ROCKY RIVER
Songbook
ROCKY RIVER
Songbook
D e d i c at ed t o
our l ate f ound e rs
Carol “Mama” Knolk,
Jane Brown
our l ate d ir e c t o r
Sandy Bateman
and ow ne r
Mary “Skeet” Anderson
We hope our voices reach all the way to heaven so you can hear
that your camp and legacy have stood the test of time.
d esi g n & C o m pi lati o n
Alyson Stringer Steakley, Alumni
2 n d ed i ti o n , 2 0 0 9
I have just finished proofing the songbook … it is truly wonderful.
Even though it should feel like work for me now, I am constantly
drawn back in time by the memories each song holds. Also, I look
forward to hearing today’s girls raise the rafters off of the Grubstake
claiming these songs as their own!
Thank you to Alyson and all the alumni that helped dust cobwebs
off of some of these oldies. I promise that your efforts will go to
good use for generations to come.
There is magic in these songs.
Gratefully,
Liz Maddeaux Sierra
al umni & Di re cto r
May 2007
Table of Contents
Rocky River
Heart and Soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Picture a Spot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocky River Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocky River Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rocky River Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RRR Pledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Triple R Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wonderful Rocky River . . . . . . . . . . .
4
2
2
2
5
3
2
3
4
Breakfast
Birdie Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enthusiastic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Good Morning to You . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ham and Eggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Junior Birdmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Riggedy Jig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
You’ve Been Primping . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
18
18
19
19
18
19
Fast Songs
Team Songs
Cowpoke Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cowpoke Echo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Cowpoke Hard Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Cowpoke Open Up the Barn Door . . 10
Cowpoke Red Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cowpoke Red Hot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cowpoke Round Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cowpoke Strawberry Shortcake . . . . . 8
Cowpoke Wrangler Warning . . . . . . 11
Cowpoke Wranglers Will Shine . . . . 10
Cowpoke Yell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
If You Wanna Be a Cowpoke . . . . . . 10
Pretty Cowpokes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Red and White, Cowpokes Forever . 10
Wish You Were a Cowpoke . . . . . . . . 9
Wrangler Atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Wrangler Bananas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Wrangler Countdown . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Wrangler Echo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Wrangler Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Wrangler Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Wrangler Little Froggy . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Wrangler Paul Revere . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Wrangler Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Wrangler Thunder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Grubstake Graces
Back of the Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For Health and Strength . . . . . . . . . .
For Sun and Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
God is Great . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gracias, Señor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Johnny Appleseed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Superman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you, Dirt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
16
16
16
17
16
16
17
A Rum Pum Pum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Ain’t It Great to be Crazy? . . . . . . . . 24
An Austrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Announcements! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Baby Duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Boom Chicka Boom . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Cheeseburger in Paradise . . . . . . . . . 38
Chiquita Banana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cookies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Daisy On My Toe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Do Re Mi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Do Your Ears Hang Low? . . . . . . . . . 27
Doodley-Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Down by the Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Eeny Meeny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Flee Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Girls, Girls, Girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Green Frog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Hokey Pokey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
How Do You Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
I Don’t Wanna Go Home . . . . . . . . . 33
I Love the Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
In the Moonlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Just a Boy and a Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Kookaburra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Little Red Wagon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Mm Plucka Plucka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Oh, I Wish I Were . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Old Lady O’Leary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Old McDonald Had a Farm . . . . . . . 31
One Bottle of Pop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Oom-Pah-Pah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Paw-Paw Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Piece of Tin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Pink Pajamas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Rooty Toot Toot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Sarasponda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sippin’ Cider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Stewball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious . . . 37
The Donut Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Prune Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The Raindrop Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
This Land is Your Land . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Three Short-Necked Buzzards . . . . . 43
Washington Waddle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Weinie Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Wimberley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
You are My Sunshine . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
You’re a Grand Old Flag . . . . . . . . . . 40
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
WesternS
Back in the Saddle Again . . . . . . . . .
Beautiful Brown Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buffalo Gals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cotton Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cowboy’s Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deep in the Heart of Texas . . . . . . . .
Don’t Fence Me In . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Happy Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Home on the Range . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jenny Lou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ragtime Cowboy Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sioux City Sue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Old Chisholm Trail . . . . . . . . . .
When the Bloom is on the Sage . . . .
51
52
53
48
53
48
55
50
54
51
49
56
56
54
Slow
A Wish for You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
America the Beautiful . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annie’s Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Barges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blowin’ in the Wind . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edelweiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moon River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? .
Who Can Sail Away . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
60
59
58
61
59
62
58
61
60
59
Spirituals
Arky Arky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
El Shaddai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ezekiel’s Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If I Had a Hammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pharaoh, Pharaoh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sabbath Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shalom Chaverim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tell Me Why . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This Little Light of Mine . . . . . . . . .
Well, Well, Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
69
68
69
65
67
66
68
68
64
65
CAMPFIRE & GOODNIGHT
Flicker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Goodnight, Campers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Kum Ba Yah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Linger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Lord, Blow the Moon Out, Please . . 74
May You Always . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
The Call of the Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
friendship circle
Green Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Taps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Lord’s Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
ROCKY RIVER
SONGS
Picture a Spot
Picture a spot of beauty rare
Picture a sky so blue and fare
Paint it with rainbow hues so bright
Then tone it down with shades of night
Frame it with inspiration true
Then let it fill the heart of you
A picture of Rocky River t’will be
A challenge for you and me
RRR Pledge
To Rocky River
We pledge our heart
Forever to be true
For everything you stand for
Your hills and waters too
The friends we make while camping here
Will last our whole lives through
To the land of the Triple R
We pledge our hearts to you
Rocky River Girl
When a Rocky River Girl walks down the street,
She looks 100 per from head to feet.
She’s got that smile, that style, that winning way.
And when you look at her,
You’ll recognize and say:
You’ll say, now there’s a girl I’d like to know,
She’s got that Rocky River pep and go, pep and go! [rah-rah arm]
A look from her is quite a treat,
It’s hard to beat …
A Rocky River Girl (echo)
Remember
Remember the times you’ve had here,
Remember when you’re away.
Remember the friends you’ve made here,
and don’t forget to come back some day.
Remember beside the campfire
The river and sky so blue,
For you belong to Rocky River,
And Rocky River belongs to you.
2
Rocky River Spirit
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
Up in my head, Up in my head, Up in my head,
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
Up in my head, Up in my head to stay.
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
Deep in my heart [continue as in first verse]
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
Down in my feet [continue as in first verse]
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
All over me [continue as in first verse]
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
Up in my head, Deep in my heart, Down in my feet,
I’ve got that Rocky River spirit,
All over me, All over me to stay.
Triple R Girl
Tune: Yellow Rose of Texas
You can tell a Triple R Girl
You can tell her by her walk
You can tell a Triple R Girl
You can tell her by her talk
You can tell her by her manners
By her attitude and such.
You can tell a Triple R Girl
But you cannot tell her much!
You can tell a Triple R Girl
Her campsite is topnotch
You can tell a Triple R Girl
Her singing never stops!
A better friend you’ll ne’er have,
In winter, spring or fall.
You can tell a Triple R Girl
Her smile is ten miles long!
3
Grand Old Camp
Tune: Grand Old Flag
You’re a grand old camp, you’re a wonderful camp
And forever and always will be.
When we’re here with you, our dreams come true,
Rocky River, we’re faithful to thee.
We keep coming back, ’neath the arch in a pack.
And we never will say goodbye,
Our hearts are true, we’re all for you,
Rocky River will never die. Hey!
Heart and Soul
lyrics: alumni alyson stringer steakley | Music: Hoagy Carmichael
Heart and soul, we love the skies so blue
Heart and soul, and the river too,
Fireflies
They float and shine their lights
We love the warm summer nights
Heart and soul, here we’re never bored
Stories told, on the river shore,
Laughing
And we all love to sing
You’ll hear our voices ring
Oh! Rocky River truly, we love you dearly
The time we spend here is treasured, fondly, clearly
And once we leave, we won’t forget you
Though we grieve, we’ll never say adieu
We’ll always
Make our way back here
Every year.
Rocky River Magic
If there were magic,
I’d make two wishes
A winding road that beckons me to roam.
And then I’d wish for a blazing campfire
To welcome me when I’m returning home.
But in this real world, there is no magic
And golden wishes never grow on trees.
Our fondest daydreams must be the magic
To bring us back our happy memories
Mem’ries that linger, constant and true
Mem’ries we cherish, Rocky River and you.
4
TEAM SONGS
Cowpoke Colors
From the office to the Big House,
From the river to the barn,
You can see those Cowpoke colors
In the night and in the morn.
You can see us winning Sports Day,
Every time it rolls around.
You can see us winning session,
Another feather in our crown!
Red Bonnet
Get your red, red bonnet,
With the white ribbon on it,
And we’ll beat those Wranglers all the way.
And we’ll rock, rock, rock ’em,
And we’ll sock, sock, sock ’em.
’Til the end of this Sports Day.
Cowpoke Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake … Banana Split
Those ol’ Wranglers aren’t worth …
Shift to the left … Shift to the right
Stand up … Sit down … Fight, fight, fight!
