

Mower: (Splutters, bobs up and down) 

Helper #1: I’m sorry. I can’t seem to do it. Have you 

checked the gas ? 

Owner: Yes, I have. Thanks anyway. Well, let’s see who 

else has a strong arm. (Selects another participant) 

What I need you to do is to give a real good yank on the 

starting rope and make it run. 

Helper #2: Sure thing. (Yanks rope a couple of times.) 

Mower: (Bobs up and down, sputters, coughs) 

Helper #2: Sorry, I can’t do it either. 

Owner: What I need is someone big and strong 

(Selects a Leader) (Leader will probably make some 

comments, but let him talk and get him to pull the rope) 

Mower: (Splutters, coughs, starts to vibrate and run) 

Owner: There. All it needed was a good jerk. 


The Little Green Ball 

This one is so old, but it appeals to the lads in my troop. 

First scout comes on and says ‘Oh no I’ve lost it’ He 

then starts to search around on the floor. Second scout 

comes in and asks what he is looking for. First scout 

replies that he has lost his little green ball. Both scouts 

continue searching the floor. Several more scouts come 

on and are told about the lost little green ball. Even 

members of the audience can be persuaded to join in 

the search. After enough time has been dragged out, 

the first scout, sticks a finger up his nose and says 

“Don’t worry I will have to make another one” 

The Lost Lollipop 

(Small boy is sitting, crying) 

Passerby #1: (Enters) What’s wrong little boy, why are 

you crying? 

Boy: (Sobbing) I lost my lollipop! 

Passersby #1: Have you looked for it? 

Boy: (Continues to sob) Oh, yes, I’ve looked under my 

bed, in my sock drawer, and even in Charlie’s pocket. 

Passerby #1: I’ve heard that chanting often works. You 

think very hard about the lollipop until you can see it in 

your mind, and chant ‘lollipop’ over and over again. 

Boy: (Closing eyes tightly) Big red yummy lollipop, big 

red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop. 

Passersby #1: (Nods approval and strolls out) 

Boy: (Continues chanting for a while, then starts crying 

again) 

Passerby #2: (Enters) What’s wrong, little boy? 

Boy: (Sobbing) I lost my lollipop, and I hunted and 

hunted, then this man told me to chant, and I did, and it 

didn’t work! 

Passersby #2: Chanted? 

Boy: Yeah, like this (Demonstrates, then starts to cry) 

Passerby #2: Don’t cry little boy. Maybe we need more 

help. 

Boy: (Turns to audience) You’re my only help to get my 

lollipop back. Everybody, very softly now, chant with me, 

“Big red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop, big red 

yummy lollipop.” (Gets everyone doing it in unison) 

Great ! I think it’s working, keep going now. 

Passersby #1: (Reenters) Hi little boy. Did it work? 

Boy: (Loudly) No, it didn’t, but I did find a whole lot of 

suckers!!! 

The Medicrin 

There once was a medieval village named Trinsic. This 

village was being terrorized by a vile monster, the 

Medicrin. Each night, the Medicrin would stalk down 

from the hills, and devour one of the villagers. The 

terrified villagers called a meeting, and decided to pool 

their money together to hire the great hero Erik. 

(fanfare) 

Erik came and listened to the complaints of the 

villagers. He consulted his Great Hero’s Book of Vile 

Monsters, and learned that Medicrins love to eat Loons. 

So Erik hunted high and low to find a loon. He found 

one, captured it, tied it up, and brought it back to the 

village. He then had the villagers dig a deep pit. Erik 

threw the loon into the pit, hoping to capture the 

Medicrin, and slay it. 

That night, the Medicrin came . . . It smelled the loon . . 

. But it also smelled DANGER, and it ran off, devouring 

one of the villagers on the way out. 

After calming the villagers, the next day, Erik again 

consulted his Great Hero’s Book of Vile Monsters, and 

learned that Medicrins also love sugar. So Erik gathered 

up all of the sugar in the village, and threw it into the pit. 

The loon, not having eaten in days, devoured all of the 

sugar in a single gulp. Erik was struck with panic, and 

ran to and fro trying to figure out what to do next, but 

night had fallen, and the Medicrin would be there soon, 

so Erik crossed his fingers, and hoped for the best. 

That night, the Medicrin came . . . It smelled the loon . . 

. It smelled danger . . . But it also smelled the sugar, 

and the Medicrin dived into the pit, and devoured the 

loon. The villagers swarmed over the Medicrin, and 

slew it. 