Cowpoke Round Up
We are the Cowpokes
Tall and bright
In our red and in our white
Yip, yip … yip, yip
We’re the best in the RRR!
We are the Cowpokes,
We are the best folks,
We’re the team that’s gonna win,
Ahh haa, yip, yip, yip … RAH!
Red Hot
Our team is red hot [clap, clap]
Our team is red hot [clap, clap]
Our team is R-E-D, Red, H-O-T, Hot
Once we start, we can’t be stopped!
(3x)
RED HOT!
6
Wish You Were a Cowpoke
Tune: “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne
Hey, hey, you, you- wish you were a Cowpoke?
You know, you know that we are the best folks!
Too bad, too bad you drew a yellowSo sad, so sad — go cry in your JELL-O!
Cowpoke Yell
We are the Cowpokes,
Couldn’t be prouder,
If you can’t hear us,
We’ll yell a little louder!
(3x)
Cowpoke Echo
From coast to coast (echo)
Those cowpokes are the most (echo)
From coast to coast (echo)
Those cowpokes are the most (echo)
CHORUS
Na-na-na-na-nah (echo)
Na-na-na-na-na-nah (echo)
Na-na-na-na-na-na-nah (echo)
Na-na-na-na-na-nah (echo)
From east to west (echo)
Those cowpokes are the best (echo)
From east to west (echo)
Those cowpokes are the best (echo)
CHORUS
From sun to sun (echo)
Those cowpokes are the one (echo)
From sun to sun (echo)
Those cowpokes are the one (echo)
CHORUS
In 1988, my cheerleading camp was finally scheduled after my Rocky River
sessions, so I got to go and learned “Coast to Coast” (now known as
“Cowpoke Echo.” I thought it would be perfect as a Cowpoke song,
we tried it out, and it was a hit! The best parts? The length of the song
and the taunting “Na-na-na-na-na-h” thoroughly annoys the Wranglers,
and gives Cowpokes a chance to do a little groove to the floor!
—Alyson Stringer Steakley | camper 1982-89, counselor 1993
7
If You Wanna Be a Cowpoke
If you wanna be a Cowpoke [lean forward and back with every word]
Here’s all you have to do …
Just give your heart to Cowpokes [snap from side to side]
And they’ll give it back to you.
Just give a little Cowpoke in your walk [shimmy shoulders]
And give a little Cowpoke in your talk
And you’ll be a Cowpoke, too [clap, clap]
And you’ll be a Cowpoke, too [clap, clap]
Red and White, Cowpokes Forever
music: “I Love You Always Forever” by Donna Lewis
Red and white, Cowpokes forever
From the barn down to the river
Win Sing Song and conquer Sports Day
Points are scored, that’s just how we play
Cowpokes are always together
Never stop, never whatever
Here and there and always
And every where and everything.
(repeat second verse, then first again)
Open Up the Barn Door
Open up the barn door
Kick out the hay
We are the Cowpokes
And we’re here to stay
Turn on the radio and what do you hear?
Elvis Presley singin’ a cheer
When you’re up you’re up
When you’re down you’re down
When you’re messin’ with the Cowpokes
Your upside down.
Wranglers Will Shine
Wranglers will shine tonight
Wranglers will shine
Wranglers will shine tonight
Wranglers will shine
When the sun goes down
And the moon comes up
The Wranglers will shine … the Cowpokes shoes.
8
Pretty Cowpokes
Tune: “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison
Pretty Cowpokes
Walkin’ to the barn
Pretty Cowpokes
We have so much charm
Pretty Cowpokes
We are so lovely, just wait and see
We’re gonna beat you every week
Pretty Cowpokes
Walkin’ to the pool
Pretty Cowpokes
Lookin’ really cool
Pretty Cowpokes
We are so lovely, just wait and see
We’re gonna beat you every week
Pretty cowpokes.
Hard Core
One!
Here comes the two to the three to the four
All of the Cowpokes on the camp floor
Y’all are just mad ’cause we play it hard core
Y’all ain’t never seen a team like us before
Break it down!
Everybody in the camp loves Cowpokes [loud]
Everybody in the camp loves Cowpokes [whisper]
Everybody in the camp loves Cowpokes [loud]
Everybody in the camp loves Cowpokes [whisper]
Slow it down!
Everybody in the camp loves Cowpokes [really slow]
Wrangler Warning
Wranglers, the Cowpokes are after you today
We all advise you — get on your knees and pray
Oh! How we’ll beat you
How we will defeat you
Wranglers, the Cowpokes are after you today
9
Wrangler Echo
Ee-A-Ta, ta ta Mauray (echo)
Oy-A-ta, ta ta Mauray (echo)
Ee-A-Ta (echo)
Oy-A-Ta (echo)
O-E-A, O-E-A
O-E-O-E-O-E-A
Ooga, Ooga, Ooga, Ooga
Wrangler Countdown
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Wranglers don’t take no jive!
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Back up and do it again!
10, 9, 8, 7, 6
Wranglers don’t take no tricks.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Wranglers are number one!
Wrangler Thunder
Thunder, thunder …
thunderation
We’re the Wrangler …
delegation
When we fight with …
determination,
We create a …
great sensation!
Wrangler Paul Revere
Listen my children
and you shall here,
of the midnight ride
of Paul Revere.
He went up the alleys
and down the streets, yelling,
“Wranglers, Wranglers,
can’t be beat!”
10
Wrangler Spirit
Over hill, over dale,
We will hit the dusty trail,
As the Wranglers go riding along.
In or out, sun or set,
We will beat the Cowpokes yet,
As the Wranglers go riding along.
For it’s Hi Hi He,
Best in camp are we,
Fighting with all our might to win!
Rah! Rah!
And we’ll win yet,
if we can only get,
Wrangler Spirit
that never will die.
Wrangler Heaven
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
All for the Wranglers go to heaven!
When they get there
They will yell,
Cowpokes, Cowpokes, go to …
Hail, Hail, the gang’s all here!
Little Froggy
There was a little froggy
Who sat upon a log
He rooted for the cowpokes
He had no sense at all
He fell into the water
And bumped his little head
And when he came back up again
This is what he said
He said go go go go you mighty wranglers
Fight fight fight fight you mighty wranglers
Win win win win you mighty wranglers
Go fight win and kick their bums again
11
Bananas
If you wanna be a Wrangler you’ve got to wear gold and black
Not that red and white, sessions in the sack
If you wanna be a Wrangler you have got to WIN
Losing is for Cowpokes and that will never end
I love my gold and black and I’m not just gonna give up like that
Cuz the Wranglers are Number 1, y’all
The Wranglers are Number 1, y’all
Let me hear you say
Those Cowpokes are bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
Those Cowpokes are bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
From the riverrrrrrrrrrrr to the barn (to the barn)
’Til the ice melts in your cup all those Cowpokes cups
Aawww skeet skeet skeet skeet skeet skeet aw skeet skeet
Wranglers rule Wranglers rule
Wrangler Ignition
This is the Wrangler ignition
Hot ’n’ fresh out the kitchen
Campers rollin’ their bodies
Got every Cowpoke here wishin’
Sippin’ on Coke and Sprite
I’m like, oh yeah, I’m right
It’s Rocky River and the
Cowpokes goin’ down tonight!
Atmosphere
Brrrr … it’s cold in here!
There must be some Wranglers in the atmosphere!
I said,
Brrrr … it’s cold in here!
There must be some Wranglers in the atmosphere!
I said,
Oh-wee-oh-wee-oh-wee
Ice-ice-ice
Oh-wee-oh-wee-oh-wee
Ice-ice-ice
12
GRUBSTAKE
GRACES
God is Great
Tune: Rock Around the Clock
God is great!
God is good!
Let us thank Him for our food
We’re gonna thank him
in the morn, and noon, and night
We’re gonna thank the Lord
’Cuz he’s out of sight
Amen … ch-ch-ch, ch-ch-ch, ch-ch-ch
Amen … ch-ch-ch, ch-ch-ch, ch-ch-ch
Johnny Appleseed
The Lord is 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 is good to me.
Back of the Bread
Back of the bread is the flour,
And back of the flour is the mill,
And back of the mill, is the wind and the rain
and the Father’s will.
Superman
Thank you, God, for giving us food
Thank you, God, for giving us food
The food that we eat
The friends that we meet
Thank you, God, for giving us food.
For Sun and Rain
For sun and rain, for grass and grain
For all who toil on sea and soil
That we may eat this daily food,
We give out loving thanks, dear God
For Health and Strength
For health and strength and daily food
We praise Thy name, Oh Lord.
14
Gracias, Señor
Gracias, Señor, alleluia
Gracias, Señor, alleluia
Gracias, Señor, alleluia
Gracias, Señor
Thank You, Dirt
Dirt made my lunch,
Dirt made my lunch.
Thank you, Dirt, thanks a bunch,
For my salad, my sandwich
My milk and my munch ’cause
Dirt, you made my lunch.
15
Magic Rocky River
Poem by Carol “Mama” Knolk, Founder
June 6, 1949
Here at camp is like a magic store
With a hundred counters, maybe more
You’d never believe what bargains there be,
All over these 25 acres for your eyes to see.
You can wander thru aisles and buy
An oak tree etched on a sunset sky,
A velvet night with a shining moon,
Or if you prefer it, a golden noon.
You can purchase a sky of azure blue
With fleecy clouds all woven through.
Right or left, you wander around
Carpets of color all thru the grass.
Open your eyes and see treasures rare,
Magic Rocky River will make you care.
It is all for you in this rich display,
Constantly changing by night and day.
So choose for yourself from what you see:
The beauty and the view as you look thru the trees.
Maybe you’d like to just sit on the shore
With a fish’n pole and memories galore.
There by a quiet pool in a singing stream,
Let your mind drift into a rosy dream.
Lie on your back ’neath these woodsy trees;
You’ll love it and be happy with the cooling breeze.
So come to this magic camp store and buy,
All you need is a seeing eye.
Let’s keep this store for just you and me,
And best of all — these things are free!
16
BREAKFAST
SONGS
Birdie Song
Way up in the sky, the little birds fly,
While down in the nest, the baby birds rest.
With a wing on their left, [flap left elbow]
And a wing on their right, [flap right elbow]
The baby birds sleep, [lay head on hands pressed together]
All through the night.
Shhhhhh! [index finger to lips]
THEY’RE SLEEPING! [yell]
The bright sun comes up, the dew falls away.
“Good morning, good morning,” the little birds say!
“CHIRP!”
Enthusiastic
I’m alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic
I’m alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic
I’m alive, alert, awake
I’m awake, alert, alive
I’m alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic
(Repeat, getting faster and faster)
Good Morning to You
Good morning to you, good morning to you
We’re all in our places, with bright shining faces
So this is the way, we start our day!
Good morning to you
Good morning to you
You look kind of drowsy, in fact YOU LOOK LOUSY! [yell]
So this is the way, we start our day
Good morning to you, good morning to you!
Riggedy Jig
Oh, we were starved as starved could be Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho
But now we’ve had enough to eat, Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho!
A Riggidy Jig and away we go, away we go, away we go.
A Riggidy Jig and away we go, but we’ll be back for more!
OY!
Note: This song was debuted by Skeet Anderson her first year at Rocky River! It is
sung as everyone leaves the Grubstake at breakfast and lunch.
18
Junior Birdmen
Up in the air, Junior Birdmen.
Up in the air, upside down.
Up in the air, Junior Birdmen.
With their noses to the ground.
When you hear the doorbell ring, ding-dong!
And you see their badge of tin, foil
Then you will know the Junior Birdmen
Have sent their box tops in.
Cheerios! Fruit Loops! Captain Crunch! etc.
You’ve Been Primping
You’ve been primping
You’ve been primping
Now you’re late
Now you’re late
Come a little earlier
Come a little earlier
We won’t wait
We won’t wait
Note: This is sung to counselors and campers who show up to a meal late!
Ham and Eggs
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!
I am amazed that so few [outside Rocky River] seem to know camp songs.
I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to experience someplace as wonderful as
camp at RRR. I thought that was just part of growing up! My oldest boy is 8
and my youngest is 6. I have been singing camp songs as lullabies since the oldest
was born, and still sing “I love you,” “Green Trees” and “Taps” every night
with them. Jr. Birdmen has gotten me out of some nasty jams as well!
—Terri Hiserodt Cagle | camper 1979-1985
19
20
FAST SONGS
Just a Boy and a Girl
Just a boy and a girl in a little canoe
With the moon shinin’ all around.
They paddled, and they paddled so,
You couldn’t even hear a sound.
And they talked and they talked,
’Til the moon grew dim ...
He said, “You better kiss me or get out and swim!”
Soooo, whatcha gonna do in a little canoe …
With the moon shinin’ all-a,
Boats floatin’ all-a,
Guys swimmin’ all around?
Oh, yeah? YEAH!
GET OUT AND SWIM!
Rooty Toot Toot
Rooty toot toot, Rooty toot toot
We are the girls from the institute
We don’t smoke and we don’t chew
And we don’t go with the guys that do.
We ain’t got no boyfriends! … Speak for yourself!
One Bottle of Pop
One bottle of pop
Two bottle of pop
Three bottle of pop
Four bottle of pop
Five bottle of pop
Six bottle of pop
Seven bottle bottle pop
Don’t put your trash in my backyard
my backyard, my backyard
Don’t put your trash in my backyard
my backyard’s full
Fish and chips and
vinegar, vinegar, vinegar
Fish and chips and vinegar,
pepper, pepper, pepper pot
We learned the round “One Bottle of Pop” from Skeet
the first year she came — it was a Girl Scout song that she brought
with her. It was very popular during my years at Rocky River!
—Sherry Latson | camper 1962-1972
22
Boom Chicka Boom
I said a Boom Chicka Boom (echo)
I said a Boom Chicka Boom (echo)
I said a Boom Chicka Rocka Chicka Rocka Chicka Boom (echo)
Uh huh (echo)
Oh yeah (echo)
One more time now ...
. (Slow, Fast, High, Deep, Soft, Loud!)
Ending: All right (echo)
Okay (echo)
That’s it!
Flee Fly
Flee. (echo)
Flee Fly. (echo)
Flee fly Flow. (echo)
Veesta. (echo)
Kum a lotta, kum a lotta, kum a la vee sta. (echo)
No, no, no, no, no da veesta. (echo)
Eeny meeny des-a-meeny oowa oowa-na-meny (echo)
Eeny meeny des-a-meeny oowa oowa (echo)
A bee-billy oaten-toaten bo bo po-tee-ten-toten. (echo)
Shhhhhhhhh
Girls, Girls, Girls
Girls, girls, girls, that’s all we see
There’s not a guy in the vicinity
Every night at ten they lock the doors
We wonder what the heck we ever came here for.
But when the weekend finally rolls around,
We’re gonna turn this whole town upside down.
We’re gonna find our guys and necka, necka, necka, necka
Heck with all these girls! Heck with all these girls!
The thing I remember most about singing in the Grubstake
was how good we sounded together, since most of us were not good
singers. It amazed me that together we sounded so good!
—Hara Chasis Cootes | camper 1978-1986, staff 1986-1991
23
Ain’t It Great to be Crazy?
CHORUS
Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy?
Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy?
Jolly, foolish all day long
Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy?
A horse and a flea and three blind mice
Sat on a curbstone shooting dice
The horse he slipped and fell on the flea
‘Whoops,’ said the flea, ‘There’s a horse on me!’
CHORUS
Way down South where bananas grow
A grasshopper stepped on an elephant’s toe
The elephant cried, with tears in his eyes
‘Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?’
CHORUS
I called myself on the telephone
Just to see if I was home
Made a date for half-past eight
Couldn’t be early, so I had to be late!
CHORUS
I love myself, I love me so
I took myself to the picture show
Wrapped my arms around my waist
Got so fresh, I slapped my face!
CHORUS
Alternate Verses
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 pants to the dance last night!
CHORUS
Announcements!
Announcements, announcements, announcements, [repeat]
A terrible death to die, A terrible death to die,
A terrible death to get talked to death, a terrible death to die.
Announcements, announcements, announcements, [repeat]
Note: This song was debuted by Skeet Anderson her first year at Rocky River!
It is sung when an announcer rings the bell signaling announcement time.
24
An Austrian
Oh, an Austrian went yodeling on a mountain top high,
When along came a
interrupting his cry.
CHORUS
Yo-delayyy, keeee …
Yo-delayy ki ki, yo-delayy ki ki (swish!)
Yo-delayy ki ki, yo-delayy ki ki (swish!)
Yo-delayy ki ki, yo-delayy ki ki
1) Avalanche (swish)
2) Grizzly bear (grrr)
3) Saint Bernard (Hah hah)
4) Pretty girl (kiss kiss)
5) Her boyfriend (Pow!)
6) Girl Scout (Wanna cookie?)
With each step, add the sounds so by the end you’re saying,
“Swish, grr, hah hah, kiss kiss, pow!”
The Raindrop Song
If all the little raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops,
Oh, what a rain it would be.
I’d stand outside with my mouth open wide.
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
Oh, what a rain it would be.
If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milk shakes,
Oh, what a snow it would be.
I’d stand outside with my mouth open wide.
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
Oh, what a snow it would be.
If all the little sun beams were bubble gum and ice cream,
Oh, what a day it would be.
I’d stand outside with my mouth open wide.
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
Oh, what a day it would be.
Old Lady O’Leary
One dark night while we were all in bed
Old Lady O’Leary lit 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!
25
Cookies
Cookies, Cookies, listen while we sing to you.
Cookies, Cookies, you’re a part of camp life too!
Anyone can make a bed, anyone can sweep,
But it takes our Cookies to make the food we eat.
So, Cookies, Cookies, listen while we sing to you!
We really mean it — listen while we sing to you.
Paw-Paw Patch
Where, oh where, oh where is dear little Nellie? (repeat 3x)
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
Picking up paw-paws; put ’em in a basket. (repeat 3x)
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
Come along, girls, and let’s go find her. (repeat 3x)
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch
She’s a queen of old Hawaii. (repeat 3x)
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
She can teach you how to hulu. (repeat 3x)
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
Do Re Mi
Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow sew
Tea, I drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to do...oh oh oh
Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow sew
Tea, I drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do
I learned “Do Re Mi” and “Edelweiss” for the watershow one year.