The moral of the story: “A loon full of sugar helps the 

Medicrin go down.” 


Walk ons are quick little skits, one or two lines long, that 

run between songs and skits to fill in gaps. T’s best to 

arrange ahead of time with the emcee so he can play 

the straight man. 

Case I: Taking My Case to Court 

Scout crosses in front of emcee carrying a brief case or 

a plastic milk case in front of him. 

Emcee: What are you doing? 

Scout: Taking my case to court. 

Case II: Case Thrown Out of Court 

From the side, scout tosses a brief case or a plastic 

milk case across in front of the emcee then follows to 

pick it up. 

Emcee: What happened 

Scout: My case got thrown out of court 

Case III: Taking My Case to a Higher Court 

Scout crosses in front of emcee carrying a brief case or 

a plastic milk case over his head. 

Emcee: Now what are you doing? 

Scout: Taking my case to a higher court. 

Case IV: Open and Shut Case 

Scout opens and closes the case as he walks across 

the stage. 


Scout: It’s an open and shut case! 

Case V: Case Got Overturned 

Scout enters with case open and inverted. 


Scout: My case got overturned 

Case VI: Lost My Case 

Scout searches all around stage or campfire with a 

flashlight. 


Scout: I lost my case 

Case VII: Rest My Case 

Scout places the hands of the Emcee in front of him, 

and puts his case on them. 

Scout: I rest my case. 

Page 84 

Walk Ons 

Fire Drill 

Through the meeting or campfire, different people run 

through with some container (cups, buckets, cans, etc.). 

Eventually the Emcee stops one of them and asks 

what’s going on to which the reply is “your tent (car, 

house whatever) is on fire”. 

It’s All Around Me 

Scout runs up to emcee in a panic yelling, “It’s all 

around me! It’s all around me!” 

Emcee: What’s all around you? 

Scout: My belt! 

It’s All Over Me 

Scout runs up to emcee in a panic yelling, “It’s all over 

me! It’s all over me!” 

Emcee: What’s all over you 

Scout: My skin! 

Just Sticking Around 

Scout walks across in front of emcee tapping the 

ground with a large stick 


Scout: Just sticking around 

Leaving 

Scout walks across the area scattering handfuls of 

leaves he takes from a big bag. 

Emcee: “What are you doing?” 

Scout: “I’m leaving!” 

Pulling String 

Scout walks onto stage area pulling a string big enough 

to see. 


Scout: I’m pulling a string. 

Emcee: What are you doing that for? 

Scout: Well, have you ever tried to push one?! 

Raisin Cane 

Scout enters with cane or hiking staff held high above 

his head 


Scout: Raisin’ cane! 


Squirrels 

Scout runs on stage screaming. 

Scout: They’re after me! They’re after me! 

Emcee: Who’s after you? 

Scout: The squirrels, they think I’m nuts 

Throwing Up 

Scout walks across the front tossing a ball several 

inches to a foot up in the air. 


Scout: I’m throwing up! 


Page 86 

Index 

Title Section Page 

1,000 Legged Worm .......................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

2,000 Lb.Canary Cheer ..................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

A Boy and a Girl ................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 34 

A Hundred Miles ................................................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 54 

A Log Drive ........................................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 14 

A Way Down Yonder .......................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Abe Lincoln Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Alka Seltzer Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Amen ................................................................................. Religious Songs ....................................................... 65 

America ............................................................................. Round Songs............................................................ 63 

An Interesting Yarn ............................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 10 

An Old Austrian .................................................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 25 

Angry Cantaloupe Cheer ................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Announcements ................................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 34 

Apples and Bananas ......................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 25 

Archery Cheer ................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Archery Cheer ................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Artillery Cheer .................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Auld Lang Syne ................................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 54 

Avon Lady Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Baba Eka Bo ..................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Back to Gilwell ................................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 59 

Baden-Powell Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Barbershop Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Battle of New Orleans ........................................................ History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 30 

Be Kind to Your Web Footed Friends................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 35 

Be Prepared ...................................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Bear Cheer ........................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Beaver Cheer .................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Beaver Song ...................................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Bee Cheer ......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Beginnings ......................................................................... Historical Facts & Information................................... 16 

Bell Ringer # 2 ................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 79 

Bell Ringer # 3 ................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 79 

Bell Ringer #1 .................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 79 