I’ve always loved the “Sound of Music” mover ever since!
Kim Coll Blanton | camper 1970-1976
26
Doodley-Do
Please sing for me that sweet melody
called the doodley-do, the doodely do.
Simplest thing, there isn’t much to it,
All you’ve got to do is doodley do it.
I like the rest, but the part I like best,
Is the doodley, doodley-do.
Come on and waddeley-acha, waddeley-acha
Waddley-o, waddley-o
Waddeley-acha, waddeley-acha
Waddley-o, waddley-o
Simplest thing, there isn’t much to it,
All you’ve got to do is doodley do it.
I like the rest, but the part I like best,
Is the doodley, doodley-do.
repeat 3x, faster each time
Do Your Ears Hang Low?
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?
Do your ears hang high?
Do they reach up to the sky?
Do they droop when they’re wet?
Do they stiffen when they’re dry?
Can you semaphore your neighbor with a mimimum of labor?
Do your ears hang high?
Do your ears hang wide?
Do they flap from side to side?
Do they wave in the breeze?
From the slightest little sneeze?
Can you soar above the nation with a feeling of elation?
Do your ears hang wide?
27
Sippin’ Cider
The cutest boy (echo)
I ever saw (echo)
Was sippin’ cider (echo)
Through a straw. (echo)
(Together) The cutest boy I ever saw
Was sippin’ ci-de-i-de-ider through a straw.
I asked him if (echo)
He’d show me how (echo)
To sip that cider (echo)
Through a straw. (echo)
(Together) I asked him if he’d show me how
To sip that cider through a straw.
First cheek to cheek (echo)
Then jaw to jaw (echo)
We sipped that cider (echo)
Through that straw (echo)
(Together) First cheek to cheek, then jaw to jaw
We sipped that ci-de-i-de-ider through a straw.
Then suddenly (echo)
That straw did slip (echo)
And we sipped cider (echo)
Lip to lip (echo)
(Together) Then suddenly that straw did slip,
And we sipped ci-de-i-de-ider lip to lip.
That’s how I got (echo)
My mother-in-law (echo)
And 49 kids (echo)
To call me “ma” (echo)
(Together) That’s how I got my mother-in-law
And 49 kids to call me “ma”
The moral of (echo)
This story is (echo)
Is don’t sip cider (echo)
Lip to lip (echo)
(Together) The moral of this story is …
Don’t sip cider … lip to lip!
Drink Ginger Ale!
28
Piece of Tin
oh...
I’m a little piece of tin,
No one knows where I have been,
Got four wheels and a running board,
oh, I’m a Ford, oh, I’m a Ford
Honk honk, [Pull on ear twice]
Rattle rattle rattle, [Shake head]
Crash, [Bump chin with palm]
Beep beep, [Touch nose with fingers twice]
(2 more times)
Honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk
[Pull on ear with each honk]
Aooooga, beep, beep, rrrraaeerrrr
I’m a little acorn brown
Lying on the cold hard ground
Everybody steps on me
That is why I’m cracked you see
I’m a nut [click tongue and knock head twice]
In a rut [click tongue and knock head twice]
I’m a nut, nut, nut, nut, nut!
I’m a little junior miss
I can hug and I can kiss
I can sing and I can dance,
I’ve got ruffles on my …
Whoops, boys, take another guess!
I’ve got ruffles on my dress!
In the Moonlight
Oh oh oh oh, in the moonlight
I wanna hold somebody’s hand.
Oh oh oh oh, in the moonlight
I think you’ll understand.
All the little birdsies,
All the little beesies,
Always go in twosies,
Never go in threesies.
Oh oh oh oh, in the moonlight.
I wanna hold somebody’s hand.
[clap] Yeah!
29
The Fly
A fly went into the grocery store,
Alone, tee-hee, all alone
He’d never been in a store before,
Alone, tee-hee, all alone
He stepped in the meat, put a foot in the ham
Stuck out a “blah” at the grocery man
Then he walked out of the store again,|
Alone, tee-hee, all alone.
The Donut Song
tune: do your ears hang low?
Well, I walked into Wimberley and walked around the block
And I walked right into the donut shop.
And I picked up a donut fresh from the grease.
And I handed the lady a five-cent piece.
Well, she looked at the nickel and she looked at me.
And she said, “This nickel won’t do for me.
There’s a hole in the middle and it goes right through.”
And I said, “There’s a hole in my donut too.”
Thanks for the donut. So long!
Kookaburra [Round]
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
How fun your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me!
Old verses:
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That’s not a monkey, that’s me!
Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh, how life can be!
30
Old McDonald Had a Farm
Old McDonald had a farm ee-ay-ee-ay-oo
And on that farm he had a tree …
And they chopped down the old pine tree, Timber! [yell]
And they hauled it away to the mill, bom, bom, bom [bang on the table]
Old McDonald had a farm ee-ay-ee-ay-oo
And on that farm he had a home …
Home, home on the range
Where they chopped down the old pine tree, Timber! [yell]
And they hauled it away to the mill, bom, bom, bom [bang on the table]
Old McDonald had a farm ee-ay-ee-ay-oo
And on that farm he had a dog …
Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
He’s home, home on the range
Where they chopped down the old pine tree, Timber! [yell]
And they hauled it away to the mill, bom, bom, bom [bang on the table]
Old McDonald had a farm ee-ay-ee-ay-oo
And on that farm he had a sweetheart...
Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you.
Let me whisper in your ear …
[Yell-sing] Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?
[Yell-sing] oh where, oh where can he be?
He’s home, home on the range
And they chopped down the old pine tree, Timber! [yell]
And they hauled it away to the mill, bom, bom, bom [bang on the table]
Old McDonald had a farm ee-ay-ee-ay-oo
Sarasponda [Round]
Group 1: Boom da, boom da, boom da ...
Group 2: Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret set set
Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret set set
All: Ah door ray oh, ah door ray boom day oh
Ah door ray boom day ret set set
Ah say pa say oh.
HEY!
31
Weinie Man
I know a wenie man
He owns a wenie stand
He sells most everything
From hot dogs on down (boom, boom, boom)
Someday I’ll be his wife
His little wenie wife
Hot dog! I love that weinie man!
Wenie-man, wenie-man
Rah, rah, wenie-man
Yeaaahhhh, wenie-man!
Pink Pajamas
Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic
I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it’s hot,
I wear my flannel nightie in the winter when it’s not,
and sometimes in the spring time
and sometimes in the fall
I jump right in between the sheets with NOTHING ON AT ALL!
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory glory what’s it to ya
Balmy breezes blowing through ya,
With nothing on at all.
You Are My Sunshine
You are my sunshine, My only sunshine.
You make me happy, When skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away
Daisy on My Toe
I’ve got a daisy on my toe.
It is not real. It does not grow.
It’s just a tatoo of a flower,
So I’ll look good taking a shower.
It’s on the second toe of my left foot,
Just a stem and flower, it has no root
Why? ‘Cuz that wouldn’t look very good!
It’s just a daisy on my toe.
My right foot loves my left foot so.
[Kiss sound]
32
Washington Waddle
Come with me to Washington DC
Boom Boom Boom Boom
That’s where they play the sweetest ragtime melody
Boom Boom Boom Boom
Let’s begin with lesson number one
My honey waddle, honey waddle
’Til you … weigh a ton!
It’s the Washington Waddle
Get the tune in your noddle and
Let your feet have lots of fun
Soooo waddle with me,
Come on and waddle with me,
It’s like a ragtime ship
On a ragtime sea
Waddle, Waddle, Waddle, Waddle …
Come … on … and … waddle with me! HEY!
I Don’t Wanna Go Home
I don’t wanna go home, boom, boom
I’m having such a wonderful time
They say there’s no place just like home
But this place suits me fine
You can call my folks on the phone, boom, boom
And tell ’em I don’t want to go home
You can always hear me singin’ this song
I don’t wanna go, I don’t wanna go
I don’t wanna go home.
I don’t mean maybe … [slowly]
I don’t wanna go,
Please don’t make me go
I don’t wanna go home, boom, boom!
33
Oh, I Wish I Were ...