Ben Franklin Cheer ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Bicycle Shop ...................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 79 

Big Fat Hen ....................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 35 

Big Hand Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Big Rainstorm Cheer ......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Big Rock Candy Mountain Cheer ....................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Big Sneeze Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Big Thumb Cheer .............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Bill Hogan’s Goat ............................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Bing-A-Lacka Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Bingo ................................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 35 

Birds in the Wilderness ...................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 59 

Black Powder Rifle Cheer .................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Blackhawk Fight Song ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Blackhawk Song ................................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Blow the Man Down ........................................................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 23 

Blowin’ in the Wind ............................................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 54 



Blue Tail Fly ....................................................................... History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 30 

Blue Water Line ................................................................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 30 

Boom Boom Ain’t It Great to be Crazy ............................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 35 

Bottle Pop - II ..................................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Boy Scout Camp................................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 36 

Brains For Sale .................................................................. Skits ......................................................................... 80 

British Rank Yell ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Broken Arm Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Brown’s Pond, A Cache of Watches .................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 11 

Bug Juice ........................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 36 

Bull Cheer .......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 73 

Bull Fighter Cheer.............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

By the Waters of Babylon .................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 54 

Calamine Lotion Cheer ...................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Call the Hogs Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Calliope ............................................................................. Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Camp Beard Victory March ................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Camp Blackhawk ............................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Blackhawk - I .......................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Camp Blackhawk Song-II .................................................. Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Camp Blackhawk Song-III ................................................. Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Camp Carlin ...................................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Carlin Song ............................................................. Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

Camp Chicaugau Song ..................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 21 

Camp Dan Beard ............................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Dan Beard Song ..................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 20 

Camp Grenada .................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 36 

Camp James E. West........................................................ Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp James E. West........................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Camp Kookamonga ........................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 36 

Camp Reneker .................................................................. Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Robert Crown .......................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Sauger Lake ........................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Stuart - I .................................................................. Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Stuart - II ................................................................. Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp West Rally Song ..................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Camp Wilderness Song ..................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 18 

Camp Wolverine ................................................................ Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Wolverine ................................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

Camp Wolverine North ...................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Camp Wolverine South...................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Can of Applause Cheer ..................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Candy Store ....................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 80 

Cantaloupe Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Carleton Dreams of a County Seat .................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 11 

Carpenter Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Case I: Taking My Case to Court ....................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Case II: Case Thrown Out of Court.................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Case III: Taking My Case to a Higher Court ....................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Case IV: Open and Shut Case ........................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Case V: Case Got Overturned ........................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Case VI: Lost My Case ...................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 



Case VII: Rest My Case .................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Cat’s Meow Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Cheerio Cheer ................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Chekagou .......................................................................... Historical Facts & Information................................... 16 

Cherry Cheer ..................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Chicago Fire Song ............................................................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 30 

Chinese Cheer .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Chip Chop Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Chopped Liver ................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 37 

Christmas Bells Cheer ....................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Clam Cheer ....................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Class “A” Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Class “B” Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Class “C” Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Class “Z” Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Climbing Up the Ladder ..................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 59 

Columbus Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Coo Coo Cheer.................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 74 

Cookie Cheer .................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Cork Cheer ........................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Crab Cheer ........................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Cry-I-Cry-I-Cus .................................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 59 

Cuma Zimba ...................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Cushman’s Settlement ...................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 11 

Dalton’s Mill ....................................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 8 

Damper Song .................................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 25 

Dang Me ............................................................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 54 

Day is Done ....................................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 54 

De Camptown Racetrack................................................... History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 31 

Dead Man’s Rollaway & the Grave of the Unknown........... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 9 

Dem Bones........................................................................ Religious Songs ....................................................... 65 

Desert Cheer ..................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ding Dong ......................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 37 

Ding Gang Goo.................................................................. Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Dip Stick Cheer .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Do Your Ears Hang Low .................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 37 

Down by the Old Millstream ............................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 25 

Drool Song ........................................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 38 

Drunkin Sailor .................................................................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 23 

Dummy Line ...................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 38 

Dutch Song........................................................................ Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Ebeneezer Fry ................................................................... History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 31 

English Cheer .................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Erie Canal .......................................................................... History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 31 

Erie-Erie-Erie-Oh! .............................................................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 31 

Eskimo Cheer .................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ezekiel Saw A Wheel Turning ............................................ Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Family Camp ..................................................................... Camp Cheers ........................................................... 17 

Famous Crystal Lake......................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Ferris Wheel Cheer ........................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Fire Drill ............................................................................. Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Fire Engine Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Fishy Cheer - I ................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Page 88 



Fishy Cheer - II .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Flat Tire Cheer................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Flea ................................................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Flea Cheer ......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Flea Flip Cheer .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Flintstone Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Foil Dinner Cheer .............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Follow Me Boys ................................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 59 

Forest City Post office ....................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 12 

Forward ............................................................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 4 

Framat Vi Ga Sjungande ................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Froggie .............................................................................. Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Garbage Barge .................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 38 

Gathering of Nuts .............................................................. Skits ......................................................................... 80 

Gee, I’m Glad I’m A Boy Scout .......................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

George Washington Cheer - I ............................................ Cheers...................................................................... 75 

George Washington Cheer - II ........................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ghost Cheer - I .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ghost Cheer - II ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ghost Chickens in the Sky................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 39 

Ghost Riders in the Sky ..................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 39 

Glory How Peculiar ............................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 39 

God Bless My Underwear .................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

Goin On a Lion Hunt .......................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 25 

Golf Cheer ......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Golf Cheer ......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Gondolier Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Gone The Rainbow ............................................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 55 

Good Night Comrades ....................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 59 

Good Old Open Trail.......................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

Good Turn Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Grannies in the Cellar ........................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

Grape Cheer ...................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Green Grow the Rushes Grow .......................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 55 

Greenback Dollar .............................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 55 

Growing Together .............................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

Guillotine Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 75 

Ham and Eggs................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

Hammer Song ................................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 55 

Han Skal Leve ................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Handkerchief/Neckerchief Cheer ....................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Hangman Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Happy Sunday School ....................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 65 

Hay-Straw .......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

He’s Got the Whole World ................................................. Religious Songs ....................................................... 66 

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes ........................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 26 

Hello, Hello ........................................................................ Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Hey Lotty, Lotty Lo ............................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

Hi. Ho. Nobody Home ........................................................ Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Hinchman’s Halfway Camp ................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 12 

Hocky Tocky Umba ............................................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 26 

Holly Poddle Doodle .......................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 

Hong Kong Blues ............................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 70 



How Burying Ground Point Got It’s Name .......................... Tales & Stories ........................................................... 2 

How Do You Do? ............................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

Howdy Cheer ..................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Howdy Pard Cheer ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 76 

I Belong ............................................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

I Had But Fifty Cents .......................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 40 

I Like the Mountains .......................................................... Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

I Love You .......................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 41 

I Points to Mineself ............................................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 26 

I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing .................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 56 

I’m Happy When I’m Hiking ............................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

I’m In The King’s Nivy ........................................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 26 

If You’re Happy .................................................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 26 

Indian Lake ........................................................................ Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

Indiana Jones Cheer ......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Introduction........................................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 4 

Is it Time Yet? .................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 80 

It Must Be Owasippe ......................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 20 

It’s All Around Me ............................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

It’s All Over Me .................................................................. Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

J.C. Penny ......................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 80 

John Brown’s Baby ............................................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

Johnny Appleseed Grace................................................... Prayers & Graces ....................................................... 1 

Johnny Verbeck ................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 41 

Jolly Green Giant Cheer .................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Junior Birdman .................................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 41 

Just Sticking Around .......................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Kiowa Indian Yell................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Ko-Ko, Ko-Ko .................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

Kum Ba Yah ....................................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 66 

Kung, Kling, Kung .............................................................. Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

Kybo Cheer........................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Lang, Lang Trail to Camp .................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

Leaving .............................................................................. Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Lemon Tree ....................................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 56 

Let Us Sing Together ......................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

Let Us Sing Together ......................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Linger ................................................................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 56 

Little Brown Mouse ............................................................ Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Little Rabbit Fru Fru ........................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 42 

Little Tommy Tinker ........................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 63 

Livewire Cheer................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Locomotive Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

London’s Burning ............................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 64 

Lover’s Lament .................................................................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 32 

Lower Lake Medley ............................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

Lumbering On Cleveland Creek ........................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 7 

Lumberjack Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mad Doctor Cheer ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Marilyn Monroe Cheer ....................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mermaid Song ................................................................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 23 

Mexican Hat Dance Cheer................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Michael Row the Boat ........................................................ Religious Songs ....................................................... 67 

Page 90 



Model “T” Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Moose Cheer ..................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mosquito Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Motorcycle Cheer .............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mount Rushmore Cheer .................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mountain Climbers Cheer .................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 76 