Oh, I wish I were a little orange peel (echo: orange peel)
Oh, I wish I were a little orange peel (echo: orange peel)
I’d go squirty, squirty, squirty over everybody’s shirty
Oh, I wish I were a little orange peel (echo: orange peel)
Oh, I wish I were a little can of pop (echo: can of pop)
Oh, I wish I were a little can of pop (echo: can of pop)
I’d go down with a slurp and come up with a burp
Oh, I wish I were a little can of pop (echo: can of pop)
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap (echo: bar of soap)
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap (echo: bar of soap)
I’d go slidey, slidey, slidey over everybody’s hineys
Oh, I wish I was a little bar of soap (echo: bar of soap)
Oh I wish I was a little English sparrow (echo: English sparrow)
Oh I wish I was a little English sparrow (echo: English sparrow)
I’d sit up on the steeple and spit upon the people
Oh I wish I was a little English sparrow (echo: English sparrow)
Oh I wish I were a fishy in the sea (echo: in the sea)
Oh I wish I were a fishy in the sea (echo: in the sea)
I would swimmy in the nudey
without my bathing suity
Oh I wish I were a fishy in the sea (echo: in the sea)
Oh I wish I was a little tree root (echo: tree root)
Oh I wish I was a little tree root (echo: tree root)
I’d stick up on the trail and flip you on your tail
Oh I wish I was a little tree root (echo: tree root)
Oh, I wish I was a little piece of gum (echo: piece of gum)
Oh, I wish I was a little piece of gum (echo: piece of gum)
I would pop, pop, pop ’til someone made me stop
Oh, I wish I was a little piece of gum (echo: piece of gum)
Oh I wish I was a little radio (echo: radio)
Oh I wish I was a little radio (echo: radio)
I’d go click [silence]
34
The Prune Song
Noooo matter how hard a prune may try
He’s always getting wrinkles,
Ahhhh baby prunes just like his dad
’Cept he ain’t wrinkled half so bad,
We get wrinkles on our face,
Prunes they get them every place,
Noooo matter how young a prune may be
he’s always getting stewed,
Little seed, inside the prune,
Is it night or is it noon?
Who’s inside there with you,
little seed inside the prune?
Wimberley
When the hustle and bustle of Houston,
Starts a gettin’ to me,
I put myself in my pickup truck
And head out to Wimberley.
CHORUS
Wimberley (echo)
In the heart of the hill country
Wimberley (echo)
Is where I’d rather be.
Sittin’ on a hill with a twenty-mile view
In the middle of the Wimberley.
Forty miles southwest of Austin,
North of the Alamo,
A little southeast
of Luckenbach, Texas
Is where I wanna go.
CHORUS
And when I die,
I won’t have to leave
What’s home sweet home to me
There won’t be no stairs to climb
’Cuz heaven’s in Wimberley.
CHORUS
This song was written by Skeet’s friend Joyce Webb Tate.
She owns and operates the Wimberley Stained Glass Shop.
35
Stewball
chorus:
Old Stewball was a race horse,
Na, nana nana
And I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,
He always drank wine.
His bridle was silver,
Na, nana nana
His mane it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle,
Has never been told.
I went to the fairgrounds,
Na, nana nana
Old Stewball was there.
And the betting was heavy,
On the bay and the mare.
I bet on the gray mare,
Na, nana nana
And I bet on the bay.
If I’d bet on old Stewball,
I’d be a rich man today.
Oh, the hoot owl does hollar,
Na, nana nana
And the turtledove moans.
I’m a poor boy in prison,
A long way from home.
chorus
36
Green Frog
Ee-Aa, went the little green frog, one day.
Ee-Aa, went the little green frog.
Ee-Aa, went the little green frog, one day.
And his eyes went ee-aa, ee-aa, ee-aa-aa-aa
The other frogs go fo-do-de-oh-dedo
fo-do-de-oh-dedo
fo-do-de-oh-dedo
The other frogs go fo-do-de-oh-dedo
But the little green frog goes
ee-aa, ee-aa, ee-aa-aa-aa
Swish swish went the green snake
Swish swish went the green snake
Swish swish went the green snake one day
And his tail went
Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na
King Tut
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay, Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
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 diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay, Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
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 learned a word, That saved me aching nose
The biggest word I ever heard, And this is how it goes:
chorus
Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay, Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle ay
So when the cat has got your tongue, There’s no need for dismay
Just summon up this word And then you’ve got a lot to say
But better use it carefully Or it may change your life …
One night I said it to me girl, And now me girl’s my wife!
She’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
37
Cheeseburger in Paradise
I like mine with lettuce and tomatoes
Heinz 57 and french-fried potatoes
A big kosher pickle and a cold root beer
Good golly, Molly, which way do I steer,
For a cheeseburger in paradise? Paradise!
Baby Duck [Round]
With just a little bit of luck,
I was born a baby duck,
with yellow socks and yellow shoes
that I may go,
wherever I choose.
Quack, quack, quack quack quack
Quack, quack, quack quack quack
With just a little bit of wish,
I was born a baby fish.
With a fin on the left,
And a fin on the right,
I may go wherever I might.
Swish, swish, swish swish swish
Swish, swish, swish swish swish
If memory serves, Liz [Maddeaux] was nicknamed
“Baby Duck” because she loved this song … or maybe it was
all the little campers running after her all the time. Anyway,
this is from memory so no guarantees!
—Britany Beever Just, great-niece of founder Jane Brown
camper 1979-87, counselor 1989
I was nicknamed “Baby Duck” one year when I had to teach beginning
swimming at Blue Hole (the pool was out of commission). The Blue
Hole water was so cold and I couldn’t convince my class to get in … so,
I sang that song over and over as a game and they followed me into the
water to be baby ducks. From there they started following me around
camp quacking and the nickname stuck.
—Liz Maddeaux Sierra | camper 1977-85, counselor 1986-87
38
I Love the Mountains [Round]
I love the mountains.
I love the rolling hills.
I love the flowers,
I love the daffodils.
I love the fireside,
When the lights are low.
Boom de ah da, Boom de ah da,
Boom de ah da, Boom de ah da.
(Ending) Boom
Note: Everyone sings the first part together. Then one group sings the lyrics again
while a second group sings “Boom de ah da.” Then everyone sings “Boom de ah
da” section together and end with “Boom.”
How Do You Do?
How do you do, our guest, how do you do?
Is there anything that we can do for you?
We’ll do our best for you
We’re never, ever blue
How do you do, our guest, how do you do?
Stand up, stand up, standupstandupstandupstandup
Stand up, stand up, standupstandupstandup!
Note: This song is sung by the campers and counselors when Rocky River has a
guest at breakfast or lunch.
Eeny Meeny
I woke up in the morning and looked upon the wall,
The beetles and the bedbugs were having a game of ball,
The score was 9 to nothing, the beetles were ahead,
The bedbugs hit a homerun and knocked me out of bed! Singin’ …
Chorus
Eeny, meeny, meeny and a-miney, mo
Catch a wiffer-waffer by his toe
And if he hollers, hollers, hollers, let him go,
Singin’ eeny meeny and a-miney mo
My mother gave me a nickel
My father gave me a dime
My sister’s got a boyfriend who looks like Frankenstein.
I’m singin’...
Chorus
39
Down by the Bay
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow.
Back to my home, I dare not go.
For if I do, my mother will say …
Did you ever see a __________________
1) Moose kissing a goose …
2) Whale with a polka-dotted tail …
3) Fly wearing a tie …
4) Bear combing his hair …
5) Duck eat a hockey puck …
6) Flea hit a ball off a tee …
7) Bee with a banged up knee …
8) Goat wearing a coat …
9) Dog singing to a hog …
10) Turkey doing a hurky …
… down by the bay?
Hokey Pokey
You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about,
You do the hokey pokey
and you turn yourself around
That what it’s all about!
2) left hand
3) right foot
4) left foot
5) head
6) hiney
7) whole self
You’re a Grand Old Flag
You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag,
Forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of, the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue,
Where there’s never a boast or a brag.
But should old acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
40
Oom-Pah-Pah
from the musical “Oliver”
There’s a little ditty they’re singin’ in the city
Especially when they’ve been on the fields or the pier
If you’ve got the patience your own imaginations
will tell you just exactly what you want to hear
CHORUS:
Oom pah pah, oom pah pah, that’s how it goes
Oom pah pah, oom pah pah, everyone knows
And they all suppose what they want to suppose …
When they hear oom pah pah
Action: Stand with arms over your neighbors’ shoulders and sway during verse.
Unhook arms and stand up and sit down during chorus, e.g. Oom pah pha [stand],
oom pah pah [sit], that’s how it goes [stand], etc.
Note: “Omm Papa” worked its way into Rocky River’s songbook after “Oliver”
was done for the Watershow!
This Land is Your Land
CHORUS
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me
CHORUS
I’ve roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
O’er the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
CHORUS
The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
CHORUS
41
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah
chorus
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day.
Plenty of sunshine headin’ my way,
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!
Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder,
It’s the truth, it’s “actch’ll”
Everything is “satisfactch’ll.”
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
chorus
Mister Bluebird’s on my shoulder,
It’s the truth, it’s “actch’ll”
Everything is “satisfactch’ll.”
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, feeling this way!
chorus
Chiquita Banana
Chiquita banana
Chiquita banana
Bananas unite [clap and hold hands over head]
Bananas split [separate hands]
Peel bananas, peel peel bananas (what?!) [twirl one arm in a small circle]
Peel bananas, peel peel bananas [twirl the other arm in a small circle]
Go bananas, go go bananas [dance crazy in a circle]
Go bananas, go go bananas [dance crazy in a circle the other direction]
You peel it to the left (uh-huh!)
You peel it to the right (oh, yea!)
You open up the middle and Um!
You take a bite
42
Three Short-Necked Buzzards
Three short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Three short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Oh, no — one has flown away
Whatever shall we do?
Two short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Two short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Oh, no — one has flown away
Whatever shall we do?
One short-necked buzzard sitting on a dead tree
One short-necked buzzard sitting on a dead tree
Oh, no — one has flown away
Whatever shall we do?
No short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
No short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
One has returned
One short-necked buzzard sitting on a dead tree
One short-necked buzzard sitting on a dead tree
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
One has returned
Two short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Two short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
One has returned
Three short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Three short-necked buzzards sitting on a dead tree
Oooooh yeah!
Lunch has returned
And on the menu?
Buzzard Pie!
43
Mm Plucka Plucka
She sat on a hillside and plucked her guitar (plucka, plucka)
Plucked her guitar (plucka, plucka)
Plucked her guitar
She sat on a hillside and plucked her guitar (plucka, plucka)
Plucked her guitar
He sat down beside and puffed his cigar (cough, cough)
Puffed his cigar (cough, cough)
Puffed his cigar (cough, cough)
Chorus:
Mm plucka, plucka
Mm plucka, plucka
Mm pluck, pluck, pluck
He told her he loved her but oh, how he lied (shame, shame)
Oh, how he lied (shame, shame)
Oh, how he lied
He told her he loved her but oh, how he lied (shame, shame)
Oh, how he lied
Chorus
They were to be married but somehow she died (boo hoo)
Somehow she died (boo hoo)
Somehow she died
They were to be married but somehow she died (boo hoo)
Somehow she died
Chorus
He went to her funeral and laughed ’til he cried (hee hee)
Laughed ’til he cried (hee hee)
Laughed ’til he cried
He went to her funeral and laughed ’til he cried (hee hee)
Laughed ’til he cried
Chorus
The tombstone fell over and smish-smash he died
Smish-smash he died
Smish-smash he died
The tombstone fell over and smish-smash he died
Smish-smash he died
Chorus
44
She went up to Heaven and flittered and flied
Flittered and flied
Flittered and flied
She went up to Heaven and flittered and flied
Flittered and flied
Chorus
He went down below her and sizzled and fried
Sizzled and fried
Sizzled and fried
He went down below her and sizzled and fried
Sizzled and fried
Chorus
The moral of this is never tell lies (shame, shame)
Never tell lies (shame, shame)
Never tell lies
The moral of this is never tell lies (shame, shame)
Never tell lies
Chorus
Little Red Wagon
You can’t ride in my little red wagon
The front seat’s broken and the axel’s draggin’
Chugga, chugga, chugga chugga chugga
Chugga, chugga, chugga chugga chugga
Second verse, same as the first
except a whole lot louder and a whole lot worse
Third verse, same as the first
except a whole lot sadder and a whole lot worse
A Rum Pum Pum
A rum pum pum
A rum pum pum
A gooly gooly gooly
And a rum pum pum
repeat
Salaami, salaami
A gooly gooly gooly
And a rum pum pum
repeat
45
To My Rocky River Ranch Daughters
Poem by Carol “Mama” Knolk, Founder
September 22, 1948
The letter “S” stands for so many a thing
Whether it be a Smile or a Star or the Songs
that we sing,
My earnest wish today for you
Is please be my friend the whole year through.
I love to think that my smile is meant
To reach down inside as if heaven sent
To give you a lift all through the day
May I always be able to smile, I pray.
And you, my dear, please return it to me
I, too, need lifts — sometimes plainly to see;
Thank God for each of my friends so dear,
My cares seems smaller with you all so near.
So my prayers today are for words to express
The emotion I feel within my breast
You’d know if you could read between the lines
That it is for your happiness that my stars shine.
Thank God for all the stars that shine
But, I like to think that one of them is mine
To guide my thoughts and keep my head
Should the day go wrong or harsh words be said.
I’ve talked about smiles and stars and now
for a song,
May your life be “tuneful” all day long.
But keep that smile on your lips and those
songs in your heart;
For you’re all my Rocky River Ranch daughters
after we all part.
46
WESTERN SONGS
Cotton Fields
When I was a little bitty baby
my momma would rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home — yeehaw!
It was down in Louisiana,
just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
And when them cotton balls get rotten,
you can’t pick very much cotton
In them old cotton fields back home — yeehaw!
It was down in Louisiana,
just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
It might sound a little bit funny,
but you don’t make very much money
In them old cotton fields back home — yeehaw!
It was down in Louisiana,
just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
The stars at night, are big and bright,
deep in the heart of Texas,
The prairie sky is wide and high,
deep in the heart of Texas.
The sage in bloom is like perfume,
deep in the heart of Texas,
Reminds me of, the one I love,
deep in the heart of Texas.
The coyotes wail, along the trail,
deep in the heart of Texas,
The rabbits rush, around the brush,
deep in the heart of Texas
The cowboys cry, “Ki-yip-pee-yi,”
deep in the heart of Texas.
The doggies bawl, and bawl and bawl,
deep in the heart of Texas.
48
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Out in Arizona
Where the bad men are,
And the only friend to guide you
Is an evening star,
The roughest, toughest man by far
Is Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Got his name from singing
To the cows and sheep
Every night they say
He sings the herd to sleep
In a basso rich and deep,
Crooning soft and low.
CHORUS
How he sings, Raggy music to his cattle
As he swings, Back and forward in his saddle
On his horse (A pretty good horse),
Who is syncopated gaited,
And with such a funny meter
To the roar of his repeater.
How they run,
When they hear the feller’s gun,
Because the western folks all know:
He’s a hifalootin’, scootin’, shootin’
Son-of-a-gun from Arizona,
Ragtime Cowboy
(Talk about your cowboy),
Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Taking inspiration from her southwest travels, Rocky River’s founder
Carol “Mama” Knolk decided that the camp’s structures should come
right out of the Old West — covered wagons, an opera house and a
general store. With the assistance of Chester Franklin, drawings of an
old western town were created and the hunt for materials began.
Every large city in Texas that was tearing down buildings was visited
and old windows, doors, glass, tables, pictures and any old artifact that
would fit in were gathered. One big find — the old bar and mirror now
residing in The Forty Niner — was located in Houston. Some
of the beautiful lead glass doors and windows were taken out of the
old Hutchins Hotel in San Antonio.
49
Happy Trails
chorus:
Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you ’til we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.
chorus
50
Back in the Saddle Again
I’m back in the saddle again, out where a friend is a friend,
Where the longhorn cattle feed on the lonely jimson weed
I’m back in the saddle again.
Ridin’ the range once more, totin’ my old forty-four,
Where you sleep out every night and the only law is right,
Back in the saddle again.
Whoopi ti yi yo, rockin’ to a fro, back in the saddle again
Whoopi ti yi yea, I’ll go my own way
Back in the saddle again.
Jenny Lou
I was put here by a jury
Of twelve fine men and true
I have no thought for myself
But what about Jenny Lou
chorus:
What’ll they do to her, what’ll they do to her, what’ll they do to my darling
Will they go blamin’ her, taunting and shaming her, after I’m gone away
Since the main street was deserted,
They all thought for the worst.
There was only me and Jenny
Could swear it was him drew first.
chorus
They all thought I meant to kill him
Although he was once my pal
There was real bad blood between us
For Jenny was once his gal
chorus
They’ll be comin’ in the morning
To take me to a tree
But when I think of Jenny
I wish it was him killed me
chorus
After I’m gone away …
“Jenny Lou” was another song that Sandy would sing solo on request (like
“Well, Well, Well”). We all loved it — nobody could sing it like Sandy.
Cindy Youker Robinson | camper 1966-74, counselor 1975
51
Beautiful Brown Eyes
Chorus:
Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes
Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes
Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes
I’ll never love blue eyes again
Who’s gonna shoe
those pretty little feet?
Who’s gonna hold those hands …
little hands?
Who’s gonna kiss
those ruby red lips?
Who? Who? Who?
CHORUS
Daddy’s gonna shoe
those pretty little feet.
Mama’s gonna hold those hands …
little hands.
I’m gonna kiss
those ruby red lips.
That is who, who, who!
CHORUS
Beautiful darlin’ I love you.
Love you with all of my heart.
Beautiful darlin’ I love you.,
And nothing will keep us apart.
CHORUS
52
Buffalo Gals
chorus:
Buffalo Gals, won’t you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won’t you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.
As I was walking down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A pretty little gal I chanced to meet,
Oh, she was fair to see. chorus
I stopped her and we had a talk,
Had a talk, had a talk,
Her feet took up the whole sidewalk
And left no room for me. chorus
I asked her if she’d have a dance,
Have a dance, have a dance,
I thought that I might have a chance
To shake a foot with her. chorus
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’,
And her heel kept a-knockin’, and her toes kept a-rockin’
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’
And we danced by the light of the moon. chorus
Cowboy’s Dream
Last night as I lay on the prairie and looked at the stars in the sky,
I wondered if ever a cowboy could drift to that sweet by and by.
The road to that bright happy region is a dim narrow trail so they say,
While the broad one that leads to perdition is posted and blazed all the way.
chorus:Roll
on, roll on, roll on little dogies roll on, roll on.
Roll on, roll on, roll on little dogies roll on.
I’m worried I’ll be a stray yearling, a maverick unbranded on high
And get out of the herd with the rustles when the boss of the riders goes by.
They say He will never forget you, that He knows every action and look.