Mountain Dew .................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 42 

Musikanter ......................................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean ........................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

My Favorite Senior Things ................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 43 

New Underwear ................................................................. Skits ......................................................................... 81 

O Mo Ni Go ....................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

O, Vad Livet Ar H Arlight .................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

Old MacDonald Had a Farm .............................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 43 

Old Scouter ....................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 43 

On Top of Spaghetti ........................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 43 

One Bottle of Pop - I .......................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 64 

One Finger, One Thumb .................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

One Tin Solder .................................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 56 

Ooey-Gooey ...................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

Order of the Arrow & Owasippe ......................................... Historical Facts & Information................................... 16 

Out in the Woods ............................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 49 

Owasippe Grace ................................................................ Prayers & Graces ....................................................... 1 

Owasippe Hymn ................................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 20 

Owasippe Post Office ........................................................ Historical Facts & Information................................... 16 

Paper Bag Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Party Cheer ....................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Pat on the Back ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track ......................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

Pennsylvania University Cheer .......................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Philmont Grace .................................................................. Prayers & Graces ....................................................... 1 

Philmont Hymn .................................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 60 

Pink Pajamas .................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

Pinky Cheer ....................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Pollution Protest ................................................................ Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

President Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Puff the Magic Dragon ....................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 57 

Pulling String ...................................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Puppy in the Box ............................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 81 

Purple Stew ....................................................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

Queen’s Navy .................................................................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 23 

Railroad Bill ....................................................................... History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 32 

Rainstorm Cheer ............................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Raisin Cane ....................................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 84 

Raisin Skit ......................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 81 

Ravioli ................................................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

Razzle Dazzle Cheer ......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Reggie and the Colonel ..................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 81 

Relay Cheer....................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Reneker Family Camp ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

Reverse Applause ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Rip-Rip-Rap Cheer ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Rise and Shine .................................................................. Religious Songs ....................................................... 67 



Road Runner Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Robert T. Crown Song ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 21 

Robot Cheer ...................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Rock of My Soul ................................................................ Religious Songs ....................................................... 67 

Roll Me Over the Billows .................................................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 23 

Roll On Columbia .............................................................. Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

Rooster Cheer ................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Round of Applause ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Row, Row, Row Your Boat ................................................. Round Songs............................................................ 64 

Russel Road ...................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

Santa Claus Cheer ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Sarasponda ....................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

Sauger Lake Camp Song .................................................. Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 21 

Sauger Lake Song ............................................................. Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 21 

Scout Company ................................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

Scout Vespers ................................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 67 

Scouting Spirit .................................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

Scouting We Go ................................................................ Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

Seal of Approval ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Second Story Window ....................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 44 

She Waded in the Water ................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 45 

She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain ................................ Action Songs ............................................................ 27 

Silent Yell ........................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Sioux Table Prayer............................................................. Prayers & Graces ....................................................... 1 

Sippin Cider ....................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 45 

Six Pence .......................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 71 

Skeel’s Creek .................................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 12 

Skeeters ‘n’ the Bedbugs ................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 46 

Sky Rocket Cheer.............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Slab Lake – Square Lake – Marl Bed – Wood Lake – Nine Acre Lot Lake –Virgin Norway Pine Owasippe, Its Yarns 

& Legends ......................................................................... 12 

Snow’s rollaway and Its Interesting Surroundings .............. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 8 

Snow’s Trail and Mounds ................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 13 

Sommers Wilderness Grace ............................................. Prayers & Graces ....................................................... 1 

Southern Cantaloupe Cheer .............................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Space Shuttle Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Squirrels ............................................................................ Walk Ons ................................................................. 85 

Stamp of Approval ............................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

Standing in the Need of Prayer .......................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 67 

Stewball ............................................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 57 

Stuart Camp Song - I ......................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Stuart Camp Song - III ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Stuart Camp Song –II ........................................................ Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 19 

Submarine Captain ............................................................ Skits ......................................................................... 82 

Supercaligragilisticexpialidocious ...................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 46 

Take me Home, Country Roads ........................................ Ballads ..................................................................... 57 

Taps ................................................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 68 

Tell Me Why ....................................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 68 

The Ants Go Marching ....................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 50 

The Billboard Song ............................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 46 

The Boy Scout Day ............................................................ Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

The Brass Pistol ................................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 13 

The Cat Came Back .......................................................... Animal Songs ........................................................... 50 