Play it safe you had better get branded, your name in the great tally book.
chorus
53
Home on the Range
Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.
Chorus
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.
Where the air is pure, and the zephyrs so sure,
With the breezes so balmy and light.
I would not exchange, my home on the range,
For the wealth of the city so bright.
CHORUS
How often at night, when the heavens are bright,
With the light from the glittering stars,
Have I stood there amazed, and asked as I gaze,
If their glory exceeds that of ours.
CHORUS
Oh, give me the hills and the ring of the drills,
And the rich silver ore in the ground.
Yes, give me the gulch where the miners can sluice,
And the bright yellow gold can be found.
CHORUS
When the Bloom is on the Sage
When it’s roundup time in Texas and the bloom is on the sage
How I long to be in Texas back to ridin’ on the range
Just to smell the bacon frying, when it’s sizzlin’ in the pan,
Hear the breakfast horn in the early morn drinkin’ coffee from a can.
Just a ridin’, rockin’, ropin’, poundin’ leather all day long,
Just a swayin’, sweatin’, swearin’ listenin’ to a cowhand’s song.
How it beacons and I reckon I would work for any wage,
To be free again, just to be again, where the bloom is on the sage.
For most people there’s a spot that lives forever,
Deep down within their fondest memories.
Tho’ I have been a rover I have never
Seen any place that I would rather be …
Repeat first two verses
54
Don’t Fence Me In
CHORUS:
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don’t fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don’t fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin’ breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don’t fence me in.
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies.
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
’Til I see the mountains rise.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can’t look at hovels and I can’t stand fences
Don’t fence me in.
CHORUS
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
Ba boo ba ba boo.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences
Don’t fence me in.
No.
Poppa, don’t you fence me in
55
Sioux City Sue
I drove a herd of cattle down from old Nebraska way
That’s how I come to be in the state of Iowa
I met a gal in Iowa, her eyes were big and blue
I asked her what her name was, she said Sioux City Sue
chorus:
Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue
Your hair is red, your eyes are blue
I’d swap my horse and dog for you
Sioux City Sue, Sioux City Sue
There ain’t no gal as true as my sweet Sioux City Sue
I asked her if she had a beau
She said, “Yes quite a few”
But still I started courtin’ my sweet Sioux City Sue
The first time that I stole a kiss, I caught her stealing two
I asked her did she love me, She said “Indeed I do”
chorus
The Old Chisholm Trail
Come along girls and listen to my tale,
I’ll tell you of my troubles on the old Chisholm trail.
chorus:Com-a
ti yi yippee yippee yi yippee-a, come a ti yi yippee yippee-a
I wake in the mornin’ afore daylight,
And afore I sleep the moon shines bright. chorus
With my seat in the saddle and my hand on the horn,
I’m the best cowgirl that ever was born. chorus
On a ten-dollar hoss and a forty-dollar saddle,
And I’m goin’ to punch those Texas cattle. chorus
It’s cloudy in the west, a-lookin’ like rain,
And my durned old slicker’s in the wagon again. chorus
Oh, it’s bacon and beans most every day,
I’d as soon be a-eatin’ prairie hay. chorus
Goin’ back to town to draw my money,
Goin’ back home to see my honey. chorus
With my knees in the saddle and my seat in the sky,
I’ll quit punchin’ cows in the sweet by and by chorus
56
SLOW SONGS
Rose [Round]
Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose
Will I ever see thee wed?
I will marry at thy will, sire, at thy will.
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Wedding bells on a September morn
Carve your name on a moss-covered stone, on a moss-covered stone.
Barges
Out of my window looking in the night
I can see the barges’ flickering light.
Silently flows the river to the sea,
And the barges to go silently.
CHORUS
Barges, I would like to go with you,
I would like to sail the ocean blue.
Barges, have you treasures in your hold?
Do you fight with pirates brave and bold?
Out of my window looking in the night
I can see the barges flickering light.
Starboard shines green and port is glowing red
I can see the harbor lights ahead.
CHORUS
Out of my window, looking in the night,
I can see the barges flickering light.
Anchors start to pull and engines start to roar
As the barges pull away from shore.
CHORUS
One of these days and it will not be long
You will look for me and I’ll be gone
Face to the wind far out upon the sea
Where the whales and dolphins sing to me
I have lots of memories of so many songs, but the one with a
special memory is “Barges.” I used to rock my colicky daughter, Julianne,
(also an alumni) and sing it over and over again until she went to sleep.
Of course, I always loved Sandy’s “Well, Well, Well” that she sang for
us after we would bang on the tables at meals to “persuade” her!
—Cindy Youker Robinson | camper 1966-1974, counselor 1975
58
Who Can Sail Away [Round]
Who can sail away with no wind?
Who can row without oars?
Who can separate from dear friends
Without a single tear?
I can sail away with no wind,
I can row without oars,
but I can’t separate from dear friends
without a single tear.
Edelweiss
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Bless my homeland forever.
Old verse:
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Bless my homeland forever.
Annie’s Song
You fill up me senses like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses come fill me again.
Come let me love you, let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you, let me always be with you
Come let me love you, come love me again.
You fill up my senses like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses, come fill me again.
This was long-time camper and staff member Sunni Becker’s
all-time favorite song and thus was used for
Cowpoke Sing-Song many, many, many times!
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America the Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone? Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Gone to young girls every one
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone? Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone? Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to young men every one
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone? Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone? Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone? Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone? Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone? Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone? Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers every one
When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?
During the 1960s we loved the old folk songs, like
“Where Have All the Flowers Gone” especially when
someone played the guitar to accompany us.
—Sherry Latson | camper 1962-1972
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Blowin’ in the Wind
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
CHORUS
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ’n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
CHORUS
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
CHORUS
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 shall all pass away
Ere I forget all the joy that is mine, Today
I’ll be a dandy, and I’ll be a rover
You’ll know who I am by the songs that I sing
I’ll feast at your table, I’ll sleep in your clover
I’ll laugh and I’ll cry and I’ll sing
CHORUS
I can’t be contented with yesterdays glory
I can’t live on promises winter to spring
Today is my moment, now is my story
Who cares what the morrow shall bring
CHORUS (2x)
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Moon River
Moon River, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Old dream maker
You heartbreaker
Wherever you’re going
I’m going your way...
Two drifters off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
Waitin’ round the bend
My Huckleberry friend
Moon River and me.
A Wish for You
A setting sun that paints a tie-dyed sky
A feather bed, an ancient lullaby
A kiss good night from one whose love is true
That’s the kind of day I wish for you
A field of flowers dancing in the spring
A little creek, a tree, an old rope swing
Cotton candy clouds against the blue
That’s the kind of day I wish for you
The faith of knowing deep inside your heart
That heaven holds more than just some stars
Someone’s up there watching over you
That’s the kind of day I wish for you
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SPIRITUALS
Well, Well, Well
REFRAIN:
Well, well, well...who’s that calling
Well, well, well...hold my hand
Well, well, well...night is falling
Spirit is a moving all over this land
God told Noah to build him an ark
Rains started falling and the skies got dark
The old ark a movin’, water starts to climb
God said a fire not a flood next time
REFRAIN
God said fire coming judgement day
All mankind’s gonna pass away
Brothers and sisters, don’t you know?
You’re gonna reap just what you sow?
REFRAIN
World’s not waiting for the Lord’s command
We’re building a fire that’ll sweep the land
With thunder out of heaven comes Gabriel’s call
The sea’s gonna boil and the skies gonna fall
REFRAIN
Spirit is a moving all over this land
Rocky River’s much-loved late director, Sandy Bateman, was known
for singing this song. The campers would start off singing the chorus
and when they’d come to the end, would sing out her name …
“Saaaannndddyy!” Sandy would slowly stand up, sometimes the
campers would sing the chorus twice to give her time to get to her feet.
And then her voice … her haunting and commanding voice would
wash over the campers as they sat in awe, riveted. As the campers’
voices carried out the last refrain, there was always a pause and then
the campers would clap, hoot and holler in gratitude for Sandy’s gift of
a song. Although we may not have her haunting voice to so perfectly
illustrate the lyrics — we still sing this song, in honor of Sandy.
Sandra Elaine Bateman, 1934-2005
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Wisdom
God gave the wisemen their wisdom
To the poets their hopes and their dreams
To dad and mother
He gave each other
Not a soul was left out so it seems (echo: so it seems)
But I thought that I’d been forgotten
And that life was an empty affair
But when God gave me you
It was then that I knew
That I’d gotten more than my share
Pharaoh, Pharaoh
tune: louie, louie
CHORUS:
Pharaoh, Pharaoh, let my people go OOSH-GA, yeah, sure, you betcha [2x]
A burnin’ bush told me just the other day
That I should come over here and say,
“It’s time to let my people be free —
Listen to God if you won’t listen to me!”
CHORUS
Well me and and my people goin’ to the Red Sea,
With Pharaoh’s best army comin’ after me.
I took my staff, stuck it in the stand,
And all of God’s people walked on dry land.
Singin’ …
CHORUS
Now Pharaoh’s army was a-comin’ too,
So whattaya think that God did do?
Had me take my staff and clear my throat,
And all of Pharaoh’s army did the dead man’s float.
CHORUS
Well that’s the story of the stubborn goat.
Pharaoh should’ve know that chariots don’t float.
The lesson is simple, it’s easy to find,
When God says, “GO!” you had better mind!
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Arky Arky
The Lord said to Noah: There’s gonna be a floody, floody
The Lord said to Noah: There’s gonna be a floody, floody
Get those children [bang on table] out of the muddy, muddy
Children of the Lord
The Lord said to Noah to build him an arky, arky
The Lord said to Noah to build him an arky, arky
Build it out of [bang on table] hickory barky, barky
Children of the Lord
The animals, they came in by twosies, twosies, twosies
The animals, they came in by twosies, twosies, twosies
Elephants and [bang on table] kangaroosie, roosies
Children of the Lord
It rained and rained for forty daysie, daysies
It rained and rained for forty daysie, daysies
Nearly drove those [bang on table] animals crazy, crazies,
Children of the Lord
The sun came out and dried up the landy, landy
Sun came out and dried up the landy, landy
Everything was [bang on table] fine and dandy, dandy
Children of the Lord
So, rise and shine [stand up, hands up]
And give God the glory, glory [bang on table]
Rise and shine [stoop down and stand up, hands up]
And give God the glory, glory [bang on table]
Rise and shine and [bang on table] give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord
So this is the end of,
my story, story, story
So this is the end of,
my story, story, story
Everything is [bang on table] hunky dory, dory
Children of the Lord
Shalom Chaverim [Round]
Shalom Chaverim, shalom chaverim
Shalom, shalom.
Le-hit-ra-ot, le-hit-ra-ot
Shalom, shalom.
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Sabbath Prayer
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May He always shield you from shame.
May you come to be
In Israel a shining name.
May you be like Ruth and like Esther.
May you be deserving of praise.
Strengthen them, Oh Lord,
And keep them from the strangers’ ways.
May God bless you and grant you long lives.
May the Lord fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.
May God make you good mothers and wives.
May He send you husbands who will care for you.
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May the Lord protect and defend you.
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
May the Lord preserve you from pain.
May he always shield you from shame.
May he always shield you from shame.
Strengthen them, Oh, Lord
Strengthen them ...
With happiness
With happiness
Oh, hear our Sabbath prayer.
Amen.
May the Lord protect you.
Amen.
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Tell Me Why
Tell me why, the stars do shine
Tell me why, the ivy twines,
Tell me why the sky’s so blue,
And I will tell you, just why I love you. 
Because God made the stars to shine,
Because God made the ivy twine,
Because God made the sky so blue,
Because God made you, that’s why I love you.
I really do think that God above
Created you for me to love
He picked you out from all the rest
Because God made you I love you the best.
I see the moon, the moon sees me
The moon sees someone, I’d like to see
God bless the moon and God bless me
And God bless someone, I’d like to see
I had a heart and it was true
Now my heart’s gone from me to you
Take care of it as I have done
For you’ve two hearts dear, and I’ve none.
Ezekiel’s Wheels [Round]
Ezekiel saw two wheels a rollin’ [roll hands around each other]
Way in the middle of the air [point up]
A wheel within a wheel a rollin’ [roll hands around each other]
Way in the middle of the air [point up]
The little one ran by faith [make small circle with hands]
The big one ran by the grace of God [make big circle with arms above head]
Ezekiel saw two wheels a rollin’
Way in the middle of the air.
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
repeat
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El Shaddai (The Almighty God)
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonia,
Age to age, you’re still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.
CHORUS:
Through your love and through the ram,
You saved the son of Abraham;
Through the power of your hand,
Turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
You were the God who really sees,
And by Your might,
You set Your children free.
CHORUS
If I Had a Hammer
If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening, All over this land
I’d hammer out Danger, I’d hammer out Warning
I’d hammer out Love between, my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
Ooo Ooooo Oooo Ooo
If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning
I’d ring it in the evening, 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
All over this land
Ooo Ooooo Oooo Ooo
If I had a Song, I’d sing it in the morning
I’d sing it in the evening, All over this land
I’d sing out Danger, I’d sing out Warning
I sing out Love between, my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
Ooo Ooooo Oooo Ooo
Well I got a hammer, and I got a bell
and I 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
All over this land
Repeat last verse
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70
CAMPFIRE
& GOODNIGHT
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
Night is coming, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Night is coming, Lord, Kum ba yah!
Night is coming, Lord, Kum ba yah!
O Lord, Kum ba yah
3) Stars are twinkling, Lord.
4) Moon is shining, Lord.
5) Children sleeping, Lord.
Flicker
The flicker of the campfire, the wind in the pines,
The moon in the heavens, the stars that shine,
A place where people gather, meet friends of all kinds,
A place where old man trouble is always left behind:
CHORUS
So give me the light of the campfire, warm and bright.
And give me some friends to sing with, I’ll be here all night.
Love’s for those who find it, and I found mine right here,
Just you and me and the campfire and the songs we love to hear.
Da da da da da da doa da da da da da da
The peacefulness for the silence of the night,
The sun in the morning, shining so bright,
The place where campers gather
Making friends for all time.
A place where city troubles are always left behind.
My two favorite camp songs were “Barges” and “Flicker.”
I still find myself randomly singing “Barges” sometimes. Since I
am a teacher, there are moments where I use songs to pass time while waiting
for an activity to begin. I will start singing a song and wonder where in the
world that song came from and it is usually a camp song! A good example is
“Boom, Boom, Ain’t it Great to be Crazy.” I also sing
“Good Morning to You” every day with my class during calendar time.
—Kathy Thobae Hodge | camper: 1981-87, counselor: 1988-90
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Linger
Hmmmm, I want to linger,
Hmmmm, a little longer,
Hmmmm, a little longer here with you.
Hmmmm, it’s such a perfect night,
Hmmmm, it doesn’t seem quite right,
Hmmmm, that this should be my last with you.
Hmmmm, and come September,
Hmmmm, I will remember,
Hmmmm, our camping days and friendships true.
Hmmmm, and as the years go by,
Hmmmm, I’ll think of you and sigh,
Hmmmm, this is goodnight and not goodbye.
Hmmmm, I want to linger,
Hmmmm, a little longer,
Hmmmm, a little longer here with you.
“Linger” was always sung at the final campfire with lots of tears.
Every time I hear an old camp song, I am immediately taken back
to the Grubstake, campfire or Sing-Song competition.
—Sherry Latson | camper 1962-1972
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Goodnight, Campers
lyrics: alumni alyson stringer steakley
tune: Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight
chorus
Goodnight, campers, well, it’s time to go, [repeat]
We hate to end this, but we’ve had a big day,
Goodnight, campers, goodnight.
Well, it’s ten o’clock in the evening …
And the cicadas are already singin’
Well, I hate to end this,
Don’t mean maybe, because we had so much fun.
chorus
The Call of the Fire
Tune: My Wonderful One
The call of the fire comes to us
through the shadows
that follow the close of the day.
Its flames bring us peace
and a calmness of spirit
that drives all our troubles away.
We’re thankful for days
and the joys that they give us,
for nights and the rest that they bring.
May we go on believing
in this love we’re receiving
Just now ’round the fire as we sing.
Lord, Blow the Moon Out, Please
Bed is too small for my tiredness;
Give me a hillside with trees.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out, please!
Rock me to sleep in a cradle of dreams;
Sing me a lullaby of leaves.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out, please!
Bed is too small for my tiredness;
Give me a hillside of trees.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out, please!
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May You Always
May you always walk in sunshine,
Slumber warm when night winds blow;
May you always live with laughter,
For a smile becomes you so.
May good fortune find your doorway,
May the blue bird sing your song;
May no trouble travel your way,
May no worry stay too long.
Bridge
May your heartaches be for-got-ten,
May no tears be spilled;
May old acquaintance be remembered,
And your cup of kindness filled, and
May you always be a dreamer,
May your wildest dreams come true;
May you find someone to love
As much as I love you.
May you always be a dreamer,
May your wildest dreams come true;
May you find someone to love —
As much as I love you.
The counselors used to sign “May You Always” to the
newly-promoted counselors on the last day of camp.
—Sherry Latson | camper 1962-1972
75
Remember
Poem by Carol “Mama” Knolk, Founder
October 1, 1948
Do you remember a certain summer at camp
with the days so full of fun?
Do you remember the joys we knew
and the good friends we have won?
Remember a sky that was full of stars
and a moon that laughed and smiled —
Remember the faith that you gained from the two,
the faith of a little child.
Remember the river that ground
its way over the fresh green ground
And the laughs and the jokes and joy we knew
at the thought of a new pal found.
Remember them all in the years to come
and lock them deep in your heart —
And treasure and keep them always
for now is the time to part —
And now with the love of them true —
the newness lingers yet.
Yes, we’ll always remember —
for how could we ever forget?
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FRIENDSHIP
CIRCLE
Green Trees
Green trees around us,
Blue skies above,
Friends all around us,
in a world filled with love.
Taps sounding softly,
Hearts beating true,
As campers say,
Goodnight to you.
Taps
Day is done, Gone the sun
From the lake, 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.
Note: at Friendship Circle each night, we sing only the first verse.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
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