Page 92 



The Crest of the Wave ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

The Dead Body.................................................................. Skits ......................................................................... 82 

The Far Northlands ............................................................ Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

The Fonz Cheer ................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 77 

The Grand Old Captain Kirk .............................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 28 

The Grand Old Duke of York ............................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 28 

The Great “B” Cheer .......................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 78 

The Green Grass Grows All Around .................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 46 

The Grub (Daddy’s Whiskers) ........................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 47 

The Happy Wanderer ........................................................ Nature Songs ........................................................... 52 

The Important Papers ........................................................ Skits ......................................................................... 82 

The Lawnmower ................................................................ Skits ......................................................................... 82 

The Legend of White River ................................................ Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 6 

The Little Green Ball .......................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 83 

The Lost Lollipop ............................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 83 

The Mask Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 78 

The Medicrin ...................................................................... Skits ......................................................................... 83 

The More We Camp Together ........................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

The More We Get Together ............................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 61 

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down .............................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 32 

The Oceana Lumbering Boat ............................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends ................................ 14 

The Old Trading Post......................................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 5 

The Owasippe Chant ......................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 20 

The Owasippe Legend: Version I ....................................... Tales & Stories ........................................................... 2 

The Owasippe Legend: Version II ...................................... Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 4 

The Paddle Song ............................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 64 

The Quartermaster Store ................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 47 

The Salt Marsh .................................................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 6 

The Thing .......................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 47 

The Three Fishermen ........................................................ Sea Songs ................................................................ 24 

The Voyageur’s Song ........................................................ History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 32 

The White River Roll-Aways .............................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 8 

There ain’t No Flies On Us ................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 48 

There’s A Hole In The Bottom of the Sea ........................... Sea Songs ................................................................ 24 

These Bones Shall Rise Again .......................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 68 

This is America .................................................................. History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 33 

This Old Man ..................................................................... Round Songs............................................................ 64 

Three Blind Mice................................................................ Round Songs............................................................ 64 

Three Chartreuse Buzzards............................................... Action Songs ............................................................ 28 

Throw Up Cheer ................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Throwing Up ...................................................................... Walk Ons ................................................................. 85 

Till We Meet Again ............................................................. Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

Titanic ................................................................................ Sea Songs ................................................................ 24 

Today ................................................................................. Ballads ..................................................................... 58 

Tom Dooley ....................................................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 58 

Toucan Yell ........................................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Troop Number Song .......................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

Trumpet Cheer .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Trusty Tommy Was A Scout ............................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

Turkey Yell ......................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Turtle Cheer....................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Under The Chestnut Tree .................................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 28 

Vespers, Taps & Scout Oath .............................................. Religious Songs ....................................................... 68 



Vi Va La More .................................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

Wad-A-Lee-Aches ............................................................. Action Songs ............................................................ 29 

Walking at Night ................................................................ Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

Waltzing Matilda ................................................................ Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

Waterloo ............................................................................ History (Americana) Folk Songs ............................... 33 

Watermelon Cheer ............................................................ Cheers...................................................................... 78 

We Are Jolly Boys.............................................................. Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

We’re Here for the Fun ...................................................... Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

We’re On the Upward Trail ................................................ Scouting Songs ........................................................ 62 

What A Ten Chew Cheer ................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 78 

What’s Your Name ............................................................. Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 48 

Wheat Settlement .............................................................. Owasippe, Its Yarns & Legends .................................. 9 

Where Have all the Flowers Gone? ................................... Ballads ..................................................................... 58 

While the Organ Peeled Bananas ..................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 48 

Whooped Up ..................................................................... Nature Songs ........................................................... 53 

Wild Rover ......................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

Wildcat Trails ..................................................................... Historical Facts & Information................................... 16 

Wir Zogen Indas Feld ........................................................ Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

Witch Cheer ...................................................................... Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Wolverine North Song ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 22 

Wolverine South Song ....................................................... Camp Loyalty Songs ................................................ 21 

Yodelers Cheer .................................................................. Cheers...................................................................... 78 

Yon Yonson ........................................................................ Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 48 

You Can Dig My Grave ...................................................... Religious Songs ....................................................... 69 

You Can’t Get To Heaven .................................................. Religious Songs ....................................................... 69 

Zulu Warrior....................................................................... Odd-Ball (Comic) Songs ........................................... 48 

Zum Gali Gali .................................................................... Foreign Songs .......................................................... 72 

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Owasippe - Troop 149, McHenry, IL

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